BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh University says it is selling a radio license to its longstanding partner, as the school cited a shift in student engagement away from traditional broadcast radio and toward on-demand, digital-first media.
In a news release, the school said it entered into an agreement to sell the Federal Communications Commission broadcast license for 91.3 WLVR-FM to Lehigh Valley Public Media.
The school said the agreement signals a shift in student learning outcomes related to digital content creation.
In 2019, LVPM assumed WLVR’s management and operations under Lehigh University’s supervision and control via a strategic partnership which included converting 91.3 FM into a multi-channel HD broadcast station, according to the news release.
The ownership transition is pending regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission, the university said.
“Lehigh’s collaboration with Lehigh Valley Public Media has provided students with valuable professional experiences and enriched our community with essential local news,” said Nathan Urban, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.
“As we move forward, we are excited to evolve this partnership to focus on the next generation of content creation. Our priority is ensuring that Lehigh students graduate equipped with the advanced digital fluency, AI-readiness, and multimedia skills necessary to lead and succeed in a rapidly transforming media landscape.”
“We value the relationship we’ve had with Lehigh University to operate WLVR and the talented students who have contributed through our internship program,” said Hasanna Birdsong, President & CEO of Lehigh Valley Public Media.
“We remain supportive of opportunities that help students gain meaningful real-world media experience through our multimedia platforms.”