 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | |
| Frequency | 89.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | WKSU Ideastream Public Media |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Public radio/talk |
| Subchannels |
|
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Kent State University |
| Operator | Ideastream |
| History | |
| Founded | March 3, 1940 |
First air date | October 2, 1950 |
Former call signs | WKSU-FM (1950–2016) |
Former frequencies | 88.1 MHz (1950–1961) |
Call sign meaning | "Kent State University" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 34045 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 12,000 watts |
| HAAT | 276.21 meters (906 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°4′58.2″N 81°38′1.4″W / 41.082833°N 81.633722°W |
| Translator(s) | See § Translators |
| Repeater(s) | See § Repeaters and boosters |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast |
|
| Website | www |
WKSU (89.7 FM) is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to serve Kent, Ohio, featuring a public radio format. Owned by Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media, WKSU's primary signal encompasses the Akron metro area, Greater Cleveland and much of Northeast Ohio as the regional affiliate for National Public Radio (NPR), American Public Media, Public Radio Exchange and the BBC World Service. The station's reach is extended into the Canton, Mansfield, Lorain, Ashtabula, Sandusky, New Philadelphia and Wooster areas via a network of five full-power repeaters, two low-power translators, and one on-channel booster.
Founded by Kent State University, the station had its origins as a radio training workshop on the university's campus that provided programming for commercial radio stations, and save for a brief hiatus due to World War II, continued into WKSU's 1950 establishment as one of the first educational FM stations in the United States. An NPR affiliate since 1973, WKSU evolved from a university-operated station into a public radio and classical music outlet, with additional emphasis on folk music during the weekends. WKSU's influence extended into Cleveland, where from 1978 to 1984, it was the NPR information station of record for the entire region. After a public service operating agreement with WCPN owner Ideastream took effect on October 1, 2021, this distinction was again made official as both stations combined programming and personnel, with WKSU as the surviving entity.
WKSU's studios are currently located at the Idea Center in Downtown Cleveland, while the station transmitter is in Copley Township.[2] In addition to a standard analog transmission, WKSU broadcasts over four HD Radio channels, is simulcast over WCLV's third HD subchannel and WVIZ's 25.7 audio-only subchannel, and is available online.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WKSU". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (May 8, 2015). "Site of the Week 5/8/15: From Cleveland to Akron". Fybush.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via RadioBB.