NSPR Expands Collaboration with CapRadio After Board Vote

North State Public Radio (NSPR) will begin a wide-ranging collaboration with Sacramento’s Capital Public Radio (CapRadio) effective October 1, 2020. The collaborative agreement was formally approved this week by Chico State Enterprises’ (CSE) Board of Directors, following an 18-month study and discussion.

In spring 2019, NSPR (a service of California State University, Chico) and CapRadio (currently operating stations licensed to Sacramento State) announced they were exploring a long-term management agreement with support from Public Media Company, a nonprofit public media research and consulting group. The focus was on expanding the impact of public radio in Northern California and improving local, regional and state news coverage, as well as growing listenership, financial support and community engagement for NSPR.

“Six months into the study, it became evident that this partnership had great potential to secure a healthy future for NSPR,” NSPR General Manager Phil Wilke said. “We’ll be able to bring a wealth of resources to programming, membership, engineering and other facets of the station that we could not have done on our own—ultimately delivering on our public service mission in a more robust way.”

Community input was a key part of the 18-month study. In a July public town hall meeting with NSPR listeners, the proposal received positive and constructive feedback. Many listeners voiced concern about possible loss of local news and reporting on issues important to the North State, and reinforced their strong support for the station and its current programming.

“CapRadio is looking to build on the strengths and successes that NSPR has had over the last several years,” CapRadio General Manager Jun Reina said. “We’re looking to add journalists to the NSPR newsroom so they can expand coverage at a time when other newsrooms across the country are shedding staff and reducing services. Those are the types of changes that listeners and members can expect.”

With CSE approval, NSPR will begin working with CapRadio departments to identify how systems and personnel can best be integrated, evaluate where cost savings are possible, and determine how to use CapRadio’s substantial resources to serve NSPR listeners, donors and business partners. As part of the agreement, the broadcast licenses will remain with CSE, and the organization will provide administrative support and financial oversight.

“This is the next logical step in the growth of NSPR,” said Stephen Cummins, director of University Public Engagement and the lead on overseeing the agreement for CSU, Chico. “In an era where news organizations are faltering and journalists are being laid off, NSPR will continue to grow and be the most trusted and complete source of news and cultural programming in the North State.”

CapRadio serves California’s Capital region, Central Valley and Sierra Nevada as the public-supported alternative to for-profit media. As the NPR-member station based in Sacramento, CapRadio connects with communities through seven broadcast stations, live streaming, podcasts, digital communities, live experiences and more. Known for its award-winning newsroom, CapRadio is recognized as a leader in community-engaged journalism and state government reporting, and CapRadio Music is the exclusive broadcast source of classical music and jazz in the region. With more than 500,000 weekly listeners on-air and online, CapRadio provides a trusted and indispensable source of information, music and events.

NSPR began broadcasting from CSU, Chico in 1969 from a room behind Laxson Auditorium with a signal that extended to the Chico city limits. Over the years, it acquired KFPR in Redding and, through broadcast translators, gradually expanded its signal to serve valley and mountain communities across the North State. The station eventually moved to its current home at 35 Main Street, where it will continue to operate and broadcast from under CapRadio management.

NSPR can be heard across Northern California on the following frequencies: KCHO 91.7 FM Chico, KFPR 88.9 FM Redding, 91.9 FM Burney, 89.7 FM Chester, 92.3 FM Dunsmuir and Mount Shasta, 100.9 FM Greenville, 99.7 FM Hayfork, 92.3 FM Oroville, 89.5 FM Weaverville and 98.3 FM Westwood. Listen to NSPR online at mynspr.org.