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Have a question about WVXU or our programming? You may find the answer to your question below. If you need more information, feel free to contact us.
WVXR, WVXC and WVXW
Michigan Stations
Programming
Website, Online Audio & E-mail
Supporting WVXU
Advertising
Financials
WVXU Station Contacts & Opportunities
WVXR, WVXC and WVXW
Why did
Cincinnati Public Radio sell WVXR, WVXC and WVXW in
Ohio?
When Cincinnati Public Radio assumed ownership of WVXR,
WVXC, and WVXW in August 2005 it was in combination
with the purchase of WVXU in Cincinnati. From the start,
our efforts have concentrated on creating a high quality
main public radio service in Cincinnati. Resources are
such that we were never able to properly serve the communities
surrounding these outlying stations. No local information,
including weather, was able to be provided.
We were approached by Christian Voice
of Central Ohio, Inc., with the offer to buy these three
repeater stations. This organization wanted to purchase
all three stations simultaneously. In light of the debt
we assumed with the purchase of WVXU, and with our primary
focus on serving the Greater Cincinnati community, the
offer had to be taken seriously.
We examined all the pros and cons of the
sale. The expense of operating these outlying stations
came nowhere near the very limited membership revenue
received. No underwriting revenue was able to be generated
because each station’s listening audience was
so very small. In addition, most of the area covered
by the three stations is also within the coverage area
of at least two other public radio stations. With a
responsibility to our board of directors, as well as
our many contributors and listeners, to manage the stations
frugally and within a balanced budget, the business
decision, while painful, was made to agree to the sale.
Our organization's mission is to serve the Greater Cincinnati
community and we must make the decisions that enable
us to maintain and strengthen Cincinnati Public Radio’s
ability to fulfill that mission.
I live in an area where there is
no other source for the public radio programming WVXU
provides. What can I do?
You are still able to listen to this
programming online via our website. We hope that
you will continue to tune in this way.
I recently became a member of WVXU
because of the public radio programming I received via
WVXR, WVXC or WVXW. What can I do?
Cincinnati Public Radio is grateful that you have been
a loyal listener and appreciated the importance of public
radio programming enough to make a contribution of support.
It is because of listeners like you that public radio
thrives across the country and we regret that our service
to you has ended. However, we certainly understand your
request for a refund of a recent membership contribution.
If you would like a refund, please contact
Milan Weaver through our online form or by phone
at 513-352-9170.
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Michigan Stations
Why did Cincinnati Public Radio sell WVXA, WVXM and WVXH in Michigan?
Cincinnati Public Radio assumed ownership of these stations in August 2005 with the purchase of WVXU in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Public Radio's mission is to provide high quality classical music and news/information programming to the people of the Tri-state (Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana), and long-term operation of stations in upper Michigan did not fit in with this mission very well.
After strategic consideration of the options for operating these three Michigan stations, the Cincinnati Public Radio Board of Directors concluded that was in the best interest of the organization and of the communities to find new local owners for the stations. All of the station frequencies are in the commercial band, and so when no non-commercial entity was interested an agreement was made with three different commercial owners.
There is no other source for public radio programming in my area. What can I do?
You are still able to listen to this programming online via our website. We hope that you will continue to tune in this way.
I recently became a member of WVXU because of the public radio programming I received via WVXA, WVXM or WVXH. What can I do?
Cincinnati Public Radio is grateful that you have been a loyal listener and appreciated the importance of public radio programming enough to make a contribution of support. It is because of listeners like you that public radio thrives across the country and we regret that our service to you will be short lived. We put your dollars to work right away to cover some of the costs the stations have incurred since August. However, we certainly understand your request for a refund of your membership contribution. If you would like a refund, please contact Milan Weaver through our online form or by phone at 513-352-9170.
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Programming
Why is my favorite program no longer aired on WVXU?
Cincinnati Public Radio undertook extensive research before compiling the new
WVXU program schedule. CPR mailed printed surveys to every current member of
WVXU and WGUC, posted the same survey on the internet for the general public
and conducted several focus groups of members and non-members of each station.
More than 7,000 surveys were completed and returned to us.
Programming on the new WVXU reflects the programming preferences of its listeners as articulated through these surveys. Listeners preferred:
- An emphasis on the national news programming from National Public Radio and the BBC
- High quality national information programs, such as The Diane Rehm Show, Fresh Air and Talk of the Nation
- Entertainment and nostalgia programming, such as Prairie Home Companion and old-time radio programs
- An eclectic mix of music, particularly jazz
While CPR is certain that we won't please everybody with every
programming decision, we believe the programming choices we have made for the
new WVXU accurately reflect the desires of WVXU's members and radio listeners
in Greater Cincinnati. If you wish to provide feedback on the new WVXU programming,
we invite you to complete our contact form
Why didn't Audiosyncracies continue on the program schedule?
