Red River Radio
Encyclopedia
Red River Radio is the regional public radio station for northwest Louisiana
, southern Arkansas
, eastern Texas
, and the southeasternmost corner of Oklahoma
. The network is headquartered on the campus of Louisiana State University in Shreveport
.
Red River Radio consists of four stations and one translator:
The Red River Radio listening region is one of the largest coverage areas for public radio in the United States
.
, All Things Considered
, Fresh Air
, World Cafe
, Car Talk
, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me and From the Top
. The network also broadcasts many Public Radio International
programs including This American Life
and To the Point
and many programs from American Public Media
, including Marketplace Money, Performance Today
, A Prairie Home Companion
, and The Splendid Table
. Red River Radio broadcasts many independently produced programs such as Art of the Song®, Beale Street Caravan®, Blues Before Sunrise, Bluegrass Breakdown, Classical Guitar Alive, Hearts of Space
, intelligence2 DEBATES, New Orleans All the Way Live, Radiolab, With Heart and Voice, and Women in Music.
Red River Radio provides local news weekday mornings during Morning Edition. In 2005, news producer Kate Archer pioneered a community news-gathering effort called the Community Correspondent program in which residents of the community borrow equipment from the network to produce local stories for broadcast during the local newscasts.
Some of the programs aired on RRR are produced locally, at the KDAQ studio. For instance, Wally Derleth hosts Evening Jazz, featuring nights dedicated to big band, contemporary and other sub-genres of jazz music. Other locally produced programs include Blues After Hours, hosted by John Ellis and Regional Symphony Broadcasts, hosted by Kermit Poling. A previously-aired local program, Soul Review, dedicated to classic soul and R&B from the 1960's to the 1980's, was hosted by Eric Jenkins from 2008 to 2011.
Numerous local and national contributors provide educational and often compelling commentary at different times during the week. Currently, these short radio segments include A Moment of Science, Get It Growing, Earth and Sky, History Matters, Eco Tech Minute, What Was I Thinking?, Dr. Archie McDonald's Commentary, The Big Picture With Alexandyr Kent, Stardate, and Spotlights.
The flagship station, KDAQ, has operated for over two decades out of cramped quarters in a temporary building at the LSUS campus. However, a campaign is underway since 2007 to construct a new building on campus that would house production and on-air studios, as well as a small concert hall. By the middle of 2007, RRR had already begun to broadcast two of its signals via the new technology called HD Radio
. Currently there are three HD streams for KDAQ. The HD stream is a digital version of the regular programming, HD2 is Classical Music, and HD3 has News/Talk with additional programs not found in the regular lineup, allowing for more choices throughout the day and night.
Grambling, Louisiana (translator station)
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, southern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, eastern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and the southeasternmost corner of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. The network is headquartered on the campus of Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Louisiana State University in Shreveport is a branch of the Louisiana State University System in Shreveport, Louisiana. Opened in 1967, LSUS is the only public four-year university in the Shreveport-Bossier metro area....
.
Red River Radio consists of four stations and one translator:
- KDAQ 89.9 MHz in Shreveport, LouisianaShreveport, LouisianaShreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
(flagship) - KLSA 90.7 MHz in Alexandria, LouisianaAlexandria, LouisianaAlexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
- KBSA 90.9 MHz in El Dorado, ArkansasEl Dorado, ArkansasEl Dorado , a multi-cultural arts center: South Arkansas Arts Center , an award-winning renovated downtown, and numerous sporting, shopping, and dining opportunities. El Dorado is the population, cultural, and business center of the 7,300 mi² regional area...
- KLDN 88.9 MHz in Lufkin, TexasLufkin, TexasLufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...
- K214CE 90.7 MHz in Grambling, LouisianaGrambling, LouisianaGrambling is a city in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,693 at the 2000 census. The city is home to Grambling State University and is part of the Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area....
