July 25, 2006

Vermont Public Radio's WVPR 89.5 FM in the Upper Valley became the first radio station in Vermont to begin broadcasting in high definition (HD) digital sound. VPR launched the digital signal at 6:06 pm on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, offering NPR's All Things Considered© in both traditional (analog) and digital radio. WVPR was the first public radio station in Vermont, debuting in 1977, so it is fitting that it would be the first VPR station to begin broadcasting in digital.

Digital radio broadcasting provides a higher quality, more dynamic sound; one that is clear and static-free compared to analog. The clarity of sound is akin to an FM signal sounding as clean and rich as a CD. In order to listen to HD programming, a HD radio receiver is needed. HD receivers are now available in stores and many more brands will be available soon. HD radio is free; there is no fee for the digital service.

The new digital technology also provides the means for VPR to "multicast," offering additional programming at each frequency, as well as text-based information such as the artist, composer and title of the work playing or weather information scrolled across the radio receiver's display.

Later this fall, VPR will multicast two programming services on WVPR 89.5 FM in the Upper Valley. VPR plans to provide VPR's mix of NPR and regional news and music on 89.5-HD1 while 89.5-HD2 will feature VPR Classical, Vermont Public Radio's 24 hour classical music service. VPR's traditional radio signal at 89.5 FM will continue to broadcast VPR's mix of NPR and regional news and music.

VPR expects to continue converting to digital radio throughout the next year, multicasting VPR Classical across the region. The current VPR frequencies will then evolve into a news and information service. VPR believes this goal of two statewide services—one for news and information programs and the other that features classical music—will become a reality within the next two years thanks to digital radio and the expansion of VPR Classical's signal through additional frequencies and adding more translators as funding and the FCC allow.

Vermont Public Radio is Vermont's only statewide source for NPR News, classical music, jazz and award-winning regional news programming. VPR can be heard at 107.9 FM in Burlington, 89.5 FM in Windsor, 88.7 FM in Rutland, 88.5 FM in St. Johnsbury, 94.3 FM in Bennington, 92.5 in Manchester, 94.5 in Brattleboro, and 95.3 in Middlebury. VPR also provides VPR Classical, a 24 hour classical music service, heard on 88.1 in Norwich, 93.5 in Bennington, 103.9 in Hanover, 99.5 in Middlebury, 106.9 in Manchester, 99.5 in Newbury and 106.9 in Woodstock. Both VPR and VPR Classical can also be heard online at vpr.net.