Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9410010003
SECTION: WELCOME STUDENTS PAGE: WS80 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
This fall, the station - usually called "Woovit" and sometimes "The Woov" - adds a Zydeco show to its lineup Sunday evenings, 9-midnight, and a Christian rock program early Sunday mornings.
Lesser-known to many students is the older, commercial WUVT-AM (640/650 AM), which programs new, non-mainstream music. WUVT-AM - which distributes its signal via low-power transmitters that use a building's electrical wiring as an antenna - operates local transmitters in four campus dormitories near Lee Hall. At one time, the AM signal also went to the campus of what was then Radford College. Today, the AM station provides a training ground for new student staffers.
Dorm residents in the vicinity of the WUVT transmitter and antenna on Lee Hall off Washington Street can look forward to not hearing the station bleed through everywhere on the FM dial and even on CD players and TV sets. The station plans to relocate its transmitter away from campus. "It's coming out through anything they have that's electronic," said Patrick Barton, WUVT's operations manager. "We have to do something this year."
Call WUVT at 231-9880 (Music request line: 231-9888). WUVT's studios are in Squires Student Center. Student volunteers are invited. An organizational meeting is set for Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. in the Brush Mountain Room of Squires Student Center.
At Radford University, WVRU (89.9 FM) blends music and public affairs specials. "We call it an eclectic format - the best of everything," said Ted McKosky, associate director of telecommunications. "Long Live Rock," Tuesdays at 8 p.m., frequently offers multipart musical series that give an in-depth look at a superstar from the world of rock. WVRU also airs jazz, blues, oldies and even radio drama.
New this fall is "Vanguard," a program of brand-new music. It airs Mondays through Thursdays, 9-10 p.m., and Sundays, 7-8 p.m. The 500-watt station is "always looking for new students," McKosky said.
Call 831-5171 for details. WVRU's studios are in Porterfield Hall.
A relatively new, non-commercial FM radio alternative is the CHRISTIAN CONTEMPORARY Positive Alternative Radio Network, which went on the air last winter. The New River Valley affiliate is Dublin's WPIN (91.5 FM and 102.5 FM). With studios in downtown Blacksburg, listener-supported "PAR-FM" offers contemporary Christian music and talk. Call (800) 627-9747.
Some changes may be in store on the local COMMERCIAL RADIO front: New River Media Group - which owns country-formatted WPSK in Pulaski - has completed its purchase of WVVV (104.9 FM) in Blacksburg and WJJJ (1260 AM) in Christiansburg.
The new owners plan to house all three stations in a central studio-office facility near Radford and share staff among the three outlets, especially for news. WVVV - known as "Rock 105" - also will move up the dial a bit to 105.3 FM when it swaps channels with WVRV in Roanoke and raises power to 25,000 watts sometime around the first of the year. That will make it the most powerful FM station in the New River Valley.
There's been wide speculation that New River Media Group might switch Rock 105 to a country format, but the company so far has been tight-lipped about possible format changes, saying it wants to study the market first.
Listeners to the market's other album-rocker, WROV-FM (96.3 FM), now can hear the Martinsville-Roanoke station a lot better, thanks to a 250-watt Blacksburg translator at 96.7 FM. The translator on Price Mountain has improved WROV-FM's reception in buildings and dormitories on campus and around town.
\ FM RADIO DIRECTORY
National Public Radio (news/classical/variety/"Prairie Home Companion"): WVTF (89.1 FM; 91.9 FM), Roanoke.
Campus (alternative/variety): WVRU (89.9 FM), Radford University; WUVT (90.7 FM), Virginia Tech.
Christian/talk (non-commercial): WPIN (91.5 FM and 102.5 FM), Dublin. "PAR-FM;" WHPE-FM (100.1 FM), High Point, N.C. (with translator in the New River Valley)
Contemporary hits: WXLK (92.3 FM), Roanoke. "K-92 FM"
Easy listening oldies: WPVR (94.9 FM), Roanoke. "FM 95"
Album/classic rock: WROV-FM (96.3 FM), Martinsville-Roanoke; WVVV (104.9 FM), Blacksburg. "Rock 105"
Adult contemporary/oldies: WSLQ (99.1 FM), Roanoke. "Q-99 FM"
Country: WBNK (100.7 FM), Christiansburg. "Kool Country 100.7;" WRIQ (101.7 FM), Radford. "CD Country;" WPSK (107.1 FM), Pulaski. "Eagle Country 107"
\ AM RADIO DIRECTORY
News/talk/Rush Limbaugh: WFNR (710 AM), Christiansburg. (daylight only)
Country: WNRV (990 AM), Narrows. (simulcasts WBNK, "Kool Country 100.7")
Country oldies/local news: WRAD (1460 AM-Stereo), Radford. "Classic Country"
Pop oldies: WJJJ (1260 AM), Christiansburg. "1260-J"
Gospel/Christian talk: WBLB (1340 AM), Pulaski; WPUV (1580 AM), Pulaski. (daylight only)
Bluegrass/old standards/gospel: WKEX (1430 AM), Blacksburg. (daylight only)
by CNB