Rice Lake's LPFM radio station goes online

WYRL’s broadcast (and now streaming) booth.

Rice Lake Community Media’s low-power FM radio station recently began streaming their signal online. RLCM Executive Director James Wyngaard says it’s been a bit of a process to get it going. “After a lot of research and getting advice from other stations who have done this type of set up, it finally came together in June.”

WYRL-LP first got off the ground when the FCC opened the airwaves to more low power radio stations during the last round of licensing in 2015. “We promoted WYRL-LP on the community media website at ricelaketv.com/wyrl by posting the schedule and telling listeners how to tune in,” said Wyngaard. But until June, the station was not online. This proved to be an obstacle. When the chair of the Rice Lake Cable Commission, Al Arnold, started contacting service clubs and other groups around Rice Lake asking if they would be interested in having a show on the station, he found most wanted to know if it was streaming online. When they learned that it was in the works, they all wanted to wait until it was set up so their shows would reach a larger audience than just the on-air coverage range of the station.

To prepare for streaming, WYRL changed its automation software at the beginning of the year and then staff worked with a partner of DJB Software, Cirrus Streaming out of Florida, on the set-up process.  Wyngaard said, “Working with Cirrus was a very easy process and as we go on as a customer of theirs, they will be setting us up with mobile apps and Alexa skills in the next couple of months.”

Wyngaard wanted to thank Stoughton’s Derek Westby for technical assistance in getting the new website set up and helping with some other behind the scenes programming.

The radio station stream can be found at wyrlradio.com.

Wisconsin Broadcasters Association recognizes excellence at Sun Prairie's “The Sun” Community Radio

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has recognized Sun Prairie’s 103.5 FM The Sun Community Radio station with four broadcasting awards, including the heavily coveted Station of the Year trophy.

Entering in the Large Market Radio category specializing in a music format, this was the first year that 103.5 FM (WLSP-LP) won for Station of the Year.

“This was completely unexpected, but of course completely deserved,” joked Sun Prairie Media Center director Jeff Robbins. “I think that what we have to offer on 103.5 FM, with community-produced programming, high school sports coverage, and loads of news and information specifically tailored to Sun Prairie residents, is something really unique and special. We thank the WBA for acknowledging that with this award. And of course I want to thank all of our wonderful producers, our staff, our Media Center Commission, our Friends group, and our elected officials for all of their support. We couldn’t do what we do without everyone pitching in.”

Besides the Station of the Year award (which The Sun shared in a tie with WLUM-FM out of Milwaukee), Greg Bump won Best Radio Show for “Greg’s List,” Dan Presser won Best Newscast for “Sun Prairie News,” and Sara Milewski and Sandy Xiong won Best Significant Community Impact Programming for their “Multicultural Fair Radio Reboot.”

 Also recognized were Mark Gonwa’s “Song Archaeology,” which took second place in “Best Radio Show,” Christine Bright’s “Parenting Game,” which took third place in “Best Specialty Programming,” and 103.5 FM’s coverage of last year’s WIAA Division 1 Championship Football Game between Sun Prairie and Franklin, which finished third in “Best Sports Coverage.” Calling that game were Mike Powers, Jamison Rabbitt, and Bill Baker.

 SPMC director Jeff Robbins clarified one additional point about the WBA awards: “Our TV stations are not considered broadcast because cable is the main means of distributing them. So we don’t enter in the television side of the WBA awards. But our radio station is considered broadcast, so we are eligible in WBA’s radio categories.”

Want to be part of this award-winning team? The Sun Prairie Media Center is currently looking for radio and podcast producers to take advantage of its awesome studio facilities and excellent staff. Anyone interested should call 608-837-4193, email 103.5 FM Production Manager Colin Lessig at clessig@cityofsunprairie.com, or check out sunprairiemediacenter.com, where program ideas can be submitted directly to SPMC staff.

Episodes of 103.5 FM’s award-winning programs can be accessed for on-demand listening by downloading the Sun Prairie Media Center app, available for free from the App Store or Google Play.