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KBYU (FM)
Encyclopedia
KBYU-FM is a classical music
radio station run by Brigham Young University
in Provo, Utah
. Operating at 89.1 MHz, it is known on-air as Classical 89. It transmits at an effective radiated power of 30 kW. Its transmitting tower is located on a peak of the Oquirrh Mountains
northwest of the university campus, and southwest of Salt Lake City.
The station previously broadcast at a frequency of 88.9 MHz (during which time its nickname was Classical 88). The frequency was shifted in 1988 by directive of the FCC
, to alleviate interference for nearby frequencies used for aerial navigation, and to allow for a new full-power station to be built on 99.5 in the Salt Lake market. A translator was added at 89.5 FM in Spanish Fork
to make up for lost coverage in Utah County.
KBYU began as a carrier current
station at 660 AM in 1946. It became available across Provo and the surrounding area in 1948 by using the city's power lines as an antenna. In 1959, BYU was granted a commercial FM license. The new station signed on for the first time on May 9, 1960 under the temporary calls KBRG. After negotiations to get the KBYU calls from a liberty ship
, the call letters changed to KBYU on November 9, 1960.
The station presently broadcasts around the clock, having gone to that schedule in 1986. The station was originally set up to offer broadcasting experience to BYU students, but it has gradually moved to an all-professional staff of announcers, although students still play a critical role behind the scenes. Often students help with pre-recorded weekend and overnight programming.
The station is operated as a non-profit corporation, and employs several fundraisers during the year to raise a portion of its programming revenue (its operating budget is furnished by the university). The resulting programming budget is used to provide presentations of Utah Symphony concerts and other locally-produced music productions, and to provide access to national programming.
In 2006, KBYU-FM began broadcasting an 'HD Radio' signal along with its main signal, and subsequently began rebroadcasting its 'BYU Radio' service on its HD2 signal.
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
radio station run by Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. Operating at 89.1 MHz, it is known on-air as Classical 89. It transmits at an effective radiated power of 30 kW. Its transmitting tower is located on a peak of the Oquirrh Mountains
Oquirrh Mountains
The Oquirrh Mountains is a mountain range that run north-south for approximately 30 miles to form the west side of Utah's Salt Lake Valley, separating it from Tooele Valley. The range begins in northwest Utah County and stops at the south shore of the Great Salt Lake. The highest elevation is...
northwest of the university campus, and southwest of Salt Lake City.
The station previously broadcast at a frequency of 88.9 MHz (during which time its nickname was Classical 88). The frequency was shifted in 1988 by directive of the FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
, to alleviate interference for nearby frequencies used for aerial navigation, and to allow for a new full-power station to be built on 99.5 in the Salt Lake market. A translator was added at 89.5 FM in Spanish Fork
Spanish Fork
Spanish Fork may refer to:Places*Spanish Fork, Utah, a city*Spanish Fork Canyon, containing the Spanish Fork and Soldier Creek southeast of the cityStreams*Spanish Fork , a river that flows past the city of Spanish Fork into Utah Lake...
to make up for lost coverage in Utah County.
KBYU began as a carrier current
Carrier current
Carrier current is a method of low power AM radio transmission that uses the AC electrical system of a building to propagate a medium frequency, AM signal to a relatively small area, such as a building or a group of buildings...
station at 660 AM in 1946. It became available across Provo and the surrounding area in 1948 by using the city's power lines as an antenna. In 1959, BYU was granted a commercial FM license. The new station signed on for the first time on May 9, 1960 under the temporary calls KBRG. After negotiations to get the KBYU calls from a liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
, the call letters changed to KBYU on November 9, 1960.
The station presently broadcasts around the clock, having gone to that schedule in 1986. The station was originally set up to offer broadcasting experience to BYU students, but it has gradually moved to an all-professional staff of announcers, although students still play a critical role behind the scenes. Often students help with pre-recorded weekend and overnight programming.
The station is operated as a non-profit corporation, and employs several fundraisers during the year to raise a portion of its programming revenue (its operating budget is furnished by the university). The resulting programming budget is used to provide presentations of Utah Symphony concerts and other locally-produced music productions, and to provide access to national programming.
In 2006, KBYU-FM began broadcasting an 'HD Radio' signal along with its main signal, and subsequently began rebroadcasting its 'BYU Radio' service on its HD2 signal.
Mission statement
- Sustain and nurture a local community of radio listeners - within a classical music and information format - who are engaged and loyal, and who receive direct attention and are given a voice in our programming, as a means of public service and of building goodwill for Brigham Young University.