Yellowstone Public Radio (YPR) is a regional radio network based in Billings, Montana with transmitters covering most of Montana, as well as northern Wyoming and eastern Idaho. It is operated by Montana State University Billings. It airs a mix of programming from National Public Radio, classical music, and jazz. Its headquarters are located inside the Joseph S. Sample Studios west of the MSU Billings campus on Mabara Lane off Normal Avenue in north-central Billings.
History The network's first station, KEMC in Billings, signed on in 1972 as a 10-watt station owned by what was then Eastern Montana College. It boosted its power to 24,500 watts in 1978. It gradually transitioned from a college radio station to a more professional operation. This culminated in 1984, when it hired a professional station manager and joined National Public Radio, becoming the state's second NPR member. Over the next decade, it boosted its signal to 100,000 watts, and built a network of translators and repeaters across Montana, and now has one of the largest geographical coverage areas in the entire NPR system. Shortly after EMC merged with the Montana State University System, KEMC rebranded itself Yellowstone Public Radio, reflecting that its coverage area spanned across most of the area around Yellowstone National Park. In the same year, its home since 1983, a three-story house west of campus, was renamed the Joseph L. Sample Studios in honor of the Montana broadcasting pioneer.
Stations and translators
Yellowstone Public Radio is broadcast by twelve full-power stations. The network is also relayed by an additional 28 translators to widen its broadcast area.
Call sign Frequency City of license State Facility ID ERPW Heightm (ft) Class Transmitter coordinates KYPB 89.3 FM Big Timber Montana 500 A KEMC 91.7 FM Billings Montana 100,000 C1 KBMC 102.1 FM Bozeman Montana 20,500 C2 KYPC 89.9 FM Colstrip Montana 3,500 C2 KGLZ 89.1 FM East Helena Montana 140 vertical only C3 KYPH 88.5 FM Helena Montana 5,200 C1 KYPX 106.5 FM Helena Valley Southeast Montana 1,800 C2 KYPM 89.9 FM Livingston Montana 1,900 C3 KYPR 90.7 FM Miles City Montana 500 A KYPF 89.5 FM Stanford/Lewistown Montana 4,000 C1 KYPW 88.3 FM Wolf Point Montana 730 A KPRQ 88.1 FM Sheridan Wyoming 450 A KYPZ 96.1 FM Fort Benton Montana 100 C1
Notes:
+ Broadcast translators Call sign Frequency(MHz) City of license State Facility ID Rebroadcasts K206BN 89.1 Ashland Montana KYPR K242DC 96.3 Big Sky Montana KBMC K213AU 90.5 Big Timber Montana KEMC K255CW 98.9 Billings Montana KEMC K251CU 98.1 Bozeman Montana KBMC K220FL 91.9 Broadus Montana KYPR K261CC 100.1 Chester Montana KEMC K203AF 88.5 Colstrip Montana KEMC K203AI 88.5 Columbus Montana KEMC K217FH 91.3 Conrad Montana KEMC K205BZ 88.9 Cut Bank Montana KEMC K216CH 91.1 Emigrant Montana KBMC K216DC 91.1 Forsyth Montana KEMC K220DN 91.9 Glasgow Montana KEMC K203AS 88.5 Glendive Montana KEMC K208DJ 89.5 Great Falls Montana KEMC K219FF 91.7 Havre Montana KEMC K203AE 88.5 Lewistown Montana KEMC K204GR 88.7 Livingston Montana KBMC K206BA 89.1 Red Lodge Montana KEMC K212BC 90.3 Shelby Montana KEMC K220DF 91.9 Terry Montana KEMC K290CA 105.9 West Yellowstone Montana KBMC K220DK 91.9 Buffalo Wyoming KEMC K203AH 88.5 Cody Wyoming KEMC K218ES 91.5 Greybull Wyoming KEMC K285AF 104.9 Mammoth Hot Springs Wyoming KEMC K214EZ 90.7 Worland Wyoming KEMC
References
External links Yellowstone Public Radio