WUVT-FM

Last updated
WUVT-FM
Logo-2x.png
Broadcast area Montgomery County
Frequency 90.7 MHz
BrandingWUVT-FM 90.7 Blacksburg
Programming
Format Freeform
Ownership
Owner Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Operator The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech
History
First air date
AM station: March 1948;74 years ago (1948-03)
FM station: September 23, 1969;53 years ago (1969-09-23)
Call sign meaning
WUniv. of Virginia Tech
Technical information
Facility ID 70278
Class C3
ERP 6,500 watts
HAAT 130.9 meters (429 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
37°11′12.0″N80°28′53.80″W / 37.186667°N 80.4816111°W / 37.186667; -80.4816111
Links
Webcast WUVT-FM Webstream
Website WUVT-FM Online

WUVT-FM (90.7 MHz) is a non-commercial FM radio station in Blacksburg, Virginia, serving Montgomery County, Virginia. It is licensed to Virginia Tech and is operated by The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech. [1] WUVT-FM is largely student-run and broadcasts a free form radio format. The radio studios and offices are located in Squires Student Center.

Contents

WUVT-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 6,500 watts. The transmitter is on Price Mountain, off Stroubles Creek Road in Blacksburg. [2] It broadcasts from a tower shared with 105.3 WBRW.

History

Early years

WUVT, in one form or another, has been located on the campus of Virginia Tech since its founding. It began as an experimental AM radio station in March 1948;74 years ago. That makes it one of the longest running non-commercial radio stations in Virginia. It originally began operations when a student built an AM transmitter in his dorm room. WUVT-FM signed on the air as an FM station on September 23, 1969;53 years ago. Today, like other student media organizations on campus, WUVT is a division of The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech.

WUVT is known for its eclectic programming, covering a wide swath of past and present music styles. DJs are typically students and former students, who select content based upon their personal preferences. WUVT serves the community by offering music rarely heard on commercial radio stations.

Transmitter upgrade

Its transmitter is located on nearby Price Mountain, between Blacksburg and Radford, at a site shared with WBRW, "The Bear". The station transmits its signal with a Harris Z5CD solid state transmitter donated by Clear Channel. [3]

Former WUVT Chief Engineer Kevin Sterne was injured in the April 16, 2007 killing spree by a Virginia Tech student. After hearing about Kevin’s strong passion for the radio station and WUVT's need to upgrade its aging transmitter, officials from Clear Channel and the Society of Broadcast Engineers assisted in returning WUVT to full power on April 28, 2007. Clear Channel donated a Harris Z5CD transmitter, transmitter building, and antenna sufficient to generate 10 KW. Orban, CBS Radio, and Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI) also offered equipment and technical assistance. [3]

Power increase

Virginia Radio and TV website VARTV.com reported in 2007 that WUVT "has requested to move its antenna off-campus to a new location a mile away from and increase the antenna height from 141 feet to 429 feet. WUVT wants to be licensed as a Class C3 (from Class A) and increase its power from 3,000 watts to 10,000 watts."

In June 2008, WUVT received authorization from the Federal Communications Commission to begin building a 6,500 watt transmission facility. [4] This construction permit was issued for a lower power than originally requested due to a conflicting application with WEHC, the Emory and Henry College radio station in Emory, Virginia, that also broadcasts at 90.7 MHz. Both stations filed requests for power increases which would have overlapped, so both WUVT and WEHC re-submitted their applications at a lower power. [5]

Over summer 2009, WUVT moved equipment to the new site atop Price Mountain and removed the old transmitter from its location atop Lee Hall. During the transitional period, WUVT broadcast at low power from Squires Student Center.

In September 2009, the station received permission to begin broadcasting at 6,500 watts.

Technical Accomplishments

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCLK</span> Jazz music public radio station in Atlanta

WCLK – branded Jazz 91.9 – is a non-commercial jazz radio station licensed to serve Atlanta, Georgia. Owned by Clark Atlanta University, the station covers much of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The WCLK studios are located on the Clark University campus at the Robert W. Woodruff Library, while the station transmitter is located in Atlanta's North Druid Hills section. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WCLK broadcasts over two HD Radio digital subchannels, and is available online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WREK</span> Radio station at the Georgia Institute of Technology

WREK is the radio station staffed by the students of the Georgia Institute of Technology. It is also located on channel 17 on the Georgia Tech cable TV network, GTCN. Starting as a 10-watt class D, WREK currently broadcasts a 100,000-watt ERP signal throughout metropolitan Atlanta, making it among the ten highest-powered college radio stations in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCWM</span> Radio station in Williamsburg, Virginia

WCWM is a Variety formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Williamsburg, Virginia, serving the Virginia Peninsula. WCWM is owned and operated by the College of William & Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPTS-FM</span> Radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WPTS-FM (92.1 MHz is a non-commercial radio station owned by the University of Pittsburgh, and offers a mix of student-run programming, ranging from music programming to news and sports coverage. The station operates with an ERP of 16 watts, and is licensed to Pittsburgh. Its transmitter is located on the top of the university's Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVTC</span> Radio station in Randolph Center

WVTC is the radio station of Vermont Technical College, operating on a 90.7 MHz FM carrier with an effective power of 300 watts. The station is located in Morey Hall on the Randolph Center campus. WVTC is operated and maintained by the students of VTC through the Radio Club, and is financially supported by VTC Student Council.

