Description

Texas Public Radio (TPR) operates three non-commercial radio stations. KPAC, 88.3 FM and KSTX, 89.1 FM broadcast to South Central Texas from studios in San Antonio. KTXI, 90.1 FM broadcasts to the Texas Hill Country from a location near Kerrville.

Texas Public Radio was organized in 1988 and formally incorporated the following year. It grew out of a merger of two separate organizations, the Classical Broadcasting Society of San Antonio and San Antonio Community Radio. Its name was chosen anticipating eventual expansion of service to listeners throughout the state. It is an independent, non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors composed of residents from San Antonio and the Hill Country.

KPAC has specialized in broadcasting classical music and fine arts information since 1982. For the most part, its programming is created from its own library of classical music recordings – a collection that provides varied and comprehensive opportunities to sample the entire range of the music. The schedule also includes live broadcasts of The Metropolitan Opera and recorded concerts by some of the world’s finest symphony orchestras. Specialty programs include music for children, early music and new compact disc releases. KPAC is listened to regularly by as many as 60,000 people.

Since 1988, KSTX has been the only local source of public radio’s premier news, information and entertainment programs. Its weekday schedule is composed mainly of programs produced by National Public Radio such as NPR’s flagship newsmagazines All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Opportunity for listener comments and questions on a wide range of subjects is offered during NPR’s Talk of the Nation and The Diane Rehm Show. Foreign perspective on news-making events is offered in The World and overnight broadcast of the BBC World Service. Entertainment programs on weekends include such public radio favorites as A Prairie Home Companion, Car Talk and San Antonio’s own Jim Cullum Jazz Band in the nationally distributed series Riverwalk, Live From the Landing. As many as 70,000 people listen regularly to KSTX.

In 1998 Texas Public Radio added a third station to the family. KTXI serves listeners in the Hill Country with simultaneous broadcasts of programs in the KPAC and KSTX schedules. In time, it will originate at least some of its own schedule – to allow opportunity for programming that is specifically oriented to Hill Country listeners.