WCSP-FM
Public affairs | |
Subchannels | |
---|---|
Affiliations | C-SPAN |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | October 28, 1960[1] |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | First three letters of C-SPAN, the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network |
Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 68950 |
Class | B |
ERP | 24 kW |
HAAT | 216 meters (709 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 38°57′1″N 77°4′46″W / 38.95028°N 77.07944°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen live (via TuneIn) |
Website | www |
WCSP-FM, also known as C-SPAN Radio, is a
Prior to C-SPAN's acquisition of the 90.1 frequency in 1997, the station operated as WGTB-FM, the student radio station of Georgetown University, from 1960 to 1979. Increasingly contentious relations between students and university administration led Georgetown to sell the license to the University of the District of Columbia, which operated a jazz-format station as WDCU from 1982 to 1997.
History
WGTB at Georgetown University
On May 25, 1960, Georgetown University received a construction permit to build a new noncommercial radio station which would operate with 771 watts on 90.1 MHz,[1] a move five years in the planning. WGTB had operated since 1946 as a carrier current station, but new buildings on the Georgetown campus were not being equipped to radiate the station.[6] At the time of WGTB's debut on FM, programming included discussions on issues, taped programs from other colleges, Georgetown sports, and "every kind of music with the exception of rock and roll".[6] Like many campus stations of its day, WGTB only broadcast during the school year.[7] Carrier current broadcasts were discontinued in 1963, citing poor performance and high costs.[8] Few people outside the campus listened; a 1968 survey showed that WGTB had the second-lowest FM listenership in Washington, only ahead of WAMU at American University.[9]
Concentration will be on selecting people who are interested in a particular area of music and providing them with complete freedom to express this interest.
Peter Barry Chowka, WGTB-FM program director in 1970, on the station's move to a full freeform format[10]
As the 1960s became the 1970s, WGTB-FM transformed from a small educational outlet into a much more powerful station with a defined format. The station went to 24-hour broadcasting by February 1970;[11] that June, the Federal Communications Commission approved a major power increase for the station, to 14,720 watts.[1] Both changes in format and technical parameters brought growing pains, however. The station's new progressive rock format, eliminating all block programming,[10] made it a bastion of liberalism on a rather conservative campus. In late 1970, Rev. Francis Heyden, former WGTB faculty moderator, leveled charges at the station that it had failed to conform to its approved format, played "indecent and anti-Semitic" records, and had purchased inferior equipment. Student board members, with the aid of an FCC official, investigated the charges and found them "entirely unfounded".[12] After a brief suspension, WGTB-FM was allowed to return to the air by administration after an arbitration panel was convened to resolve the dispute.[13]
Even then, however, the station faced two new technical setbacks in the span of a month. In February 1971, administration ordered the station to go off air or revert to its former 771-watt status, claiming that the transmitter was disrupting equipment in a science building.[14] A compromise was reached to keep the station off the air during daytime hours so as not to affect the equipment, used in laser research funded by the United States Air Force.[15] While a solution was sought to the interference issue, weather intervened as gusty winds toppled the new tower mounted atop Copley Hall, destroying the antenna.[16]
While WGTB-FM was off the air, administration acted. Led by president Robert J. Henle, a study was conducted in the summer of 1971 which recommended the station be returned to air as soon as possible, that a professional be appointed to manage it, and a move back to a more block format and away from the rock-heavy sound that WGTB had adopted in 1970.[17] Broadcasting resumed at reduced power that fall using a portion of the fallen tower.[18] The ultimate solution to the interference problem was to move the transmitter off the campus: it was relocated to the American University campus in 1973.[1]
