WQCS (FM 88.9) is the National Public Radio (NPR) member station for the Treasure Coast of Florida. Licensed to Fort Pierce, it is owned by Indian River State College, with studios in Building Q of the college's main campus in Fort Pierce. The station is non-commercial and listener-supported.

WQCS is a Class C1 station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for most FM stations. The transmitter is on the Indian River State College Campus in Fort Pierce, on South 30th Street at Cross Campus Road. WQCS broadcasts using HD Radio technology. On its HD2 digital subchannel, it offers classical music as "QCS Classic." On HD3, it plays classic hits as "IRSC River Radio."

Programming

WQCS carries programs from NPR and other public radio networks. On weekdays, shows include: All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Fresh Air, 1A and Here and Now. Frequent news updates come from NPR and the WQCS news department. The BBC World Service runs all night.

On weekends, specialty shows are heard, including: This American Life, On The Media, Travel with Rick Steves, The TED Radio Hour, Big Picture Science, A Way with Words, Science Friday, Splendid Table, Radiolab, The Moth Radio Hour, Freakonomics Radio, The New Yorker Radio Hour, To the Best of Our Knowledge, Live Wire, Selected Shorts and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. A weekly local interview program "River Talk" airs twice each weekend.

History

The station signed on the air in April 1982; 42 years ago (1982-04). It originally broadcast at 88.3 FM, and was powered at 3,000 watts, a fraction of its current output. It had studios in the McAlpin Fine Arts Center. Phil Scott was the first station manager.

Four years later, it boosted its power to 100,000 watts, more than tripling its coverage area in the process. That was coupled with a move to its current dial position at 88.9 FM. The format is a mix of news and NPR talk programming.

Gallery

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  WQCS 88.9 FM Signage
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  WQCS 88.9 FM Building
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  SUV parked in front of the facility