KCWU

Last updated
KCWU
The Burg logo.png
Frequency 88.1 (MHz)
Branding88.1 The Burg
Programming
Format College radio
Ownership
Owner Central Washington University
History
First air date
1958 (as carrier current)
Former call signs
KCAT
Call sign meaning
Central Washington University
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Class A
ERP 430 watts
HAAT −92 meters (−302 ft)
Links
Public license information
Website www.881theburg.com

KCWU (formerly KCAT), also known as 88.1 The 'Burg, is the college radio station for Central Washington University based out of Ellensburg, Washington. The history of The 'Burg starts back in 1958 when small broadcast facility, KCAT, started broadcasting on 880 AM. The 'Burg, now KCWU, has expanded its broadcast facility. It now broadcasts 430 watts effective radiated power at a frequency of 88.1 MHz.

Contents

The 'Burg offers a wide variety of programming, including new college alternative rock (that is reported to CMJ), talk radio, and specialty shows during the night hours that feature spotlights on specific genres (they have shows highlighting electronica, hip-hop, world music, local northwest music, blues, heavy metal, punk rock, classic rock, reggae, singer/songwriter music and many other unique subgenres of rock).

History

KCAT (1958–1998)

KCAT began transmitting on 880 AM in 1958 as a carrier current station. In 1962, The FCC granted the Central Washington College of Education Board of Trustees a non-commercial, educational FM broadcast license to operate KCWS, a 10-Watt FM Broadcast station. KCWS 91.5 FM signed on the air on April 29, broadcasting from the same building as KCAT 880 AM. Ten years later, Central Washington State College of Education lost its FM broadcast station. It was unpopular with most students due to its classical music and talk/documentary format . In 1973, KCAT AM broadcast facility moved to the Student Union Building, but it was destroyed in a fire in the Summer of 1976. In 1980, KCAT then switched from carrier current AM to and FM cable station, transmitting its signal through King Video Cable in Ellensburg. In April 1992, KCAT officially separated from the CWU Communications Department because of limited faculty and budget, and declining student interest in radio degrees. In March 1995, The CWU Service and Activities Fee Committee granted money to KCAT to once again facilitate the process of obtaining an FCC broadcast license.

On July 1, 1995, KCAT became an officially recognized department under the CWU Division of Student Affairs. KCAT obtained its Construction Permit on March 3, 1998, to build a 500-Watt, non-commercial educational FM broadcast station at 88.1 MHz, with tower site located at 1300 North Pfenning Road in Ellensburg. Two months later, KCAT was given the call letters "KCWU" by the FCC, to use once it signs over the air. The call letters were changed because "KCAT" already existed in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

KCWU in the SUB (1998–2006)

On September 19, 1998, KCWU-FM began 24/7 live operation, under the leadership of General Manager Chris Hull. The Burg's first remote broadcast aired April 30, 1999 at noon from the gazebo at 4th and Pearl in downtown Ellensburg.

In October 2001, The 'Burg began the Fireside Chat broadcast series, featuring (for the first time in the station's history) live broadcasts from the CWU President's home once every quarter. The broadcast occurs before a live studio audience of CWU students, and is designed as an intimate forum for them to discuss and address their concerns and issues to the President and the four University Vice Presidents in a very informative Q&A format. In the same month, then Promotion Director Kevin Tighe began "Rock Night with The 'Burg" now known as "Alley Ice with The 'Burg", was implemented as a live music and contest broadcast from the local Rodeo Bowl bowling alley every Wednesday night from 9pm to Midnight.

KCWU in the SURC (2006–)

On March 6, 2006, The Burg temporarily suspended live talent as they transitioned into their state-of-the-art facility in the new SUB/Recreation Facility. On August 3, 2006, KCWU-FM began audio transmission from its new broadcast studios in the SURC. They also adapted for live radio streaming from their website, broadcasting worldwide.

In March 2015, KCWU was named 2015 Best College Radio Station (With enrollment of 10,000 students or more) by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System at their 75th annual College Media Conference, held in New York City.

In March 2022, KCWU was named 2022 Best College Radio station (With enrollment of 10,000 students or more) by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System at their 82nd annual College Media Conference, held in New York City (virtually). [1] This is the second time KCWU had won this award.

Program funding

The radio station is largely funded by fees paid by the Central Washington University student body and from local underwriting.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUOM</span> College radio station of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities

KUOM – branded Radio K - Real College Radio – is a daytime-only, non-commercial, college radio station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Owned by the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, the station is operated by students and faculty. It mainly airs alternative rock with other genres of music. The studios are in Rarig Center on the University of Minnesota campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSCU</span> Radio station at Santa Clara University

KSCU is a broadcast radio station in the United States. Licensed to Santa Clara, California, KSCU is currently owned by Santa Clara University. Staffed by students at Santa Clara University, KSCU broadcasts a college format with music, public affairs, and sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXYC</span> Student radio station at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

WXYC is an American radio station broadcasting a college radio format. Licensed to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, the station is run by students of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The station is owned by Student Educational Broadcasting, Inc. The station operates with an effective radiated power of 1,100 watts from an antenna height above average terrain of 147 meters (482 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHUS</span> Radio station in Connecticut, United States

WHUS is a non-commercial educational FM college radio station. It transmits with 4,400 watts on 91.7 MHz from the main campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs to audiences in eastern Connecticut, southern Massachusetts and western Rhode Island. WHUS operates as a campus-focused station that features members of the student body and the local community.