The station's rock format also attracted renewed attention over its service to the community versus its responsiveness to the needs of students. Critics inside and outside student government pushed for changes to the format, such as basketball game broadcasts, and noted that just 30 percent of students listened to the station, though this was still a higher share than WMAL, then the city's leading commercial station with 18 percent of the market.[19] President Henle ordered a new reorganization in 1975, which put the station under the control of a six-member review board; in doing so, he warned, "if the station cannot be made to contribute to the educational and religious mission of this University, then after another year, I will recommend to the Board of Directors that we sell the license and close the station".[20]
Even as university administration tried to steer its station in a new direction, new controversies arose over its broadcast of public service announcements for the Washington
In February 1976, new obscenity complaints emerged, this time about a poetry reading aired at 8 a.m. that had been approved for an 11 p.m. slot.[25] On March 16, 1976, the university ordered the station off air in order to reorganize again and hire a new general manager.[26] With the station in the middle of a license renewal, potential interest from other groups emerged;[26]: 3 one of these, the Committee to Save Alternative Radio (headed by former manager Sleeman[27]), filed a petition to deny against the renewal in April 1976.[1] Another group, the Catholic University of America, examined entering the fray but opted against it.[27] CSAR members blasted the new WGTB, which returned to the air in June,[28] as "a sterile college radio station" and even picked up former station host and district councilman John A. Wilson as an ally.[29]
From Georgetown to UDC
WGTB returned to the air, and its license was renewed in November 1977,
Despite the formation of an Alliance to Preserve Radio at Georgetown that opposed the UDC sale,[33] WGTB-FM went off the air at 12:34 p.m. on January 31, 1979, as a crowd of 400 people protested in Healy Circle, with most of them marching to FCC headquarters.[34][30] Together with protests about United States involvement in Iran, the WGTB rally marked the most protest activity on the campus since 1971.[34]
On March 12, 1980, the FCC approved the sale of WGTB-FM to UDC; the call letters were changed to WDCU on June 6.[1] However, the 90.1 frequency remained silent for another two years following FCC approval, with the university seeking a move of the studios and transmitter.[1] It was not until March 1982 that the station unveiled its plans for a jazz music station with weekend classical music programming and six hours a week in Spanish,[36] with the station finally signing on May 1.[37]
The University of the District of Columbia constantly struggled to bring in money for the station, which had just three full-time employees and never raised more than $200,000 in any year since its launch.[38] However, the station did win a major power boost in 1994 after ending a six-year fight with television station WFTY, which broadcast from the Hughes Memorial Tower next to the site where WDCU was already broadcasting; the increase to 50,000 watts also filled in reception issues in parts of the District and added some 900,000 people to the station's coverage area.[39]
When the District's financial situation worsened and prompted the creation by Congress of a District of Columbia Financial Control Board with the authority to close its financial shortfalls, combined with a $16 million budget deficit at UDC, it became obvious that WDCU was going to be sold. After months of speculation and rumors of interest by George Washington University, WETA and others,[40] WDCU was put up for sale in May 1997, when the board retained a station brokerage.[38]
In late June 1997, UDC trustees voted to sell WDCU to Community Resource Educational Association, a nonprofit affiliate of Christian religious broadcaster
The opposition prompted Salem to ask C-SPAN, which had previously bid $10.5 million, if it was willing to increase its bid to $13 million and buy out Salem's portion of the contract; the move alleviated some of the pressure on the university,[45][4] though it still displaced all of WDCU's jazz and specialty shows.[46]
Once the station was purchased, broadcasting of C-SPAN Radio on WCSP-FM began on October 9, 1997.[47]
As WCSP-FM
There are people all over this country who are addicted to C-SPAN, and especially in this town. Now they can listen during all those hours they spend in the car.
Leo Hindery, president of the board of C-SPAN, on the launch of C-SPAN Radio in 1997[48]
C-SPAN Radio expanded its coverage by signing programming agreements
Programming
C-SPAN Radio broadcasts public-affairs programming, including some audio simulcasts of C-SPAN's flagship television programs like
In the early period of C-SPAN Radio's existence, programming also included coverage of local events and government hearings affecting only the Washington region.
