WRUR-FM

WRUR-FM
Broadcast area Rochester
Slogan "Different Radio"
Frequency 88.5 (MHz)
First air date 1948 / 1965 for FM
Format AAA, NPR News
ERP 15,100 watts
HAAT 115.3 meters
Class B1
Callsign meaning Radio at the University of Rochester
Owner U of R Broadcasting Corporation
Website http://www.wrur.org/

WRUR-FM is a radio station located in the Rochester, New York area and broadcasts at 88.5 FM. Its transmitter is located on Pinnacle Hill in Rochester.

WRUR-FM is the public radio station of the University of Rochester. It partners with WXXI Public Broadcasting Council to provide news and music programming.

Technical history

WRUR began as a low-power AM radio station on 650 kHz in the fall of 1948, broadcasting from the University campus. In 1950, its studios moved from the U of R campus to the Eastman School of Music. Studios moved again in 1955 to the university's Todd Union basement, where most broadcasts originate today. The FCC granted a license in 1965 to WRUR-FM, broadcasting on a frequency of 90.1 MHz using a 10 watt transmitter. In February 1969, power increased to 5,000 watts. Power was reduced and the frequency changed to 88.5 MHz later that year. In February 1970, power increased to 20,000 watts, but interfered with on-campus chemistry experiments, and power was again reduced until 1975 when the chemistry department moved. In 1995 a new antenna was built atop the downtown Hyatt Regency Rochester hotel and power increased to its current 3,000 watts. The Transmitter was moved to Pinnacle Hill in 2007 onto WXXI's Tower, increasing the coverage area. In 2011, WRUR was granted a power increase to 15.1 kilowatts and an increase in antenna height. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has also awarded WXXI a Digital Conversion Grant, to facilitate converting WRUR to IBOC, as part of the power increase.

Content and management history

For most of its existence, WRUR was staffed and run almost entirely by students with minimal input from University administrators. Content was largely eclectic and free-form, and included shows such as "Jazz in the Morning," the "Folk Lunch," a weekend late-night dance music show called "Club 88," Saturday and Sunday morning classical music shows, and progressive music programming on weekday afternoons. However, the station was frequently off the air many hours of the day, especially in the summer and during school break periods. This changed in the early 2000s (decade) when school administrators took a more active role in station management, forging a partnership with WXXI, and changing programming. The station today primarily is a AAA formatted music station, with NPR newsmagazine in morning and afternoon drive. Open Tunings with Scott Regan is a flagship music program on the station.

External links

Coordinates: 43°08′06″N 77°35′02″W / 43.135°N 77.584°W