From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the Television station in Cleveland, Ohio, see WQHS-TV.
WQHS is the only wholly student-operated radio station at the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN was the University's principal student station until 1975, with WQHS as an AM-based training ground for DJs. After 1975, WQHS became the official student station of the University, with WXPN being taken over by an external company. The station currently broadcasts an eclectic free-form music format over the internet, as a result of their radio tower, formerly on top of Harnwell College House, falling down in a severe storm in 2003. They are currently in the process of modernizing and regaining a sizeable listenership, having recently redesigned their website, along with the acquisition of new live sound equipment.
The station's new logo, designed in late 2005
[edit] History
In the 1960's, the University had two radio stations: 88.9 WXPN-FM and 730 WXPN-AM; the AM station broadcast as a non-licensed carrier current station, and able to be heard only in the University dormitories. Both stations consisted of educational programming, news and sports coverage, as well as music. In 1965, WXPN-AM started airing popular music shows, stirring interest among the students. At the time, the station operated out of Houston Hall, directly in the center of campus.
In 1970, operations moved to a larger, more private location, at 3905 Spruce Street. After problems with the FCC over show content in the 1970s, XPN's broadcast license wasn't renewed. The FM station became entirely professionally run by 1980, while the AM station was still student-run. WXPN-AM then became WQHS, which stands for Quad Hill Superblock (referring to student dormitories on campus), housing mainly freshmen. As of September 2005, the station is located on the 5th floor of the Hollenback Center, on the far east side of campus.
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