The Red River Radio listening region is one of the largest coverage areas for public radio in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Programming
Red River Radio (RRR) is affiliated with National Public Radio and broadcasts many popular NPR programs including Morning EditionMorning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
, All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
, World Cafe
World Cafe
World Cafe is a two-hour long, nationally syndicated music radio program that originates from WXPN, a non-commercial station licensed to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The program began in 1991 and was originally distributed by Public Radio...
, Car Talk
Car Talk
Car Talk is a radio talk show broadcast weekly on National Public Radio stations throughout the United States and elsewhere. Its subjects are automobiles and repair, and it often takes humorous turns...
, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me and From the Top
From the Top
From the Top is a national program and initiative to develop and showcase young classical musicians. It is best known for its NPR radio and PBS television programs hosted by pianist Christopher O'Riley, which celebrate the passion, dedication and personal stories of America's best young classical...
. The network also broadcasts many Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
programs including This American Life
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
and To the Point
To the Point
To the Point is an hour-long public affairs radio program co-produced by KCRW in Santa Monica, California and Public Radio International. The program originates at KCRW at 12 pm Pacific Time each weekday. Award-winning journalist Warren Olney hosts the show; it is syndicated nationwide by PRI and...
and many programs from American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
, including Marketplace Money, Performance Today
Performance Today
Performance Today is a Peabody Award-winning classical music radio show, currently hosted by Fred Child. It is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with 1.2 million listeners on 237 stations...
, A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
, and The Splendid Table
The Splendid Table
The Splendid Table is a weekly radio program about food hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. It is produced and distributed by American Public Media and airs weekends nationwide on public radio stations. It provides listeners with information on food preparation, appreciation, and culture...
. Red River Radio broadcasts many independently produced programs such as Art of the Song®, Beale Street Caravan®, Blues Before Sunrise, Bluegrass Breakdown, Classical Guitar Alive, Hearts of Space
Hearts of Space
Hearts of Space is a United States weekly syndicated public radio show featuring music of a contemplative nature drawn largely from the ambient, New Age and electronic genres, while also including classical, world, Celtic, experimental, and other music selections...
, intelligence2 DEBATES, New Orleans All the Way Live, Radiolab, With Heart and Voice, and Women in Music.
Red River Radio provides local news weekday mornings during Morning Edition. In 2005, news producer Kate Archer pioneered a community news-gathering effort called the Community Correspondent program in which residents of the community borrow equipment from the network to produce local stories for broadcast during the local newscasts.
Some of the programs aired on RRR are produced locally, at the KDAQ studio. For instance, Wally Derleth hosts Evening Jazz, featuring nights dedicated to big band, contemporary and other sub-genres of jazz music. Other locally produced programs include Blues After Hours, hosted by John Ellis and Regional Symphony Broadcasts, hosted by Kermit Poling. A previously-aired local program, Soul Review, dedicated to classic soul and R&B from the 1960's to the 1980's, was hosted by Eric Jenkins from 2008 to 2011.
Numerous local and national contributors provide educational and often compelling commentary at different times during the week. Currently, these short radio segments include A Moment of Science, Get It Growing, Earth and Sky, History Matters, Eco Tech Minute, What Was I Thinking?, Dr. Archie McDonald's Commentary, The Big Picture With Alexandyr Kent, Stardate, and Spotlights.
Station operation and development
Like most public radio stations, RRR is funded primarily by its members. Twice each year, the network conducts a membership campaign pledge drive to pay for programming and ongoing operational costs. For the past several pledge drives, RRR has met or exceeded its membership goals, and at the halfway point through fiscal year 2009 had recorded its best support ever, despite the uncertain economy.The flagship station, KDAQ, has operated for over two decades out of cramped quarters in a temporary building at the LSUS campus. However, a campaign is underway since 2007 to construct a new building on campus that would house production and on-air studios, as well as a small concert hall. By the middle of 2007, RRR had already begun to broadcast two of its signals via the new technology called HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
. Currently there are three HD streams for KDAQ. The HD stream is a digital version of the regular programming, HD2 is Classical Music, and HD3 has News/Talk with additional programs not found in the regular lineup, allowing for more choices throughout the day and night.
External links
Grambling, Louisiana (translator station)