New Orleans’ WWNO adds full-time classical signal
WWNO in New Orleans is giving more airtime to classical music with the launch of a new station.
The station pulled classical from its daytime schedule in 2012 in favor of news. It continued to air classical and jazz in the evenings and on an all-classical HD channel.
But WWNO will now devote its 104.9 FM, a recent acquisition, entirely to classical. “We have been waiting several years for the opportunity to restore classical music to the FM band,” said WWNO General Manager Paul Maassen in a press release.
WWNO purchased the 104.9 FM translator for $200,000 from Crocodile Broadcasting last fall, according to FCC filings.
“Our past attempts to launch an all-classical FM station were thwarted by the high cost of a full-service FM license — a likely $3 million or more,” says the station’s website. “But this new opportunity will allow WWNO to return classical music to FM radio with a capital investment of just $225,000 and a projected initial operating cost of about $50,000 per year.”
Maassen added that the station aims to air performances by New Orleans classical ensembles.
Very interesting for WWNO. The best of NPR.