[ADAM I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CLASSICAL ONE PHOTOS FOR THIS] COLUMBUS, OHIO, DECEMBER 10, 2010 â WOSU Public Media plans on expanding its public service broadcasting for the central Ohio community with the launch of Classical 101 (WOSA 101.1 FM) on Wednesday, December 15, pursuant to finalizing the purchase of 101.1 FM. The station will go on the air at 6am and will be the sole all-classical, noncommercial music station in central Ohio. âClassical music has had a long and loyal following in central Ohio, dating back to our founding in 1922,â? says General Manager Tom Rieland. âWe believe Classical 101 and its affiliated stations will strengthen the sustainability of all of the performing arts in the region and help develop a new listener base for classical music through broadcasts and online. The daytime lineup of local hosts for Classical 101 includes:
- Boyce Lancaster with the early morning classical program from 6 to 10am.
- Jennifer Hambrick will follow middays, including the Amadeus Deli at Noon.
- John Rittmeyer will host in the afternoons and then return with the popular Symphony@7 program weeknights at 7pm.
- Christopher Purdy will continue hosting Music in Mid-Ohio, Serenata, Saturday on Stage, Columbus Symphony live broadcasts, Concerts at Ohio State, and Musica Sacra on the weekends.
Classical 101 will feature the national program Performance Today weekdays from 5 to 7pm. A complete program schedule can be found here. On January 6, 2011, WOSU 89.7 FM will switch from a service offering classical music and news to become central Ohioâs only all-day NPR news station on the FM dial. âWOSU was recently named the best news operation in Ohio by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists,â? said Stephen Weed, Friends of WOSU Board President. âThe move to a 24-hour news format will provide central Ohio with the most important local news stories, quality local programming like All Sides with Ann Fisher, and exceptional national programming such as NPRâs Morning Edition and Talk of the Nation.â? Listeners can stream both 89.7 NPR News and Classical 101 live online by visiting wosu.org. Future plans include an expanded website that will serve as a destination for classical music fans in central Ohio and beyond to discover, discuss, and share the music they love. WOSU Radio is a network of stations. Beginning in January:
- WOSB 91.1 FM in Marion/Delaware will be an all-classical music service for Marion County and the northern portion of Delaware County.
- WOSP 91.5 FM in Portsmouth and WOSE 91.1 FM in Coshocton will both simulcast the classical service.
- WOSV 91.7 FM in Mansfield will simulcast 89.7 NPR News.
Listeners can access additional WOSU programming through HD Radio. WOSU will kick off a special Classical 101 Campaign by inviting major donors and grassroots supporters to become founding members and support the new all-classical service. In June 2010, WOSU Public Media, through its licensee, The Ohio State University, agreed to terms to acquire the radio station frequency, 101.1 FM, to expand WOSUâs public service broadcasting for the region. Ohio State received FCC approval in November 2010. WOSU Public Media is community-supported, nonprofit, noncommercial public radio and television stations licensed to The Ohio State University.