North Country Radio Wars - Gospel Radio

If you are not already familiar with the outside attacks by other radio stations on our beloved North Country Public Radio, you can find all you need to know here, here and here.

But how many people know that WAMC Public Radio out of Albany is not the only station attacking NCPR. It appears that gospel station WNGN also wants the lucrative Lake Placid airways. This radio station is part of the listener supported Northeast Gospel Broadcasting, Inc. presided over by President and General Manager Brian Larson. Larson blames NCPR for their Lake Placid problem. In an interview with the Adirondack Daily Enterprise Larson said: "St. Lawrence University could have solved this years ago by converting their translator to a primary station." NCPR General Manager Ellen Rocco responded in the same ADE article: "We're basically cheap. It's your money and we try to be very economical with your dollars." Explaining why NCPR has not put up a full power station in the Lake Placid area. North Country residents can certainly sympathize with that statement. But NCPR has applied for a permanent transmitter in the Lake Placid area consistently over the last 21 years.

WNGN's programming is mostly gospel teachings and Christian music. Oliver North is a regular guest on WNGN. The North Country is a primarily Republican area and I'm sure listeners would love to hear Oliver North. But I question how many area residents really want to listen to gospel teachings and Christian music, not to imply that North Country residents are not religious.

In the best of Christian traditions Larson says "We'd love to be the peacemakers."

According to the ADK article NCPR is applying for a 1500 watt transmitter. WAMC for a 6000 watt transmitter and WNGN for an 8000 watt transmitter.

It's unclear to me, but from what I can tell the FCC typically awards the license to the most powerful transmitter that reaches the most people. We will see how this all turns out. North Country residents are not afraid of a good fight and will not be intimidated by these larger radio stations.