WCUW
Encyclopedia
WCUW is a community radio
station
licensed to Worcester, Massachusetts
, USA. The station, which broadcasts at 91.3 FM, is owned by WCUW, Inc., a nonprofit organization. WCUW is managed by a professional staff, while all of its programs are hosted by community volunteers.
WCUW, as a FM station, was started in a Clark University dorm room in 1973, sanctioned by the university but under a local organization, WUW, Inc., the predecessor to WCUW, Inc. The station quickly gained a national reputation for its eclectic programming, and by 1977, WCUW had a staff of nine employees and a budget of $130,000.
In 1978, the station received a power increase and through federal funding, purchased a new transmitter, as well as studio and remote broadcasting equipment. Relations with the university began to deteriorate, and in 1980, the station left the campus for new facilities on Worcester's Main Street. The station struggled over the next decade and was forced to lay off staff, but still managed to buy its building and maintain operations with volunteer committees.
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, USA. The station, which broadcasts at 91.3 FM, is owned by WCUW, Inc., a nonprofit organization. WCUW is managed by a professional staff, while all of its programs are hosted by community volunteers.
Station history
WCUW began as a carrier-current AM station, on 640 kHz, some time before 1971. The studios were in the basement of Sanford Hall. This station could barely be heard on campus, let alone off of it; and it ceased broadcasting in May 1972. In the fall of 1972, an effort was begun to establish an FM station under the WCUW call letters.WCUW, as a FM station, was started in a Clark University dorm room in 1973, sanctioned by the university but under a local organization, WUW, Inc., the predecessor to WCUW, Inc. The station quickly gained a national reputation for its eclectic programming, and by 1977, WCUW had a staff of nine employees and a budget of $130,000.
In 1978, the station received a power increase and through federal funding, purchased a new transmitter, as well as studio and remote broadcasting equipment. Relations with the university began to deteriorate, and in 1980, the station left the campus for new facilities on Worcester's Main Street. The station struggled over the next decade and was forced to lay off staff, but still managed to buy its building and maintain operations with volunteer committees.