WMUC-FM is the student-run non-commercial radio station licensed to the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, broadcasting at 30 watts. It is a freeform radio station staffed entirely by volunteer UMD students and community members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KZSU</span> Radio station at Stanford University

KZSU is a freeform FM radio station broadcasting from the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, United States.

WRPI is a non-commercial free-format college radio station run entirely by students attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and staffed by community members and students. WRPI broadcasts every day with an effective radiated power of 10,000 watts, serving listeners in Albany, eastern New York, western Massachusetts, Vermont, and online via live streaming. The studios are located in the basement of the Darrin Communications Center and the FM signal is broadcast from North Greenbush. Programming includes a wide range of music, cultural and public affairs programs, live bands, special events, and sports simulcasts, particularly of RPI hockey, football, and baseball. WRPI has a large record library dating to the origins of the station, estimated at 43,800 albums, and a large CD library, dating to the start of the medium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCHC</span> Radio station in Massachusetts, United States

WCHC is the student-run radio station of College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, its city of license, and broadcasts at a frequency of 88.1 MHz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBWC</span> Radio station at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio

WBWC – branded 88.3 FM The Sting – is a non-commercial educational college/alternative rock radio station licensed to Berea, Ohio, serving western parts of Greater Cleveland. Owned by Baldwin Wallace University, the station is operated by both faculty and students. The WBWC studios are located at Loomis Hall on the Baldwin Wallace campus in Berea, while the station transmitter resides in North Olmsted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCOU</span> Radio station at the University of Missouri in Columbia

KCOU is a radio station broadcasting the College radio format. Licensed to Columbia, Missouri, United States, the station is currently owned by the Missouri Students Association at the University of Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMJJ</span> Radio station in Birmingham, Alabama

WMJJ is a radio station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama. Owned by San Antonio-based iHeartMedia, it broadcasts an adult contemporary format. This format temporarily switches to Christmas music for the months of November and December. Its studios are located at Beacon Ridge Tower in Birmingham, and its transmitter is on the west end of the Red Mountain range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSRU</span> Radio station at Slippery Rock University

WSRU is the college radio station of Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. It is owned by the Student Government Association. It is operated at a "rocking" 100 watts of power, serving SRU and the surrounding community. WSRU is run entirely by SRU students.

KXLE is a radio station located in Ellensburg, Washington, United States, operating on a frequency of 1240 kHz with a power of 1,000 watts. The AM transmitter tower is located at the station's offices and studios at 1311 Vantage Highway in Ellensburg. As of July 2007, the programming format of the station is news/talk, and includes the syndicated programming of Rush Limbaugh, Michael Medved, Jerry Doyle and George Noory, and carries Seattle Mariners baseball games. The station is owned by Ellensburg Radio Broadcasting.

KTUH is a non-commercial, student-run, listener-supported station in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is owned by the University of Hawaii and it broadcasts a freeform radio format. Programming originates from studios on the campus at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. It runs 24 hours a day, all year round. The station holds periodic fundraisers on the air and also accepts donations on its website.

WFCS, known as 107.7 The Edge is a non-commercial college radio station licensed to New Britain, Connecticut, United States. The station is owned by Central Connecticut State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQSU</span> Radio station in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

WQSU is a non-commercial, college FM radio station that is licensed to serve Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. The station is owned and operated by Susquehanna University and is staffed by students and faculty of the university as well as community volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPEK</span> Radio station in North Carolina, United States

WPEK is a commercial AM daytimer radio station, known as "ESPN Asheville". It is licensed to Fairview, North Carolina, and serves the Asheville metropolitan area. The station airs an all-sports radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Most programming comes from ESPN Radio. WPEK is largely simulcast on WMXF in Waynesville, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNJR (FM)</span> Noncommercial educational radio station

WNJR is a non-commercial FM radio station broadcasting a freeform radio format. Licensed to Washington, Pennsylvania, it serves Greater Pittsburgh's Southwest suburbs. The station is owned by Washington & Jefferson College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKKR</span> Radio station in Auburn, Alabama

WKKR is a radio station licensed to Auburn, Alabama, United States. The station, established in 1968, is currently owned by San Antonio–based iHeartMedia, through licensee iHM Licenses, LLC. In 1988, WKKR became the first Alabama radio station to earn the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award for outstanding commitment to community service.

KHCM is a Chinese-Language AM radio station licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii. It is owned by the Salem Media Group with studios on North King Street in Honolulu's Kalihi district.

References

  1. "Awards". IBS RADIO & TELEVISION. Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. Retrieved 15 April 2022.

47°00′22″N120°30′58″W / 47.006°N 120.516°W / 47.006; -120.516