Good news, classical music fans: Bach will be heard more often. So will Offenbach.
A new public radio station is coming to the Twin Ports that will air Wisconsin Public Radio's news and classical music network.
WSSU-FM 88.5 will feature National Public Radio programming like "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition," and "Marketplace" from St. Paul-based American Public Media, along with local news and classical music. It is expected to go live in September, according to WPR regional manager John Munson. Listeners might hear activity on 88.5-FM in the meantime as the station is tested.
The closest radio station currently broadcasting WPR's news and classical network is Brule's WHSA-FM 89.9, which has inconsistent coverage in Superior. Programming on WSSU will be similar to what airs on WHSA.
"We have had a coverage gap for that network for a long time," Munson said. "This was an opportunity to fill in the hole ... in the major population center in this part of the state. It's a good thing for us."
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The new station also will allow for local programming, including news from bureau correspondent Mike Simonson and the potential for coverage of local arts organizations.
A 1,000-watt transmitter has been added to the antennae farm on the hill in Duluth, and the station will be available in Duluth and Superior and up the South Shore.
Adding a station in the Twin Ports area has been in the works for a few years, according to Mike Crane, WPR's Madison-based director of radio. The network applied for station licensing a few years ago and lost out to a company that didn't end up using it.
WSSU-FM 88.5 will be based with other local Wisconsin Public Radio stations at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
The call letters might look familiar: When the college radio station began in 1966, it was WSSU. It switched over to KUWS in 1987. KUWS 91.3 broadcasts programming from WPR's Ideas Network, in addition to locally produced programming like "91 Jazz Street," "The Dean's List" and "Final Edition."
Classical Minnesota Public Radio also can be heard in the Twin Ports on WSCD-FM 92.9.
