Expanding on the success of St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU, the University of Missouri–St. Louis is acquiring Quincy University’s public radio station WQUB 90.3 FM in Quincy, Ill.
The sale of WQUB is expected to be completed in the next three to four months, at which point, St. Louis Public Radio will handle operations and programming of the station.
“St. Louis Public Radio provides thousands of St. Louis area residents with daily access to award-winning local and national programs,” UMSL Chancellor Tom George said. “I’m delighted that UMSL will be able to expand that access to listeners in and around Quincy and Hannibal.”
“We are very pleased that public radio programming in Quincy will be not only retained but also expanded through this transaction with St. Louis Public Radio. The expansion will strengthen cultural links between St. Louis and Quincy, just as our communities have recently expanded air transportation links,” Robert Gervasi, president of Quincy University.
As part of the St. Louis Public Radio network, WQUB will be called Quincy Public Radio. Under the umbrella of St. Louis Public Radio, Quincy Public Radio listeners will not only be able to continue enjoying signature public radio programs such as “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “The Diane Rehm Show,” “Fresh Air” and “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”, but they will now be able to also hear other signature programs such as “Talk of the Nation,” “Marketplace,” “Car Talk,” “This American Life” and “A Prairie Home Companion.”
“Public radio is a vitally important asset to the many communities it serves, so it was important to us to ensure that WQUB would continue serving the Quincy area,” said St. Louis Public Radio general manager Tim Eby.
In addition to preserving the public radio air waves, Quincy Public Radio officials pledge to continue supporting the many civic events and cultural programs in the Quincy area. “Moving forward, it is our goal for Quincy Public Radio to remain an important part of the cultural fabric of the Quincy community,” said Eby, “through various partnerships, sponsorships and long-lasting relationships.”
St. Louis Public Radio was represented by Public Radio Capital in the transaction, a nonprofit with a mission to strengthen and expand noncommercial media to provide local communities nationwide with more in-depth information, unbiased news, diverse music and cultural programming.
St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU provides the St. Louis region award-winning, in-depth news, insightful discussion, and entertaining programs that focus on the issues and people who shape our community, our country and our world. Signature programs include: “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “Fresh Air,” “This American Life,” “Marketplace,” “Car Talk,” “St. Louis on the Air,” “BBC World Service,” “The Tavis Smiley Show,” “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” and “A Prairie Home Companion.”
St. Louis Public Radio, which broadcasts in HD on 90.7, 90.7-2 and 90.7-3, reaches nearly 235,000 people each week in the bi-state area. St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU is a member-supported service of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
