WPRK
Encyclopedia
WPRK 91.5 FM is a non-commercial
college radio station located in Winter Park, Florida
owned and operated by Rollins College
. Its signal is audible in most of the Orlando
metropolitan area. WPRK features programming from nearly every mainstream
and non-mainstream music genre
s.
During its first decade of broadcasting WPRK operated for approximately five hours every evening, transmitting a variety of material including classical music, interview programs, quiz shows, and occasional live broadcasts of concerts and speeches occurring on campus. The hours of operation gradually expanded. By the mid 1970s WPRK was typically on the air from noon to midnight, featuring classical music during the day, a variety of student-selected radio format
s at night, and live play-by-play coverage of selected Rollins soccer and basketball games.
In 1989 students were given more authority over the programming and operation of WPRK; by 1991 the station was described as "completely student-run." The amount of time allocated to classical music was reduced and the length of the broadcast day was expanded with the station operating from 8 AM to 2 AM daily. Consistent 24-hour broadcasting began in the mid 1990s.
In the summer of 2000, Community Communications, owner of WMFE-FM
90.7, offered to take over the operations of WPRK in a proposed partnership which greatly interested the college. Students, listeners and other supporters formed an organization called "SaveWPRK.com" to oppose the merger and find other sources of funding for the station. On February 1, 2001, the Rollins College administration announced its decision to retain control of WPRK.
From January 17-21, 2005, the station launched its first WPRK Marathon, also known as The 110-Hour Workday, a fundraiser in which DJ Dave Plotkin attempted to break the world record for longest consecutive on-air DJ session.
Non-commercial
Non-commercial refers to an activity or entity that does not in some sense involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis...
college radio station located in Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
owned and operated by Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
. Its signal is audible in most of the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
metropolitan area. WPRK features programming from nearly every mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
and non-mainstream music genre
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
s.
History
WPRK began broadcasting on December 10, 1952. The station originally operated on 88.1 MHz with 10 watts of power but eventually moved to 91.5 MHz and increased power to 1300 watts.During its first decade of broadcasting WPRK operated for approximately five hours every evening, transmitting a variety of material including classical music, interview programs, quiz shows, and occasional live broadcasts of concerts and speeches occurring on campus. The hours of operation gradually expanded. By the mid 1970s WPRK was typically on the air from noon to midnight, featuring classical music during the day, a variety of student-selected 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...
s at night, and live play-by-play coverage of selected Rollins soccer and basketball games.
In 1989 students were given more authority over the programming and operation of WPRK; by 1991 the station was described as "completely student-run." The amount of time allocated to classical music was reduced and the length of the broadcast day was expanded with the station operating from 8 AM to 2 AM daily. Consistent 24-hour broadcasting began in the mid 1990s.
In the summer of 2000, Community Communications, owner of WMFE-FM
WMFE-FM
WMFE-FM is a public radio station in Orlando, Florida, owned by Community Communications, Inc., the owners of WMFE-TV.The station signed on in 1980 playing a mix of public radio news/talk, jazz, and classical music, the jazz music was dropped in 1983...
90.7, offered to take over the operations of WPRK in a proposed partnership which greatly interested the college. Students, listeners and other supporters formed an organization called "SaveWPRK.com" to oppose the merger and find other sources of funding for the station. On February 1, 2001, the Rollins College administration announced its decision to retain control of WPRK.
From January 17-21, 2005, the station launched its first WPRK Marathon, also known as The 110-Hour Workday, a fundraiser in which DJ Dave Plotkin attempted to break the world record for longest consecutive on-air DJ session.