WNSC-FM
Encyclopedia
WNSC-FM is a National Public Radio station in Rock Hill, South Carolina
. A member of ETV Radio
, it carries programming from ETV Radio's all-news network. Its studios are located at York Technical College, with its transmitting tower located five miles south of Rock Hill (at 34° 50' 23.00" North Latitude, 81° 01' 6.00" West Longitude).
WNSC-FM signed on in 1979, and was originally known as WPRV. It was the first NPR station in the Charlotte area; the market's flagship NPR station, WFAE
, didn't sign on until 1981. From its sign-on until 2001, it aired a format of NPR news and classical music
along with the rest of what was then the South Carolina Educational Radio Network (SCERN). In 2001, it broke off from the rest of the SCERN stations to air jazz
music under the moniker of "Carolinas Jazz 88.9" in order to avoid programming conflicts with WFAE. However, on July 1, 2008, it joined ETV Radio's NPR news network. SCETV president Moss Bresnahan told The Charlotte Observer
that SCETV didn't want to deny people on the South Carolina side of the Charlotte market access to SCETV's growing slate of local programming. The move left the Charlotte market without a jazz station of its own.
WNSC is the only station on the South Carolina side of the market that penetrates Charlotte to any significant extent. Its 97,900-watt signal easily covers Charlotte itself, as well as Gaston and Union
counties. However, it only provides fringe coverage to the northern part of the market (Concord
, Lincolnton
, Mooresville
, etc.), largely because it must conform its signal to protect fellow NPR station WDAV
, at nearby 89.9. Until the spring of 2011, it identified as "Rock Hill/Charlotte," making it the only ETV station to include a second city in its legal ID. This is despite the fact that sister station WLJK in Aiken
also serves Augusta, Georgia
.
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
. A member of ETV Radio
South Carolina Educational Television
South Carolina Educational Television is the statewide public television and public radio network in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It consists of all the Public Broadcasting Service member [television stations and National Public Radio member radio stations in the state...
, it carries programming from ETV Radio's all-news network. Its studios are located at York Technical College, with its transmitting tower located five miles south of Rock Hill (at 34° 50' 23.00" North Latitude, 81° 01' 6.00" West Longitude).
WNSC-FM signed on in 1979, and was originally known as WPRV. It was the first NPR station in the Charlotte area; the market's flagship NPR station, WFAE
WFAE
WFAE is the flagship National Public Radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina broadcasting at 90.7 MHz on the FM dial.The station went on the air on June 29, 1981 as a service of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, taking over from a student-run carrier current station that had begun...
, didn't sign on until 1981. From its sign-on until 2001, it aired a format 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...
along with the rest of what was then the South Carolina Educational Radio Network (SCERN). In 2001, it broke off from the rest of the SCERN stations to air jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music under the moniker of "Carolinas Jazz 88.9" in order to avoid programming conflicts with WFAE. However, on July 1, 2008, it joined ETV Radio's NPR news network. SCETV president Moss Bresnahan told The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer, serving Charlotte, North Carolina and its metro area, is the largest newspaper, in terms of circulation, in North Carolina and South Carolina...
that SCETV didn't want to deny people on the South Carolina side of the Charlotte market access to SCETV's growing slate of local programming. The move left the Charlotte market without a jazz station of its own.
WNSC is the only station on the South Carolina side of the market that penetrates Charlotte to any significant extent. Its 97,900-watt signal easily covers Charlotte itself, as well as Gaston and Union
Union County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 123,677 people, 43,390 households, and 34,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile . There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile...
counties. However, it only provides fringe coverage to the northern part of the market (Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...
, Lincolnton
Lincolnton, North Carolina
Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route...
, Mooresville
Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large suburban town in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. It is in the Metrolina metro area. The population was 32,133 at the 2010 United States Census...
, etc.), largely because it must conform its signal to protect fellow NPR station WDAV
WDAV
WDAV "Classical 89.9" is a non-commercial public radio station located in Davidson, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte, North Carolina market. The station, owned by Davidson College, airs classical music and fine arts programming....
, at nearby 89.9. Until the spring of 2011, it identified as "Rock Hill/Charlotte," making it the only ETV station to include a second city in its legal ID. This is despite the fact that sister station WLJK in Aiken
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
also serves Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
.