New Hampshire Public Radio
New Hampshire's statewide National Public Radio member network and principal public radio news provider.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) is a nonprofit public radio network serving New Hampshire and portions of neighboring New England states. It is a member station network of National Public Radio and is headquartered on Pillsbury Street in Concord. Through its primary station, WEVO, together with additional transmitters, translators, and a secondary HD channel, NHPR reaches most of New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. The network began broadcasting on August 4, 1981, when WEVO signed on in Concord under the name Granite State Public Radio. Its launch addressed a longstanding coverage gap: New Hampshire had been one of the few New England states without a dependable in-state NPR signal. The station initially had approximately 500 members and carried a mixture of NPR news and information programming alongside classical music. It adopted the New Hampshire Public Radio name in 1991 and began broadcasting continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the same period of expansion. NHPR developed from a single station into a statewide network as six additional stations joined between 1992 and 2011. Its programming strategy also changed. In 2000, the weekday schedule moved from a mixed news-and-classical format to an all-news-and-talk service, reflecting the broader shift among public radio stations toward intensive news and information programming. Music remained primarily a weekend feature, including local and folk-oriented programs. In 2014, NHPR acquired WCNH, a low-power classical music station, and made its programming available more broadly through WEVO's second HD channel. NHPR combines national, international, and locally produced programming. Its schedule has included NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, American Public Media's Marketplace, Public Radio Exchange programs such as This American Life, and international services including the BBC World Service and CBC Radio's As It Happens. Local output includes daily New Hampshire newscasts and feature reports, interview programming, and cultural shows. The Exchange is a public-affairs and call-in program associated with longtime host Laura Knoy; Word of Mouth has presented general-interest interviews; and The Folk Show has featured live performances by regional musicians. The organization has also created public cultural events and collaborations, including Writers on a New England Stage, produced with the Music Hall in Portsmouth. The series has presented conversations with prominent authors and public figures and has involved interviewer Virginia Prescott, the house band Dreadnaught, and RiverRun Bookstore. NHPR's journalism operation is among the largest in New Hampshire and has been described as the state's only statewide radio news source. Its funding model is characteristic of American public broadcasting. Listener and business contributions have historically supplied the great majority of revenue, supplemented by grants and support associated with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. NHPR does not receive funding from the State of New Hampshire. The network reported a weekly audience of about 161,100 in spring 2007 and more than 190,000 weekly listeners in 2017, alongside approximately 200,000 monthly unique website visitors in 2017. NHPR remains an active statewide public media organization focused on journalism, civic information, cultural programming, and distribution of public radio content.
History
New Hampshire Public Radio originated with the launch of WEVO in Concord on August 4, 1981. Before the station went on air, New Hampshire lacked a clear in-state NPR signal and was unusual among New England states in that respect. The new service was initially called Granite State Public Radio, reflecting New Hampshire's nickname, and began with roughly 500 members. During its first decade, the station increased its audience, membership, and operating capacity. In 1991 it adopted the New Hampshire Public Radio name and moved to a continuous 24-hour, seven-day schedule. From 1992 through 2011, six additional stations joined the network, allowing NHPR to provide statewide coverage through a combination of full-power transmitters and translators. The network ultimately operated eight transmitters and six translators, reaching most of New Hampshire as well as areas of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. NHPR's format evolved along with the public radio sector. Its early schedule combined NPR news and information programs, especially during drive times, with classical music during other parts of the day. In 2000, the organization shifted its weekday service to an all-news-and-talk model. By the early 2000s, music had largely moved out of the weekday schedule, although weekend cultural and music programs continued. The change strengthened NHPR's role as a news and public-affairs service rather than a general mixed-format station. Local production became an important part of the network's identity. NHPR produces daily newscasts and feature reports about New Hampshire, as well as interview and cultural programs. The Exchange, a morning public-affairs call-in show associated with Laura Knoy, became one of its best-known local offerings. Word of Mouth provided a broader interview and discussion format, while The Folk Show presented live performances by local musicians on Sunday evenings. NHPR also carried major NPR programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, together with selected programming from American Public Media, Public Radio Exchange, the BBC, and CBC Radio. In 1995, NHPR introduced The Exchange, hosted by former NPR reporter Laura Knoy. The network also developed Writers on a New England Stage in partnership with the Music Hall in Portsmouth. The event series brought authors and other public figures before live audiences, with Virginia Prescott as interviewer and Dreadnaught serving as house band. Featured guests listed in connection with the series include John Updike, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Dan Brown, Alan Alda, and Mitch Albom. RiverRun Bookstore participated as an affiliated partner. The organization expanded its audio portfolio in 2014 by acquiring WCNH, a classical music station operating at only 190 watts. Because of WCNH's limited terrestrial signal, its programming was simulcast on WEVO's second HD channel. This allowed NHPR to preserve a dedicated classical service while maintaining the main network's news-and-information orientation. NHPR's journalism operation has been identified as one of the largest in New Hampshire, with a staff of 21 in the referenced period, and as the state's only statewide radio news source. Its funding has primarily come from listeners and New Hampshire businesses, supplemented by grants and Corporation for Public Broadcasting support; the organization has not relied on state government funding. In spring 2007, the network reported approximately 161,100 weekly listeners and about 16,000 contributing members. By 2017, it reported more than 190,000 weekly listeners and approximately 200,000 monthly unique website viewers. NHPR continues to operate as an active nonprofit public radio network focused on statewide journalism, public discussion, cultural programming, and distribution of national and international public media content.
