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Frank
and LydiaBergen Foundation Supporta Listener Expansion for WWFM The Classical
Network 12-12-08 WEST WINDSOR, N.J. -- WWFM The Classical Network of Mercer County Community College, has received renewed support from the Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation of Summit, NJ. The $37,500 grant will enable the station to expand its listener base for five locally produced radio programs through the Public Radio Satellite System, live stream and webcast media formats. Each of the five programs -- The Dress Circle, The Lost Chord, Sounds Choral, Cadenza, and the Distant Mirror -- brings a unique aspect of music and the arts to listeners across New Jersey and around the world. A Bergen Foundation grant of $10,000 last year enabled the station to launch its Dress Circle program nationally, and to improve the station's website capabilities to offer local online programming. The Sounds Choral program recently was picked up by a station in northern Michigan so it will be syndicated through the satellite service. The five New Jersey-produced programs focus on areas of classical music access and education that are in danger of being lost as many classical music stations narrow their playlists and become more homogenous in their programming, according to WWFM General Manager Peter Fretwell. Expansion of the station's classical and jazz programming listenership has been Fretwell's major goal since he joined the station in June of 2007. "Part of what we are doing with this generous funding is expanding our digital distribution," Fretwell said. Very recently the station joined iTUNES, which resulted in a huge increase in listeners for both the classical and jazz formats. More about the affected programs:
WWFM The Classical Network is licensed to Mercer County Community College, and its main studios are located on the college's West Windsor Campus. The network is New Jersey's only classical music network providing programming 24 hours a day. It began broadcasting in 1982 and serves New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and portions of Delaware and Maryland. It offers simulcast programming via satellite to portions of Colorado. A new jazz station, "Jazz on 2" was launched on Sept. 1, 2008, and airs on 89.1 HD2, one of 89.1's new digital channels, and online. WWFM
relies on diverse sources of funding for its operating budget, with the
largest source of income generated through annual support from its listener-members.
For more information, visit www.wwfm.org or call 1-800-622-9936. |
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