The programs that rose to the top in the WVXU Listener Survey were all national news and information programs such as Morning Edition, Prairie Home Companion, The Diane Rehm Show and Fresh Air. Audiosyncracies was one of the most polarizing programs for listeners. While there were listeners who included it in their list of favorites, there were just as many, if not more, who listed as their least favorite.
In addition, All Things Considered moved from WGUC to WVXU. For the long-term health of WVXU it is best to have programming between Morning Edition and All Things Considered that causes the audience to remain tuned in. The best programming to achieve this goal is news and information programming - like Diane Rehm, Fresh Air, Talk of the Nation and Day to Day. These are also programs that were requested by listeners.
In light of all these considerations and the fact that the Audiosyncracies host had announced his intention to relocate from Cincinnati prior to the sale of WVXU, the decision was made not to continue the program.
Can I hear again a story I heard on NPR?
The National Public Radio website provides extensive audio archives for many of their programs. You can listen online to complete programs or individual segments dating back several years.
Can I get a transcript of a story I heard on NPR?
The National Public Radio website has transcripts for many of their programs available for sale.
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Website, Online Audio & E-mail
How do I listen to WVXU online?
Listening to WVXU with your computer requires you to have Windows Media Player installed and a broadband Internet connection.
In addition, you must register on the WVXU website to access our live online broadcasts. Our audio streaming is made possible by the members of Cincinnati Public Radio. While we are pleased to offer everyone free, unlimited access to WVXU programming online, we could not do so without the generous support of its members.
For additional help listening online, contact us.
Can I listen to WVXU using Apple iTunes?
No. At this time, we only stream using Windows Media Player. iTunes supports only QuickTime and MP3. You can listen to us using the free Macintosh-compatible version of Windows Media. It can be downloaded from www.windowsmedia.com.
Do you stream using MP3?
Not at this time.
I have registered on your website, so why can't I listen online? The site keeps kicking me back to the registration page.
You must have your web browser set to accept some sort of cookie from www.wvxu.org to complete our login process and listen online. Both Internet Explorer and Netscape allow you to accept or reject cookies globally or on a per site basis. Please refer to your browser's Help section for more information on accepting cookies.
If you do not wish to globally alter your privacy settings, you must allow your browser to accept a temporary or "session" cookie. This type of cookie does not contain personal information and only lasts as long as your web browser is open. Once you close your browser, you will need to log in again.
I'm having trouble receiving my e-mail updates or newsletter. Is something wrong?
Spam filters and network outages can sometimes wreak havoc on e-mail communications. Complete our online contact form or reply to one of our previous e-mail publications with a detailed description of your problem, and we will look into the situation.
Due to our volume of e-mail publications as well as technical considerations, please understand that we are unable to individually accommodate spam filters that require senders to reply to an automated message or click on a link to grant access.
How do I subscribe to your e-mail list?
Click Your Preferences under the Register Now menu at the top of each page on this site. Then complete the ensuing form, choosing the publications you would like to receive.
How do I unsubscribe from your e-mail list?
All our e-mail publications provide means to unsubscribe at the bottom of the message. You can also unsubscribe by changing Your Preferences or contacting .
What does "personalizing" the WVXU website mean?
Registering with the WVXU website allows you to look at our home page and know at a glance what is coming up on your favorite programs, enter contests in a flash and more.
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Supporting WVXU
I have a question or concern about my WVXU membership. Who do I contact?
We thank you very much for supporting public radio in Cincinnati. Please complete our contact form or call us at 513-352-9170, and our membership department will assist you.
When am I due to renew my membership? When did I last give, and how much?
Our membership department can provide you with detailed records. Please complete our contact form or call us at 513-352-9170, and our membership department will assist you.
How do I inform you of an address change?
Please provide your old and new addresses in our contact form or call us at 513-352-9170, and our membership department will make the necessary changes.
How do I change the credit card you use to deduct my membership contribution?
Please call our membership department at 513-352-9170 to make arrangements. We do not recommend that you use our e-mail contact forms to transmit credit card data.
Is my contribution tax deductible?
Yes! Your contribution to WVXU is tax deductible, minus the fair market value of any "thank you gift" you accept in return for your contribution. You will receive a statement from WVXU containing the amount of your gift that is tax deductible. For more information, complete our contact form or call us at 513-352-9170, and our membership department will assist you.
Can I give at any time, or do I have to wait for an on-air fund drive?
We encourage you to give today! Your contributions throughout the year will always "buy back" hours that we would spend fundraising on the air. You can give to WVXU anytime either by using our secure online form or by calling our membership department at 513-352-9170.
Are these on-air fund drives really necessary?
Yes, WVXU's on-air fund drives play an important role in gathering new members, meeting our operating budget and keeping public radio in Cincinnati going strong. While we do air membership drives three times per year (in, roughly, February, May and September), we use detailed research to consistently reduce the hours spent asking for contributions from listeners.
Your contribution at any time throughout the year always helps reduce on-air fundraising hours. You can give to WVXU anytime either by using our secure online form or by calling our membership department at 513-352-9170.
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Advertising
How do I advertise on WVXU?
