WQHS Radio
Encyclopedia
WQHS is the only wholly student-operated college radio station at the University of Pennsylvania
. WXPN
was the University's principal student radio station until 1975, with WQHS as an AM-based training ground for DJs. After 1975, WQHS became the official student radio station of the University, with WXPN being taken over by an external company. The radio station currently broadcasts an eclectic freeform radio format
over internet radio, 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.
radio station, and able to be heard only in the University dormitories. Both radio 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 radio 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 radio station became entirely professionally run by 1980, while the AM radio 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 radio station is located on the 5th floor of the Hollenback Center, on the far east side of campus.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
was the University's principal student radio station until 1975, with WQHS as an AM-based training ground for DJs. After 1975, WQHS became the official student radio station of the University, with WXPN being taken over by an external company. The radio station currently broadcasts an eclectic freeform radio format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
over internet radio, 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.
History
In the 1960s, the University had two radio stations: 88.9 WXPN-FM and 730 WXPN-AM; the AM radio station broadcast as a non-licensed carrier currentCarrier 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...
radio station, and able to be heard only in the University dormitories. Both radio 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 radio station operated out of Houston Hall
Houston Hall (University of Pennsylvania)
Houston Hall is the student union at the University of Pennsylvania, established in 1896. The idea of a student union was first established at Oxford University in 1823...
, 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 radio station became entirely professionally run by 1980, while the AM radio station was still student-run. WXPN-AM then became WQHS, which stands for Quad Hill Superblock (referring to student dormitories
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
on campus), housing mainly freshmen. As of September 2005, the radio station is located on the 5th floor of the Hollenback Center, on the far east side of campus.