is a public

Public broadcasting

Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...

 radio station

Radio station

Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...

 in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...

 that began broadcasting in 1956. Initially, the station carried only locally produced education programs, but was the first station in Columbus to affiliate with National Public Radio and began carrying NPR programs in the 1970's. By the 1980's, the station had transitioned to a mix of NPR News and classical music

Classical music

Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...

. In 1990, the station switched musical formats to music classified as adult album alternative

Adult album alternative

Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....

 (AAA or Triple-A).

Today, WCBE is a NPR member station and also carries programs distributed by 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...

. The station carries most of the major public radio programs, including Morning Edition

Morning 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...

, 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...

, and Prairie Home Companion, as well as several locally produced music

Music

Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...

 programs. The call sign

Call sign

In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...

 represents the station's licensee, the Columbus Board of Education (Columbus City Schools).

From .org:

" is a public radio station that exists to serve the cultural, information, and educational needs of Central Ohio and beyond. We fulfill this mission utilizing all available audio media: radio broadcasting, web streaming, content provision, and any other media existing or emerging which will help us enhance our community.

"Our goal is to provide a broad base of the Central Ohio community with services going beyond the stereotypical "heritage" formats of public radio. We shall mix public radio news and cultural mainstays with a truly eclectic blend of local and world music, a commitment to local news coverage, and efforts to serve our audience in both traditional and nontraditional ways."