KBYU-FM

KBYU-FM is a classical music radio station run by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Operating at 89.1 MHz, it is known on-air as Classical 89. It transmits at an effective radiated power of 32 kW. Its transmitting tower is located on a peak of the Oquirrh Mountains northwest of the university campus, and southwest of Salt Lake City.

KBYU-FM
CityProvo, Utah
Broadcast areaSalt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, Utah
Frequency89.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingClassical 89
Programming
FormatClassical music
SubchannelsHD2: BYU Radio
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerBrigham Young University
History
First air date
May 9, 1960 (at 88.9) (originally carrier current 1946-1960)
Former call signs
KBRG (May–November 1960)
Former frequencies
88.9 MHz (1960-1988)
Call sign meaning
Brigham Young University
Technical information
Facility ID6825
ClassC
ERP32,000 watts
HAAT907 meters (2,976 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
40°36′28″N 112°09′36″W
Translator(s)See § Translators
Links
Websitewww.classical89.org

The station previously broadcast at a frequency of 88.9 MHz (during which time its nickname was Classical 88). The frequency was shifted in 1988 by directive of the FCC, to alleviate interference for nearby frequencies used for aerial navigation, and to allow for a new full-power station to be built on 99.5 in the Salt Lake market. Classical 89 also has the following translators: 89.5 FM K208BZ Spanish Fork, 106.9 FM K295BW Nephi, 96.1 FM K241BV Milford, 100.3 FM K262BM Cedar City, 100.7 FM K264BM Ivins.

History

KBYU began as a student-run carrier current station at 660 AM in 1946.[1] T. Earl Pardoe, a professor at Brigham Young University, suggested to student Owen S. Rich that the university should have its own radio station. Using his experience as a radio and radar technical during World War II, it became available across Provo and the surrounding area in 1948 by using the city's power lines as an antenna.[1] The radio programming included talent shows, live dramas, club features, and popular music. In 1960, BYU was granted a commercial FM license.[2][3]

After the FM license was granted, the programming shifted to classical music. Students requested the programming be switched to Broadway show tunes, jazz, rock, and student talk shows.[2] After expanding the programming, listeners off-campus did not believe the programming held to standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). For example, after a series on political revolutionaries in 1971, people complained that the programming was sympathetic to the achievements of Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm X. BYU responded that they would not broadcast anything that did not follow LDS Church standards and they the university had sufficient budget to edit material that did not follow LDS Church standards.[2] In 1981, a series on homosexuality was canceled by the station manager.[2]

The new station signed on for the first time on May 9, 1960 under the temporary calls KBRG.[4] After negotiations to get the KBYU calls from a liberty ship, the call letters changed to KBYU on November 9, 1960.[4][1] The station presently broadcasts around the clock, having gone to that schedule in the mid-1980s.[5][6] Most of its on-air staff consists of professionals, although students do cover some weeknight and weekend on-air shifts. Students also play a key role in behind-the-scenes functions.[6]

The station is operated as a non-profit corporation, and solicits donations from the public to raise a portion of its operating revenue. Other funding sources include Brigham Young University and local underwriting by businesses and arts organizations.[7]

In 2006, KBYU-FM began broadcasting an HD Radio signal along with its main signal, and subsequently began carrying sports and talk programming from sister station BYU Radio on its HD2 signal.[8]

On October 23, 2017, Brigham Young University announced that KBYU-FM and KBYU-TV would drop their existing programming and become full-time outlets for BYU Radio and BYUtv respectively. The planned flip of KBYU-FM was met with criticism from listeners, as it was the only terrestrial radio station in the market devoted to classical music. On April 26, 2018, the university backtracked on its original plan, and announced that it would purchase 107.9 KUMT to use as a full-time outlet for BYU Radio instead.[9][7]

Programming

KBYU-FM carries a classical music format, as well as BYU devotionals and forums. In addition to carriage on FM radio, the station is also available online.[10]

Translators
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		Height
(m (ft))		ClassFCC info
K272AB102.3Preston, Etc., Idaho8205 m (673 ft)DFCC
K262BM100.3Cedar City, Utah10433.2 m (1,421 ft)DFCC
K264BM100.7Ivins, Utah101,007.8 m (3,306 ft)DFCC
K241BV96.1Milford, Utah101,185.9 m (3,891 ft)DFCC
K295BW106.9Nephi, Utah6552.6 m (1,813 ft)DFCC
K208BZ89.5Spanish Fork, Utah250643.6 m (2,112 ft)DFCC

References
  1. "KBYU-FM records" (2003). Prepared for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Provo, UT. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  2. Bergera, Gary James; Priddis, Ronald (1985). Brigham Young University: A House of Faith. Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books. pp. 325–327. ISBN 0941214346. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  3. Esplin, Fred C. (1977). "The Church as Broadcaster" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 10 (3): 26–29. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  4. "Radio dial: KKAT-FM adopts Christian format". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. April 4, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  5. Christensen, Danielle (April 26, 2018). "Classical 89 will stay on the air as a 24-hour classical music station". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  6. Clark, Cody (April 4, 2010). "Classical 89 still playing the oldies after 50 years". Daily Herald. Herald Communications. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  7. Pierce, Scott D. (October 23, 2017). "KBYU-TV will no longer be a PBS station in 2018 — and KBYU-FM will abandon classical music". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  8. http://www.hdradio.com/stations
  9. "After protests, Utah's KBYU-FM will keep playing classical music". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  10. Smith, Brandon L. (2007). "Evaluating the Feasibility of a Performance Improvement Initiative at BYU Broadcasting". BYU ScholarsArchive. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
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