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WCQS
WCQS (88.1 FM) is a non-commercial public radio station in Asheville, North Carolina, serving Western North Carolina. It airs a news and talk radio format and is owned by Western North Carolina Public Radio, Inc. It airs programming from NPR, American Public Media and the Public Radio Exchange and is the flagship station of Blue Ridge Public Radio. It carries locally produced news and music shows, under the BPR News branding. The BBC World Service is heard overnight.
WCQS is a Class C3 station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,900 watts, with an FCC construction permit to increase power to 5,000 watts. The transmitter is on High Top Mountain Road in Asheville. Serving 14 counties across the mountainous terrain of Western North Carolina requires Blue Ridge Public Radio to broadcast on a host of sister stations and FM translators to effectively reach its audience. It can also be heard online via the Blue Ridge Public Radio app, and on the BPR website.
WCQS began August 28, 1975, as WUNF-FM, a 10-watt station (later upgraded to 110-watt station) operated by the University of North Carolina at Asheville from the Lipinski Student Center. Western North Carolina Public Radio bought the station in 1984, changed the call sign to WCQS, and immediately secured a membership agreement with NPR. While most of the station's coverage area was served by South Carolina Educational Radio's Upstate outlet, WEPR in Greenville, WNCPR wanted to build a station that would be tailored to the area's interests.
Eventually, the station increased its power to 1,600 watts, still a fairly modest level for a full NPR member on the FM band. This may be due to the need to protect WRVL in Lynchburg, Virginia, located at adjacent 88.3. As a result, even though its transmitter is located 3,609 feet (1,100 m) above sea level, its coverage area is effectively limited to Asheville and its close-in suburbs in Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties.
In 2005, WNCPR bought WVMH, a radio station operated by Mars Hill College, and changed its call sign to WYQS. Originally a straight simulcast of WCQS, it broke off in 2008 to air the BBC World Service full-time, and continued to do so until early 2017.
In the summer of 2010, Jody Evans joined WCQS as executive director, replacing Ed Subkis, who had held the job for 18 years. Evans wanted WCQS to become a source for news and information, and she planned on more local news coverage and working with other news media. One joint project was live broadcasts from Brevard Music Center, which would use the resources of WDAV in the Charlotte area.
Evans said in February 2011 that WCQS would have more emphasis on local news, and that David Hurand's evening shows Byline, Conversations, and Evening Rounds would be dropped. Hurand added local news reports during the more popular shows Morning Edition and All Things Considered. New national shows being added included Marketplace and The Splendid Table.
On March 24, 2013, WCQS added WMQS at 88.5 FM, to serve the Murphy area.
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WCQS
WCQS (88.1 FM) is a non-commercial public radio station in Asheville, North Carolina, serving Western North Carolina. It airs a news and talk radio format and is owned by Western North Carolina Public Radio, Inc. It airs programming from NPR, American Public Media and the Public Radio Exchange and is the flagship station of Blue Ridge Public Radio. It carries locally produced news and music shows, under the BPR News branding. The BBC World Service is heard overnight.
WCQS is a Class C3 station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,900 watts, with an FCC construction permit to increase power to 5,000 watts. The transmitter is on High Top Mountain Road in Asheville. Serving 14 counties across the mountainous terrain of Western North Carolina requires Blue Ridge Public Radio to broadcast on a host of sister stations and FM translators to effectively reach its audience. It can also be heard online via the Blue Ridge Public Radio app, and on the BPR website.
WCQS began August 28, 1975, as WUNF-FM, a 10-watt station (later upgraded to 110-watt station) operated by the University of North Carolina at Asheville from the Lipinski Student Center. Western North Carolina Public Radio bought the station in 1984, changed the call sign to WCQS, and immediately secured a membership agreement with NPR. While most of the station's coverage area was served by South Carolina Educational Radio's Upstate outlet, WEPR in Greenville, WNCPR wanted to build a station that would be tailored to the area's interests.
Eventually, the station increased its power to 1,600 watts, still a fairly modest level for a full NPR member on the FM band. This may be due to the need to protect WRVL in Lynchburg, Virginia, located at adjacent 88.3. As a result, even though its transmitter is located 3,609 feet (1,100 m) above sea level, its coverage area is effectively limited to Asheville and its close-in suburbs in Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties.
In 2005, WNCPR bought WVMH, a radio station operated by Mars Hill College, and changed its call sign to WYQS. Originally a straight simulcast of WCQS, it broke off in 2008 to air the BBC World Service full-time, and continued to do so until early 2017.
In the summer of 2010, Jody Evans joined WCQS as executive director, replacing Ed Subkis, who had held the job for 18 years. Evans wanted WCQS to become a source for news and information, and she planned on more local news coverage and working with other news media. One joint project was live broadcasts from Brevard Music Center, which would use the resources of WDAV in the Charlotte area.
Evans said in February 2011 that WCQS would have more emphasis on local news, and that David Hurand's evening shows Byline, Conversations, and Evening Rounds would be dropped. Hurand added local news reports during the more popular shows Morning Edition and All Things Considered. New national shows being added included Marketplace and The Splendid Table.
On March 24, 2013, WCQS added WMQS at 88.5 FM, to serve the Murphy area.