WGBH-CICPR Press Release

Press contact:
• Leah Hollenberger, WGBH
  617/492-2777, ext. 3881
  leah_hollenberger@wgbh.org
  
• Jay Allison, CICPR
  508/548-5527
  jwa@cicpr.org
  

For Immediate Release
September 17, 1997

CAPE AND ISLANDS TO GET LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO SERVICE LOCAL GROUP PARTNERS WITH WGBH TO CREATE NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS STATIONS

The islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and most of Cape Cod will receive full-power, local public radio service for the first time next year, under an agreement announced today between Cape Islands Community Public Radio, Inc. (CICPR) and WGBH Boston. The stations will carry a schedule made up primarily of news and information.

CICPR, a non-profit organization headed by veteran independent television and public radio producer Jay Allison, has been working toward its objective of launching powerful public stations on the last viable non-commercial FM frequencies in the area. Allison, a resident of Woods Hole, sought the remaining FM frequencies to provide a locally-focused service and high-quality transmission that has not been available to area residents. CICPR is now in the process of finalizing transmission facilities on Martha's Vineyard (90.1FM) and Nantucket (91.1FM) together with studio space on the mainland in Woods Hole. In a unique alliance designed to ensure that the service is both efficient and of the highest caliber, CICPR will assign to WGBH its permits to build and operate the two stations. WGBH has operated a public radio station in Boston at 89.7 on the FM dial since 1951.

The Cape and Islands stations will broadcast a newly-designed schedule of news and information from national and international sources, in addition to high-quality local material--including public affairs, call-in, documentary, science, and cultural programming. The stations will not re-broadcast the classical and jazz service of the WGBH Boston station, which currently reaches most of the coverage area of the new stations.

"WGBH was an excellent choice for us," said Allison. "From the beginning, we wanted to create a new public radio service originating from, and reflecting, our region. We also wanted a partner whose vision includes voices and material not otherwise heard on mainstream and commercial radio. WGBH is the ideal organization to build and manage these stations."

Marita Rivero, WGBH Vice President and Radio Manager, said "We are delighted to be able to bring local public radio service to these unserved areas for the first time. WGBH's expertise, in cooperation with CICPR, will allow us to create exciting new local and ultimately national programming of interest to the diverse people and institutions these stations will serve." Adds Henry Becton, WGBH President, "This unique alliance reflects a shared vision of the mission of public broadcasting. Together WGBH and CICPR can create a service that spotlights the voices and issues of the Cape and Islands."

The programming will include most or all of the well-respected news and information programs from National Public Radio (NPR), Public Radio International (PRI), and independent producers--including NPR's Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, Talk Of The Nation, Fresh Air, All Things Considered (seven days a week) and Car Talk; PRI's The World, Marketplace, Prairie Home Companion, This American Life, and many others. CICPR will produce local and national programming for the stations in cooperation with WGBH. In keeping with its mission, CICPR anticipates developing radio training programs--residencies for producers, workshops, seminars, and a radio festival.

WGBH hopes to begin construction of the stations in late fall and to be on the air by late summer of 1998.

CICPR was founded in 1992 by Allison, winner of the 1996 CPB Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding contributions to public radio. Other public radio veterans who volunteer on the CICPR Board of Directors are Dave Creagh, formerly executive producer of Monitor Radio and, in the seventies, NPR's All Things Considered, and Gregory Whitehead, award-winning international producer now based on Nantucket. CICPR's consulting engineer is Don Mussell and Peter Christianson served as management consultant.

WGBH /89.7fm is New England's classical, news and jazz station, with 100,000 watts reaching six states. The station is also a major supplier of programming to public radio stations across the country, producing Sound & Spirit, New Year's Day from Vienna and the BBC/PRI/WGBH co-production of the daily global news magazine, The World. In May, WGBH Radio broadcast an exclusive multicast via the internet from the Death Zone of Mt. Everest in conjunction with NOVA/PBS Online Adventure. WGBH is recognized as an active participant in New England's vibrant music community, highlighting the region's greatest cultural resources. In metro Boston, WGBH is also heard on 96.3fm.