For Immediate Release
July 30, 2007
Media Contact:
Cameron Barry
410-962-6435
ceb@planitagency.com
YOUR PUBLIC RADIO CORPORATION EXPANDS STATEWIDE FOOTPRINT WITH PURCHASE OF OCEAN CITY STATION
WRXS-FM to Change to NPR News Format
BALTIMORE, MD – Your Public Radio Corporation, a Maryland non-profit, community-owned broadcasting company, announced today that it has reached agreement to purchase WRXS, 106.9 FM in Ocean City, Maryland. Your Public Radio Corp. is the licensee of both WYPR, 88.1 FM in Baltimore and WYPF, 88.1 FM in Frederick and will expand its statewide footprint through the acquisition of WRXS. The station’s signal covers Ocean City, Rehoboth, Bethany Beach, and Salisbury.
WRXS, which currently features an Alternative Rock format, will change its programming to public radio, community news and original programming currently heard on both WYPR and WYPF. The station’s operations will also be moved to Your Public Radio Corporation’s headquarters in Baltimore. The new programming is expected to commence on 106.9 in late September, with new call letters still to be determined.
“We are delighted to bring a strong line up of Maryland-oriented programs, not just to a new audience, but to our listeners who spend time on the Eastern Shore,” said Anthony S. Brandon, president and CEO of Your Public Radio Corporation and general manager of WYPR-FM. “This will be a truly Maryland-centric radio station, providing news and information essential for all Maryland residents.”
While WYPR and WYPF both rely on listener contributions and underwriting to help defray the cost of their commercial-free programming, Brandon notes that no listener dollars were used in the purchase of WRXS. Bond financing was arranged through Mercantile Bank to fund the acquisition and repayment of the loan will come from membership and underwriting from the Ocean City/Salisbury areas.
WYPR is also in the process of increasing its power in Baltimore from 10kilowatts to 15.5kilowatts, and adding multi-channel broadcasting.
Your Public Radio (www.wypr.org) serves the metropolitan Baltimore area and the state of Maryland. Its mission is to broadcast programs of intellectual integrity and cultural merit that enrich the minds and spirits of its listeners and ultimately strengthen the communities in which it operates.
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