29 Apr 2009

New Hampshire Public Radio Achieves $6.5 Million Capital Campaign Goal

State-of-The-Art Facility Offers Digital Capacity and Technological Flexibility

CONCORD, NH — (April 29, 2009) There is much to celebrate at New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) these days. Thanks to the generosity of listeners, foundations and corporations from across the state, the station recently completed a $6.5 million capital campaign and is now broadcasting from new studios at 2 Pillsbury Street in Concord, NH, offering extended service to Portsmouth, Colebrook, and Plymouth. Plans are also underway to expand signals and upgrade transmitters around the state, including digital conversions in Concord, Hanover, Keene and Nashua, and back-up systems in Concord, Hanover, Berlin and Jackson.

“If ever one needed proof that NHPR is essential to our lives in the Granite State, that proof was given by the hundreds of people of all ages and circumstances who contributed to our capital campaign,” said Stephen Reno, chair of NHPR’s board of trustees in announcing the campaign’s successful completion.

According to Betsy Gardella, NHPR’s president and CEO, the new digital broadcast facility represents an investment in the future of news coverage in New Hampshire and a new beginning for NHPR. “Advances in technology are happening at lightning speed and with fully digital studios, we now have the ability to move quickly as technological changes occur.” Technology upgrades will allow NHPR to increase its engagement with listeners both on the air and online via increased website capabilities and additional programming “streams.”

The new digital broadcast center provides for future expansion and currently supports the production of new programming series, including “New Hampshire’s Energy Future” and “Working it Out”—programs that address the status of New Hampshire’s economic recovery. A performance studio accommodates up to 125 for live broadcasts and events, and will be available for rental to outside groups including recording, broadcast and/or streaming of events.

Lead funders to the campaign were the Byrne Foundation, Lincoln Financial Foundation, Putnam Family Foundation, and Stonyfield Farms. A challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation in the final phase of the campaign required a 4:1 match or $1 million – a challenge that was awarded and successfully met in the final six months of the campaign.

Members of the Board of Trustees and contributors to the capital campaign will celebrate the campaign completion with a ceremony and tours next week. Members of the public can sign up on the NHPR website www.nhpr.org for a tour to be given on Saturday, May 9.

According to Gardella, 100% of the board of trustees and station staff contributed to the campaign and more than 1,500 listeners—both members and friends—donated through an ‘Every Listener’ effort aired last December. “The premise of public radio is that support comes from the whole community, that donations from many ensure independence and balance. I am proud and grateful to our listeners across the state,” said Gardella. “Throughout this campaign they have said that public media really matters in New Hampshire.”

“Thanks to the outstanding leadership of campaign co-chairs, Barbara Couch of Hanover and Bill Chapman of Concord, the tireless efforts of Betsy Gardella, and the commitment of the Board of Trustees, but most especially generous listeners across the region, we’ll all be enlightened, enriched, and enlivened by our own 21st Century Radio,” said Reno.

About NHPR

NHPR serves more than 160,000 listeners each week through a network of eleven full power stations and low power translators. NHPR is the only statewide source of radio news, information, and entertainment for the Granite State, offering in-depth reporting of the issues facing New Hampshire residents. NHPR's staff sees the importance of providing a comprehensive information source for New Hampshire as one of the station's highest priorities. Contributions from listeners and businesses in New Hampshire make up more than 90 percent of the revenue necessary to operate NHPR.

NHPR broadcasts in Concord/Manchester at 89.1 FM, Nashua at 88.3 FM, Keene/Southwest NH 90.7 FM, Hanover/Upper Valley/Littleton at 91.3 FM, Plymouth at 97.3 FM, Berlin/North Conway at 107.1 FM, Jackson/Mt. Washington Valley 99.5 FM, Portsmouth at 103.9 FM, Dover at 104.3 FM, Colebrook at 105.9 FM and on the Internet at www.nhpr.org.

DIGITAL BROADCAST CENTER SUMMARY

NHPR’s production and broadcast center provides a venue where live call-in programs, in-depth interviews, and sound-rich feature stories can be easily produced. A state-of-the-art technological operations center facilitates the distribution of their programs to and beyond their network of transmitters and satellite uplinks. It allows them the opportunity to create a “sound bank” of programs for on-demand and online distribution. Through this facility they can also offer expanded social networks and citizen journalism opportunities. This technological innovation offers the station’s listeners more control over media choices, both in programming and mobility in an increasingly consumer-driven environment. In addition to the new state-of-the-art studios and office space, NHPR’s new home includes a large community forum where local shows will be broadcast with in-studio audiences and special events such as performances and lecture series.

The construction for the new facility was completed by North Branch Construction of Concord, New Hampshire. The furnishings and textiles were provided by Company C of Concord, New Hampshire. NHPR has received significant support from the Lincoln Financial Group Foundation in recognition of NHPR’s arts and cultural reporting, from Stonyfield Farms in support of environmental coverage, and from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for their support of health news and information.