Fire Destroys CMU Public Radio and TV Transmitter Station

NPR and PBS broadcasting are off the air in areas of the northern Lower Peninsula following a fire at a transmitter building in Montmorency County Wednesday.

According to WCMU Public Media, which is operated by Central Michigan University, the transmitter building that carried WCML 91.7 FM and WCML-TV channel 6 was a total loss, taking them off the air in the Alpena area, and disrupting the signal to WCMW in Harbor Springs. The network says residents in both areas can still access the NPR radio signal online and many cable and satellite systems will still carry WCML-TV’s signal in northeastern Michigan.