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| Headquarters | DeKalb, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Branding | Northern Public Radio |
| Programming | |
| Format | Public radio |
| Affiliations | NPR,PRX,APM |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Northern Illinois University |
| History | |
| Launch date |
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| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | northernpublicradio.org |
Northern Public Radio is thepublic radio service ofNorthern Illinois University. It consists of two full-poweredFM stations and three lower-powered satellites, all affiliated withNational Public Radio. The group is headquartered at NIU's campus inDeKalb, Illinois, with additional studios inRockford. Although DeKalb is part of theChicago radio market, Northern Public Radio serves as the NPR member for the Rockford market.
WNIJ (89.5 FM) in DeKalb primarily airs news and talk programming from NPR, withWorld Cafe,Echoes and locally producedblues music programming at night and Saturday afternoons.BBC World Service airs overnight. The station's programming is also simulcast on repeatersWNIE inFreeport (89.1 FM),WNIQ inSterling (91.5 FM) andWNIW inLa Salle (91.3 FM).
WNIU (90.5 FM) in Rockford airsclassical music 24 hours a day using the syndicated classical music serviceClassical 24, and operates a low-powered translator at 105.7 in Rockford (W289AB) to improve its coverage in the northern part of the city.
| Location | Frequency | Call sign | Facility ID | ERP | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | Format | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb | 89.5 FM | WNIJ | 49550 | 50,000 watts | 128 meters (420 ft) | B | 42°0′55.1″N89°0′7.3″W / 42.015306°N 89.002028°W /42.015306; -89.002028 (WNIJ) | News/talk,AAA | LMS |
| Rockford | 90.5 FM | WNIU | 49545 | 50,000 watts | 112 meters (367 ft) | B | 42°0′55.1″N89°0′7.3″W / 42.015306°N 89.002028°W /42.015306; -89.002028 (WNIU) | Classical music | LMS |
| Freeport | 89.1 FM | WNIE | 49555 | 6,000 watts | 110 meters (360 ft) | B1 | 42°18′45.1″N89°35′38.4″W / 42.312528°N 89.594000°W /42.312528; -89.594000 (WNIE) | News/talk,AAA | LMS |
| Sterling | 91.5 FM | WNIQ | 49557 | 2,400 watts | 100 meters (330 ft) | A | 41°53′52.1″N89°36′20.4″W / 41.897806°N 89.605667°W /41.897806; -89.605667 (WNIQ) | News/talk,AAA | LMS |
| La Salle | 91.3 FM | WNIW | 49556 | 36,000 watts | 110 meters (360 ft) | B | 41°24′47.1″N89°16′34.4″W / 41.413083°N 89.276222°W /41.413083; -89.276222 (WNIW) | News/talk,AAA | LMS |
Northern Public Radio began in 1954, when WNIU signed on as a 10-watt station on 89.5 FM that barely covered the immediate area around the campus of what was then Northern Illinois State College (which became NIU in 1957). It aired classical music along with lectures and announcements of campus events. In 1964, it expanded its transmitter power to 2,500 watts, boosting its coverage area to all ofDeKalb County. At the same time, it began emphasizing news programming.[1][additional citation(s) needed]
WNIU was a charter member ofNational Public Radio in 1971, and was one of the 90 stations that carried the initial broadcast ofAll Things Considered. In 1979, WNIU got permission to boost its power to 50,000 watts. This more than doubled the coverage area of the station, and brought its signal to Rockford for the first time, albeit with only grade B coverage.
In 1988, WNIU moved its transmitter from De Kalb toLindenwood, which gave it a city-grade signal to Rockford. Previously, Rockford had been the only major city in Illinois without city-grade coverage from an NPR station; the only sources of NPR programming in the area were grade B signals from WNIU andWisconsin Public Radio'sMadison outlets.
NIU had wanted a second frequency for some time, and finally got it in 1991 when WNIJ signed on at 90.5 FM in Rockford. WNIU became a full-time classical music station, while WNIJ was a more traditional full-service NPR station.
In 1998, the two stations swapped frequencies, with WNIJ moving to the stronger 89.5 frequency while WNIU moved to 90.5. This move was made so more people could hear WNIJ's news and talk programming. WNIJ also scaled back its jazz programming to nights only. That same year, WNIW and WNIQ signed on. WNIE followed in 1999. Listeners in the latter three stations' coverage areas had only gotten spotty coverage from WNIU or WNIJ, depending on the location. Originally, the three repeaters simulcast WNIJ during the day and WNIU at night, but problems with switching equipment forced them to simulcast WNIJ 24 hours a day.
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