WFIU
Encyclopedia
WFIU is a public radio FM
station broadcasting from Indiana University
in Bloomington
, Indiana
. The station is a member station of NPR, Public Radio International
and American Public Media
. Its program schedule consists of classical music
, jazz
, and news and information, with specialty programming on the weekends. WFIU's broadcast signal, and those of its translators, reaches portions of central, western, and southern Indiana.
This move was required to prevent interference with the audio channel of WFBM-TV (now WRTV
) Channel 6 in nearby Indianapolis
, which was the CBS affiliate for central Indiana at the time. The poor-quality tuners of early TVs weren't selective enough to prevent the strong 90.9 signal emanating from the IU campus in central Bloomington from overriding the much-weaker Channel 6, which transmitted from about 50 miles away.
This makes WFIU one of the very few public stations in the U.S. to transmit on a frequency other than those between 88.1 and 91.9 MHz, the FCC
's reserved part of the FM band for non-commercial use.
WFIU transmitted with an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 75,000 watts from the center of the IU campus until 1971. It moved to the tower of sister-station WTIU
Channel 30 on the south side of Bloomington that year. The move not only increased its range, even with a lower ERP, but it cured another problem. Inexpensive FM radios in central Bloomington picked up the station all over the FM dial when it transmitted from campus. The move to the Channel 30 tower fixed that.
WFIU claims to have adopted in 1970 an almost entirely all-classical music format, featuring national programs as well as locally produced content. However, some long-time WFIU staff have stated that it was never a strictly classical station until the mid-1970s or later. It was one of the first 90 NPR affiliates to broadcast "All Things Considered
" upon its debut in 1971.
WFIU-FM, broadcasting at 103.7 MHz in Bloomington
, also broadcasts via the following translators:
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
station broadcasting from Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. The station is a member station of NPR, Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
and American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
. Its program schedule consists of classical music
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...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and news and information, with specialty programming on the weekends. WFIU's broadcast signal, and those of its translators, reaches portions of central, western, and southern Indiana.
History
WFIU began broadcasting on September 30, 1950, building upon efforts by IU to produce radio programming since 1937. Originally broadcasting on 90.9 FM, WFIU moved to 103.7 FM in 1951. 103.7 had been WSUA-FM, a commercial station, between 1948 and 1950. The owners of WSUA donated the 103.7 transmitter to Indiana University after their station went out of business.This move was required to prevent interference with the audio channel of WFBM-TV (now WRTV
WRTV
WRTV, channel 6, is the ABC television affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana; it is owned by McGraw-Hill. Its transmitter is located on the northwest side of Indianapolis at 8001 Township Line Road. Its studios are found at 1330 N...
) Channel 6 in nearby Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, which was the CBS affiliate for central Indiana at the time. The poor-quality tuners of early TVs weren't selective enough to prevent the strong 90.9 signal emanating from the IU campus in central Bloomington from overriding the much-weaker Channel 6, which transmitted from about 50 miles away.
This makes WFIU one of the very few public stations in the U.S. to transmit on a frequency other than those between 88.1 and 91.9 MHz, 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...
's reserved part of the FM band for non-commercial use.
WFIU transmitted with an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 75,000 watts from the center of the IU campus until 1971. It moved to the tower of sister-station WTIU
WTIU
WTIU channel 30 is the local Public Broadcasting Service member public television station for Bloomington, Indiana, United States, and surrounding areas. Its studios are located on the campus of Indiana University...
Channel 30 on the south side of Bloomington that year. The move not only increased its range, even with a lower ERP, but it cured another problem. Inexpensive FM radios in central Bloomington picked up the station all over the FM dial when it transmitted from campus. The move to the Channel 30 tower fixed that.
WFIU claims to have adopted in 1970 an almost entirely all-classical music format, featuring national programs as well as locally produced content. However, some long-time WFIU staff have stated that it was never a strictly classical station until the mid-1970s or later. It was one of the first 90 NPR affiliates to broadcast "All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
" upon its debut in 1971.
Nationally-syndicated programs
- Harmonia - A one-hour weekly program featuring early (e.g., RenaissanceRenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
, medieval) music. Hosted by musician Angela Mariani and written by Harpsichordist Bernard Gordillo. - Kinsey Confidential - three-minute weekly program of sexual health information in partnership with the Kinsey Institute.
- A Moment of Science - Daily two-minute modules on various scientific topics.
- Night Lights - A one-hour weekly program of classic jazz hosted by David Brent Johnson.
Local programs
- Art Works - Weekly program focusing on upcoming arts and cultural events and profiling local artists.
- Ask the Mayor - Each week, a mayor from WFIU's listening areas takes your calls and discusses community concerns.
- Afterglow - One hour program of jazz and American popular songs.
- The Big Bands - The Big Bands celebrates the Swing Era of the 30s and 40s as well as post-World War II and modern big-band jazz.
- Classical Music with George Walker - Classical music hosted by George Walker
- Ether Game - 2-hour weekly mix of music quiz show
- Focus on Flowers - 2 minute modules hosted by gardener Moya Andrews
- Hometown - Weekly 5-minute program hosted by Tom Rosnowski about some of the history of Terre Haute
- Just You & Me with Joe Bourne - Afternoon jazz and interviews hosted by Joe Bourne
- Noon Edition - weekly public affairs call-in program
- The Poets Weave - Weekly five-minute program of poetry reading
- Profiles - Weekly biographical program profiling local and national figures
- Saturday Afternoon Opera
Translators
WFIU-FM, broadcasting at 103.7 MHz in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, also broadcasts via the following translators:
- FM 95.1 Terre HauteTerre Haute, IndianaTerre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
- FM 100.7 ColumbusColumbus, IndianaColumbus is a city in and the county seat of Bartholomew County, Indiana, United States. The population was 44,061 at the 2010 census, and the current mayor is Fred Armstrong. Located approximately 40 miles south of Indianapolis, on the east fork of the White River, it is the state's 20th largest...
- FM 106.1 KokomoKokomo, IndianaKokomo is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States, Indiana's 13th largest city. It is the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Howard and Tipton counties....
- FM 98.9 GreensburgGreensburg, IndianaGreensburg is a city in Decatur County, Indiana, United States. The population was counted at 11,492 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Decatur County....
- FM 101.7 French Lick/West BadenFrench Lick, IndianaFrench Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,807 at the 2010 census. In early 2006 the French Lick Resort Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened drawing national attention to the small town.- History :French...
External links
- WFIU Homepage, with programming available as podcasts and as a live web stream
- WFIU Program Guide