WCNI is a radio station broadcasting a freeform format and licensed to New London, Connecticut, serving the New London area. The station is owned by Connecticut College Community Radio, Inc. and is operated by students and members of the community. The station features eclectic musical genres that are less often heard on the majority of radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHCN</span> Radio station in Hartford, Connecticut

WHCN is a commercial radio station licensed to Hartford, Connecticut. It broadcasts a classic hits radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It is called "The River 105.9," a reference to the Connecticut River. The studios and offices are on Columbus Boulevard in Hartford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEOS</span> Radio station in Geneva, New York

WEOS is a college radio station licensed to Geneva, New York, broadcasting primarily on 89.5 FM across the Finger Lakes region of New York. It also broadcasts on a smaller relay transmitter on 90.3FM in Geneva. The station is owned by The Colleges of the Seneca, Inc., the legal name of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The board of trustees of the colleges are the owners, with the current President Mark Gearan as its chair.

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

WQSU is a non-commercial college FM radio station 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. The station is run under the supervision of the university's Department of Communications, having been developed as an educational facility. At 10,500 watts, WQSU is the most powerful student-run college FM radio station in Pennsylvania, and as such it serves approximately one-third of the state with a variety of music, news, information, public affairs, and sports programming 365 days a year. Its broadcast tower is located east of Lewisburg at.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBRW</span> Radio station in Blacksburg, Virginia

WBRW is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Blacksburg, Virginia, and serving the New River Valley and part of the Roanoke metropolitan area. It broadcasts an active rock radio format known as "The Bear." It is owned by Monticello Media LLC, with radio studios and offices on Lee Highway in Radford. WBRW carries the nationally syndicated drive time show, Rover's Morning Glory from WMMS Cleveland. It also carries Virginia Tech Hokies football games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WION (AM)</span> Radio station in Ionia, Michigan

WION is a commercial full-service AM radio station licensed to serve Ionia, Michigan. The station is owned by Packer Radio WION, LLC and features a mix of locally programmed music, news, and sports. WION transmits in C-QUAM AM stereo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIOV-FM</span> Radio station in Ephrata, Pennsylvania

WIOV-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Ephrata, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Radio License Holding CBC LLC, a part of Cumulus Media, and broadcasts a country music radio format. The station's studios and offices are located on South Reading Road, along PA 272, at Rothsville Road in Ephrata. The station's broadcast tower is located off Tower Road near Ephrata at.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVTF</span> Public radio station in Roanoke, Virginia

WVTF is a public radio station in Roanoke, Virginia, owned by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University through its fundraising arm, the Virginia Tech Foundation. It calls itself "Radio IQ," airing a format of news, talk and informational programming from National Public Radio, Public Radio International, the BBC World Service and other sources. WVTF is a listener-supported station, holding periodic fundraisers on the air. The studios and offices are on Kingsbury Lane in Roanoke.

WRAD-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Radford, Virginia, serving Pulaski and Montgomery Counties in Virginia. It simulcasts a talk radio format with co-owned WRAD at 1460 kHz. Programming is also heard on FM translator 103.5 W278AJ in Blacksburg, Virginia.

WRVL is a non-commercial radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, serving the New River Valley. WRVL is owned and operated by Liberty University and was founded by Jerry Falwell. It broadcasts a Christian Contemporary radio format known as "The Journey." The station is listener-supported and holds periodic fundraisers on the air. The studios and offices are on Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg.

WPAR is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Salem, Virginia and serving the Roanoke - Lynchburg metropolitan area. It is the flagship of "Spirit FM," a group of Christian Adult Contemporary stations owned by Positive Alternative Radio, which is headquartered in Blacksburg. The stations are listener-supported and hold periodic fundraisers on the air. WPAR has studios and offices on Timberlake Road in Lynchburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSYM-FM</span> Radio station at San Antonio College in San Antonio, Texas

KSYM-FM is a radio station broadcasting an adult album alternative format. Licensed to San Antonio, Texas, United States, the station serves the San Antonio area. The station is currently owned by San Antonio College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHBY</span> News/talk radio station in Kimberly, Wisconsin, United States

WHBY is a commercial radio station licensed to Kimberly, Wisconsin, that serves the Green Bay and Appleton-Oshkosh areas. The station is owned by Woodward Communications and it airs a news/talk radio format. WHBY's studios and microwave transmitter are located on East College Avenue in Appleton.

KSAJ-FM is a radio station licensed to Burlingame, Kansas, United States. The station is currently owned by Alpha Media LLC,.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWVT-FM</span> Public radio station in Ferrum, Virginia

WWVT-FM is a Public radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Ferrum, Virginia, serving Roanoke, Rocky Mount, and Martinsville. WWVT-FM is owned and operated by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. It is the flagship station of WVTF Music, a music-focused companion service to WVTF, southwestern Virginia's flagship NPR member station. It is operated out of WVTF's facility in Roanoke.

References

  1. "WUVT Facility Record". Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. Radio-Locator.com/WUVT
  3. 1 2 "RADIO PROFESSIONALS GIVE BACK TO VIRGINIA TECH RADIO STATION". Press Release. Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
  4. 1 2 "FM Query Results -- Audio Division FCC (USA)" . Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  5. "CDBS Print (see exhibit 1)" . Retrieved 2008-07-21.