You can learn all about underwriting on WVXU on our
Sponsorships & Advertising
page, or you can call our Corporate Sales Department,
at 513-352-9170.
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Financials
Who owns the WVXU
broadcast license?
On Monday, August 22, 2005 the sale of WVXU and its
affiliated stations to Cincinnati Public Radio, Inc.
was finalized. At this point Cincinnati Public radio
became the official license holder for 91.7 WVXU and
its affiliated station. Cincinnati Public Radio, Inc.
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in
1994 to operate 90.9 WGUC. It is governed by a Board
of Trustees.
Is WGUC affiliated
with the University of Cincinnati? Does WGUC receive
money from them?
No. While WGUC began in 1960 as a department of the
University of Cincinnati, it is no longer affiliated
with UC. In 1994, WGUC became a separate tax-exempt
non-profit organization: Cincinnati Public Radio, Inc.
(CPR). UC maintained ownership of the station's license
and contracted with CPR, Inc. to manage the station
with WGUC's Community Advisory Board becoming the Board
of Trustees of CPR, Inc. Then in 2002, UC transferred
ownership of WGUC's broadcast license to CPR, Inc. As
a result, WGUC no longer receives any financial assistance
from the University of Cincinnati.
Where does WVXU's money come from?
More than 70% of WVXU's revenue comes from the community-through
contributions from individual members and businesses.
Additional revenue comes from federal, state and local
sources; grants from foundations; and income from events,
studio rentals, merchandise sales, etc. A breakdown
of WVXU's revenues and
expenditures is available online.
Is the government discontinuing funding of public broadcasting?
From time to time, WVXU receives inquiries about an e-mail chain petition that discusses attempts by some members of Congress to eliminate public broadcasting funding. This e-mail petition is not current, but dates back to 1995. At that time, two well-meaning students at the University of Northern Colorado started the petition. For more information about the petition and to view the University's statement regarding this issue, please see the University's web site.
Due to tremendous grassroots support at that time, Congress did not eliminate funding for public broadcasting in 1995. Rather, the appropriation was significantly reduced for a few years. Since those cuts, however, the appropriation has steadily increased.
It's worth noting that a recent Roper poll found that Americans list public radio and television second only to national defense when it comes to rating the value of programs supported by government largess.
In early June, in an unanticipated move, a House of Representatives subcommittee recommended cutting $190 million from CPB's budget for fiscal year 2006, which begins October, 2005. This was subsequently approved by the full House Appropriations Committee.
On June 23, however, when the recommendation came to the floor vote before the full House of Representatives, an amendment to restore $90 million of the cut was introduced by David Obey (D-WI), Jim Leach (R-IA), and Nita Lowey (D-NY). This amendment was voted on and overwhelmingly passed with strong bipartisan support: the vote of 284-140 included 87 Republicans and 197 Democrats.
This action came about in large part because of the groundswell of public opinion voicing overwhelming support of public broadcasting.
In July, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding CPB completed its recommendations. It approved $400 million in FY '08 for CPB (CPR like several other federal agencies, is forward-funded); $35 million in FY '06 to assist public broadcasting's transition to digital technology; $40 million for renewal of public television's satellite interconnection system. The Senate Subcommittee also approved funding in FY '06 for public television programming support with Ready to Teach to receive $11 million in FY '06 and Ready to Learn to be funded at $25 million.
In the context of a very difficult federal budget environment, and the fact that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee had $1.2 billion less at its disposal, these are encouraging and positive funding recommendations from this subcommittee.
These recommendations represent a three percent reduction in funding from current year levels. The full Senate Appropriations later approved these funding levels without changes. In September, 2005, the differing Senate and House versions of the budget will be resolved in conference committee. We remain hopeful that whatever funding measure finally emerges from this process it will reflect the overwhelming opinion of the American public and allow WVXU to continue to provide the kind of service you deserve in the years ahead.
You can find out more about CPB's annual appropriations from Congress from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The funds that WVXU receives from the Corporation for Broadcasting amount to 8% of our operating budget. If you are looking for a way to help maintain this funding source, you can write to your representatives in Congress and thank them for their continuing support of public broadcasting.
Thank you for your interest and concern about the future of public broadcasting. It is because of listeners like you that WVXU is able to serve the Greater Cincinnati community with the finest in news, information and entertainment programming.
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WVXU Station Contacts & Opportunities
Where are you located?
Our studios are in the Crosley Telecommunications Center at 1223 Central Parkway, Downtown Cincinnati. We are connected by the pedestrian bridge to the back of Music Hall, across Central Parkway.
Can I take a tour of the station?
We do allow groups to tour in limited numbers. Contact Chris Phelps at (513)352-9170 for more information.
Can I volunteer at the station?
We are always looking for volunteers during fund drives. Volunteers answer pledge calls and enter the data directly into a computer. Visit our volunteers page for more information.
Are the job openings at the station?
We list any available positions on the Jobs page of our website. WVXU is an equal opportunity employer.
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