WUOT demonstrates near-antipathy to local input. The station's leadership is mysterious, opaque, and condescending--totally out of touch with the community they claim to serve. Good thing other NPR stations are available. read more

WUOT is the local NPR outlet in the mid-East Tennessee region. Unlike many broadcast stations affiliated with a university, WUOT exhibits excellent broadcast techniques, and is managed in a very professional manner. The station's air time is rigidly formatted, which gives a stilted feel to both on air personalities and play lists. On-air programming is rather limited, especially in the 'regional flavor' genre, and (as a percentage of air-time) is generally limited to 'classical' and jazz mediums. Personally, I'd enjoy a little less opera during summer weekends, and a bit more regional/local commentary and music. A 'nod' granted toward non-traditional or Americana programs is offered during a few hours on Saturday evenings. A comedy show is re-run on Sunday afternoons, replacing locally produced offerings, which has increased the overall 'bland/canned' nature of the station's programming. Despite cries of funding shortages, the station has opened new broadcast avenues, which would seem to have the effect of further increasing funding obligations. Their broadcast signal quality and range has eroded since the implementation of the digital medium. WUOT enjoys popularity in this region due to a lack of competition within the listening tastes that it has selected to serve. If one's tastes fall within that narrow parameter, then one will be very satisfied with their offerings. Luckily for the rest of us, Pandora, as well as various alternative satellite offerings, and I-40/75 quickly whisks us away into a 'full-ranged' world of listening experiences. read more

Knoxville's public radio (NPR) station, at 91.5 FM, started out in 1949 as a University of Tennessee classical music service. Unfortunately, there's still a notion at the station that its primary mission is to provide classical music to East Tennessee, but over the years it's become increasingly "public" in its programming and overall approach to life. I'm a public radio junkie, and this is my local station, so it stands to reason that I'm a fan (and a financial contributor). A big positive for WUOT is the strong professional local staff -- both music announcers and a local news staff that wins bunches of awards -- even an Edward R. Murrow Award. Another big plus is their strong signal that reaches a big chunk of East Tennessee. Classical music fans will appreciate their music library and their commitment to programming classical music. For the rest of us, there's a good-sized helping of NPR news and programming, as well as programs like "Prairie Home Companion" that come from Public Radio International. A one-hour time slot every weekday evening is devoted to jazz programmed by volunteers -- and they air additional jazz on Friday evenings. Since the advent of WDVX, WUOT has pretty much eliminated its programming of the folk and bluegrass music that's indigenous to the region, other than a 1-hour program on Friday evenings. The website has programming details -- and playlists for a lot of classical and jazz programming. The University of Tennessee connection provides some financial support that results in WUOT doing less on-the-air fundraising than is the case for all too many NPR stations, but it also seems to result in some unfortunate heavy-handedness in station management. That's a big reason why I feel that the station isn't nearly "as good as it gets", but I'm still a fan. If you want to hear public radio and you are in or near Knoxville, this is the station. read more