WCSP-FM is the first radio station to broadcast audiotape of historical
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "FCC History Card - Facility ID 68950" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCSP-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ProQuest 408349329.
- ^ a b c Hall, Thomas C. (October 24, 1997). "C-SPAN radio won't be tied to the Hill". Washington Business Journal. 16 (24): 5.
- ^ Ashworth, Susan (November 9, 2017). "C-SPAN Radio Marks 20 Years of Covering Public Affairs". RadioWorld. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "WGTB Fortunes Rise With FM Conversion" (PDF). The Hoya. September 29, 1960. p. 3. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "WGTB Plans Year With New Services For Campus, Area" (PDF). The Hoya. October 4, 1962. p. 3. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "WGTB Directs Tour For Faculty Viewing; Halts A.M. Function" (PDF). The Hoya. November 21, 1963. pp. 2, 8. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "Newsbriefs" (PDF). The Hoya. November 7, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Chowka, Peter Barry (October 22, 1970). "WGTB Approach Concentrates On Free-Form Format" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 10. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "WGTB-FM 90.1 mhz" (PDF). The Hoya. February 27, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Hluchan, Rich (November 5, 1970). "'Entirely Unfounded': WGTB Refuses Charges" (PDF). The Hoya. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ O'Brien, Kevin (November 12, 1970). "WGTB 'On The Air'—Dispute Continues" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "GU Orders Station Off Air". Washington Post. February 15, 1971. p. B7.
- ^ Hluchan, Rich (February 18, 1971). "University, GTB Reach Compromise; Programs Cut Back Pending Inquiry" (PDF). The Hoya. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Hayes, Bob (March 11, 1971). "GU Station Blown Off the Air Seek Ways to Resume Service" (PDF). The Hoya. pp. 1, 12. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "Task Force Advocates Quick Return for 'GTB" (PDF). The Hoya. September 30, 1971. pp. 1, 12. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "WGTB to Resume Broadcasting Soon" (PDF). The Hoya. October 22, 1971. pp. 1, 12. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Coogan, John; Koenig, Ken (January 25, 1974). "GTB: Oppressed or Oppressive?" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 3. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Wiegand, Barry (August 30, 1975). "GU FM Radio Staff Members Defend WGTB Programming" (PDF). The Hoya. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ McAdams, Mark (December 5, 1975). "Henle Won't Bar GTB Ad; Sleeman Cries Censorship" (PDF). The Hoya. pp. 1, 5. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Sheehan, Ron (December 10, 1975). "WGTB-FM: A Dispute and a Firing". Washington Post. p. D13.
- ^ "WGTB Panel Takes Control" (PDF). The Hoya. December 12, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ McAdams, Mark. "GTB Called Financial Liability By University Administrators" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 3. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Wiegand, Barry; Henry, Margaret (February 27, 1976). "WGTB Investigated Again After Obscenity Complaint" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 3. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "University Shuts GTB" (PDF). The Hoya. March 17, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Clyde, John (April 9, 1976). "CSAR Seek To Take Over GTB License" (PDF). The Hoya. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Shules, Tom (June 15, 1976). "Revamped WGTB: Back on the Air". Washington Post. p. B8.
- ^ "Turned Off By WGTB". Washington Post. August 30, 1976. p. B5.
- ^ a b Eve Zibart (February 1, 1979). "Georgetown Pulls the Plug on Its Campus Station". The Washington Post. p. B12.
- ^ a b Fogg, Alan (April 7, 1978). "Georgetown Plans Closing of GTB; Transfer to UDC Planned" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Dickey, Christopher (April 20, 1978). "Tangled case to silence voice of Spanish radio station". Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ Sheridan, Moira (October 6, 1978). "Alliance Seeking Alumni Support To Block WGTB License Move" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Fogg, Alan (February 2, 1979). "Plug Pulled on GTB; Hundreds Protest Closing" (PDF). The Hoya. p. 1. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Yorke, Jeffrey (May 5, 1992). "CLASSICAL'S A BIT MORE POPULAR". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Brown, Joe (March 17, 1982). "Radio". Washington Post. p. B14.