- 2017
NHPR reports expanded audience reach
[1]The network reported more than 190,000 weekly listeners and approximately 200,000 monthly unique website viewers.
- 2014
WCNH joins NHPR
[1]NHPR acquired the low-power classical station WCNH and made its service available through WEVO's second HD channel.
- 2011
Multi-station network expansion reaches its documented endpoint
[1]Six additional stations had joined NHPR between 1992 and 2011, supporting broad statewide coverage.
- 2000
Weekday programming becomes all news and talk
[1]NHPR ended its regular weekday classical-music schedule in favor of news and information programming.
- 1995
The Exchange launches
[1]NHPR introduced its locally produced public-affairs call-in program, later associated with host Laura Knoy.
- 1992
Network station expansion begins
[1]Additional stations began joining the network, with six joining between 1992 and 2011.
- 1991
Network adopts the NHPR name and 24-hour schedule
[1]Granite State Public Radio became New Hampshire Public Radio and expanded to continuous broadcasting.
- 1981
WEVO begins broadcasting
[1]The original Concord station signed on August 4, creating the foundation of New Hampshire's statewide NPR member network.
Products and positioning
A statewide, nonprofit public media network positioned around trusted local journalism, civic discussion, NPR and partner-network programming, and New England cultural coverage.
Primary radio station · 1981
WEVO
WEVO is NHPR's original and principal station, broadcasting from Concord and serving as the core signal for the statewide network. It carries NHPR's local journalism, public-affairs programs, NPR news, and selected cultural programming. WEVO also provides the network's second HD channel, which has been used to distribute WCNH's classical music service.
Public-affairs and call-in program · 1995
The Exchange
The Exchange is a locally produced, hour-long public-affairs and news call-in program. It gives New Hampshire listeners a forum for interviews, civic discussion, and questions about issues affecting the state. The program launched in 1995 and has been associated with host Laura Knoy.
Interview and cultural program
Word of Mouth
Word of Mouth is an NHPR-produced interview program covering general-interest topics and conversations with guests. It forms part of the network's locally made daytime programming and has been hosted by Justine Paradis.
Music program
The Folk Show
The Folk Show is a locally oriented music program featuring live performances by musicians from the region. Broadcast on Sunday evenings, it represents NHPR's continuing weekend commitment to cultural and music programming after the network's weekday transition to news and talk.
Classical music radio · 2014
WCNH classical service
WCNH is a low-power classical music station acquired by NHPR in 2014. Operating at 190 watts, it has been simulcast through WEVO's second HD channel, giving NHPR a dedicated classical offering alongside its main news-and-information network.
Live literary event and broadcast series
Writers on a New England Stage
Writers on a New England Stage is a live event and radio-content series produced by NHPR with the Music Hall in Portsmouth. It presents conversations with authors and other public figures, combining interviews, audience participation, and music from house band Dreadnaught. RiverRun Bookstore has also been associated with the series.
Marketing campaigns
- Writers on a New England Stage
New Hampshire · New England
NHPR partnered with the Music Hall in Portsmouth to create a recurring public literary event and broadcast series featuring conversations with writers and public figures.
Outcome. The series expanded NHPR's cultural presence beyond daily radio programming and featured guests including John Updike, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Dan Brown, Alan Alda, and Mitch Albom.
Brand decisions
2014
Acquisition of WCNHM&ABackground
WCNH was a low-power classical music station whose terrestrial signal was limited to approximately 190 watts.
Action taken
NHPR purchased WCNH and simulcast its classical programming on WEVO's second HD channel.
Aftermath
The transaction added a dedicated classical service to NHPR's portfolio without changing the main network's news-and-talk orientation.
2000
Shift to an all-news-and-talk weekday scheduleStrategyBackground
NHPR had previously combined NPR news and information programming with classical music. Like many public radio organizations, it faced a strategic choice about whether to retain a mixed schedule or concentrate on news and information.
Action taken
The network replaced its regular weekday classical-music schedule with news and talk programming, while retaining selected music and cultural shows primarily on weekends.
Aftermath
The change established NHPR's modern identity as a statewide news, public-affairs, and information service.
Recent events
- 2014
NHPR acquires WCNH[1]
M&A · Product generation
NHPR purchased WCNH, a low-power classical music station, and distributed its programming through WEVO's second HD channel.
- 2000
NHPR changes weekday schedule to news and talk[1]
Other
NHPR replaced its weekday mix of NPR news and classical music with an all-news-and-talk format, while retaining selected music programming mainly on weekends.
- 1991
NHPR adopts continuous 24-hour broadcasting[1]
Other
The renamed New Hampshire Public Radio expanded to round-the-clock, seven-day broadcasting as its service and audience grew.
- 1981
NHPR launches its original station, WEVO[1]
Other
WEVO began broadcasting from Concord on August 4, establishing the first core station of the statewide public radio service then known as Granite State Public Radio.
Sources3 sources
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