Public radio rivals team up to boost WDCB, Vocalo

Vocalo studio

Vocalo studio

Although they’re still competitors, the Chicago area’s two public radio broadcasters have agreed to a “creative collaboration” aimed at increasing audiences for both.

Calling it a win for “everyone who loves public radio,” Chicago Public Media (parent company of WBEZ FM 91.5 and Vocalo) and College of DuPage’s WDCB FM 90.9 this week announced a long-term agreement for WDCB to simulcast its jazz and eclectic music format on WRTE FM 90.7. It formalizes an arrangement that’s been in place since late last year. Before that, Chicago Public Media had been using WRTE to simulcast the programming of Vocalo.

WDCB

WDCB

For WDCB, which broadcasts from west suburban Glen Ellyn, the expansion substantially boosts the reach of its signal in Chicago.

Chicago Public Media purchased the WRTE frequency (formerly at 90.5 FM) in 2012 from the National Museum of Mexican Art. The station previously served the Latino community from the Pilsen/Little Village neighborhood.

In turn the agreement also calls for Vocalo to raise the transmission power of its translator atop the John Hancock Center fivefold, boosting the 91.1 FM signal on both the North Side and South Side of the city. Established in 2007, Vocalo is billed as a “next generation public media service that connects with younger, culturally diverse audiences through music, stories and training.”

Vocalo

Vocalo

“This creative collaboration provides more choices for everyone who loves public radio,” the two public broadcasters said in a joint statement. “It benefits all Chicagoland public radio listeners as it brings the diverse programming of both stations to a much broader audience. Chicago listeners will now have better access to both Vocalo’s urban alternative programming and WDCB’s jazz programming. WDCB is thrilled about its new partnership with Chicago Public Media and the opportunity to connect with a larger audience in Chicago.”

Coincidentally, 91.1 FM also is the frequency of the station Chicago Public Media acquired last December from Kankakee Community College. Covering Kankakee and Iroquois counties counties and simulcasting WBEZ, the station is expected to change its call letters from WKCC to WBEK, as of this Friday. (The two 91.1 FM signals do not overlap.)

The deal with the College of DuPage station marks the second time in recent months Chicago Public Media has formed an alliance with another public broadcaster.

In late March, Chicago Public Media announced a news partnership with Window to the World Communications WTTW-Channel 11. Via newly installed robotic cameras, reporters from WBEZ appear on “Chicago Tonight,” WTTW’s nightly news program, and via high-speed fiber line, WTTW hosts and correspondents appear on WBEZ news and talk shows. The partnership could lead to joint reporting of stories and online collaborations.

The two companies are frenemies, since WTTW's commercial classical radio station, WFMT FM 98.7, competes with WBEZ for donations from listeners in the form of memberships.