- ^ Brown, Joe (April 28, 1982). "Radio". Washington Post. p. B15.
- ^ a b "WDCU-FM Officially On The Market In DC" (PDF). Radio & Records. May 9, 1997. pp. 4, 8. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Yorke, Jeffrey (March 22, 1994). "WDCU, TURNING UP THE POWER". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Fisher, Marc (December 19, 1996). "BUYERS ANGLE FOR WDCU". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Fisher, Marc (July 1, 1997). "ONE LAST REQUEST FOR JAZZ 90". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Fisher, Marc (July 8, 1997). "SELL JAZZ 90? NOT SO FAST, CPB WARNS". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Fisher, Marc; Strauss, Valerie (July 15, 1997). "OPPONENTS MAY DERAIL UDC RADIO STATION SALE". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Fisher, Marc (July 29, 1997). "MOUSE EARS ON THE AM RADIO DIAL". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Strauss, Valerie (August 14, 1997). "C-SPAN BUYS RADIO STATION FROM UDC". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Constable, Pamela (September 24, 1997). "ECLECTIC LATINO MUSIC SHOW TO SIGN OFF". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Kitson Flynn (October 13, 1997). "C-SPAN Takes Over". The Washington Times. p. C13.
- ^ Fisher, Marc (October 21, 1997). "C-SPAN FOR DRIVE TIME". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 19, 1998). "Radio satcaster pacts for programs, changes name". Variety: 58.
- ^ "American Mobile Radio Selects Hughes and Alcatel". Audio Week. March 30, 1998.
- ^ a b c Patricia Meisol (January 12, 1999). "The Motion Carries; With C-SPAN Radio, news is gavel-to-gavel even while traffic's bumper-to-bumper. And with the Clinton trial heating up the airwaves, its popularity may speed ahead". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1E.
- ^ Mark Spencer (November 10, 1999). "C-SPAN might be heading to your radio". Chicago Daily Herald. section Neighbor, p. 4.
- ^ Charles Babington (March 19, 2007). "Radio Deal Could Face Technical Difficulties; XM, Sirius Systems Already Strained". The Washington Post. p. D01.
- ^ "XM Canada Reaches 237,500 Subs; Adds New Channels". MarketNews Canada. March 12, 2007. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
- ^ "Predicted coverage area for WCSP 90.1 FM, Washington, DC". Radio-Locator. Theodric Technologies. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ "C-SPAN Radio". C-SPAN.org. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Chris Kaltenbach (February 22, 1998). "New station features processes of government; Radio: WCSP-FM (90.1) serves up large doses of public policy as it's happening, but more selectively than C-SPAN". The Baltimore Sun. p. 5E.
- ^ "C-SPAN Regular Programs". Sirius.com. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ Andrew Cohen (October 8, 2010). "C-SPAN's Supreme Court Broadcasts: Do You Have the Right to Burn the Flag?". PoliticsDaily.com. AOL. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ Andrew Cohen (October 1, 2010). "C-SPAN's Supreme Court Broadcasts: Voices and Views That Shaped the Law". PoliticsDaily.com. AOL. Archived from the original on October 9, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ "C-SPAN Statement In Response to Today's Supreme Court Announcement on Oral Argument Audio Release" (PDF). C-SPAN.org. September 28, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ John Eggerton (October 23, 2008). "C-SPAN Seeks Oral Argument Tapes in Fox Swearing Case". Broadcasting & Cable. New Bay Media. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
- ^ Concha, Joe (April 13, 2020). "C-SPAN to broadcast audio of Supreme Court oral arguments live in May". The Hill. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
External links
- C-SPAN Radio Online
- ‹The template FMQ is being considered for deletion.› WCSP in the FCC FM station database
- WCSP in Nielsen Audio's FM station database