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About WYQS WCQS Public Radio Launches News/Talk Radio Station October 9th Fans of public radio can now tune into the region's first 24-hour all-news/talk public radio station -- WYQS FM in Mars Hill. The WYQS lineup will include top-rated public radio news shows, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as Talk of the Nation, Marketplace and The Splendid Table, programs often requested by WCQS listeners. WYQS will also feature new programs Tell Me More with Michel Martin; On Point, a talk show produced by WBUR public radio in Boston; the BBC World News Service; and long-time WCQS local programs, Conversations, Evening Rounds and Byline. Listeners in parts of Madison, Yancey and Buncombe Counties can find WYQS on their traditional analog radios at 90.5 FM. FCC restrictions limit the station's coverage to those areas. The new technology of digital (HD) radio allows for wider distribution of WYQS programming as the multicast HD-2 service of WCQS on 88.1 FM. "This is an exciting expansion of public radio in Western North Carolina" said Ed Subkis, WCQS General Manager. "WYQS is allowing us to significantly increase the amount of programming we can offer to the region, and our move into HD radio, with its multicasting capability, enables us to distribute WYQS programming to a much larger audience than we first anticipated." WCQS is the first radio station in Western North Carolina to commit to multicasting HD programming. Multicasting is the broadcast of multiple programs on the same frequency from a digital transmitter. Listeners will need an HD radio to receive multicast programming. According to Subkis "HD radios were once rare and very expensive, but are now affordable and more available. Lower price points and new multicast program services are stimulating the growth of HD radio." Subkis said that WYQS will launch as an automated station, which is a cost-effective way to bring a new station on line. Local announcements will be pre-recorded and some programming will be simulcast with WCQS. The station plans to produce more local programming for both stations as additional funding becomes available. The launch of WYQS heralds the return of the "Mountain Air Network" - a slogan previously used by WCQS to unify the many transmitters and translators that repeat its programming throughout Western North Carolina. The Mountain Air Network now includes all of the program services from WCQS and WYQS on all of its transmitters, translators, HD multicast and internet audio services that distribute this programming throughout Western North Carolina. All programming from the Mountain Air Network originates in the WCQS studios in downtown Asheville, and is a service of WCQS. How to Listen: Analogue Radio: WYQS 90.5 currently serves Madison, Yancey and North Buncombe County (we will grow the coverage area in time). HD Radio: WYQS is the new multicast service of the WCQS HD signal. It can be heard on HD Radio at WCQS 88.1-2. Note: you can hear WCQS on HD Radio at WCQS 88.1-1. Online Stream: You can listen to WCQS and WYQS anytime, anywhere in the world here at www.wcqs.org and click on the <Listen Live> button. Bottom line - Within the year, as we will expand the 90.5 signal throughout our coverage area as we convert our WCQS translators to HD, most everyone in our coverage area will be able to hear WCQS and WYQS. We also hope to expand our analogue reach for WYQS, but that may take a bit longer. Coverage Maps: Click here to download the coverage map for Analogue Radio. Click here to download The Mountain Air Network Composite Coverage map. What is HD Radio? HD radio is the most significant advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago. HD radio technology enables stations to broadcast their programs digitally. In HD, FM stations provide CD-quality sound and AM stations provide FM-quality sound. HD radio provides both with crystal-clear reception and no audio distortion. HD radio also receives digital multicast programming on a station's HD-2 channel. Stations that multicast will dramatically increase the program and format options for HD radio listeners. HD radio is free, over-the-air broadcasting with no subscription costs or monthly fees like satellite radio. All you have to do is get an HD radio receiver. Prices for HD radios are dropping. Many models are now available in the retail market, with promotions for entry-level models often available for under $100. HD radios can be found as tabletop systems, shelf units, car and marine stereo units. Click here to learn more and hear the difference in HD Radio. Hear the difference! |
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