View source for KUAZ

{{short description|Public radio station in Tucson, Arizona}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station dual
| name1 = KUAZ
| name2 = KUAZ-FM
| logo = 
| city = [[Tucson, Arizona]]
| country = US
| area = [[Tucson metropolitan area]]
| branding = 
| airdate1 = {{start date|1961|6|26}}
| airdate2 = {{start date|1992|4|27}}
| frequency1 = 1550 [[kHz]]
| frequency2 = 89.1 [[MHz]] {{HD Radio}}
| repeater = 
| format = [[Public radio]]
| power1 = 50,000 watts ([[daytimer|day]])
| erp2 = 1,600 watts
| haat2 = {{convert|187.0|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class1 = D
| class2 = A
| facility_id1 = 2723
| facility_id2 = 3383
| coordinates1 = {{coord|32|22|21|N|111|5|52|W|region:US-AZ_type:landmark}}
| coordinates2 = {{coord|32|12|53|N|111|0|21|W|region:US-AZ_type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning = University of Arizona
| former_callsigns1 = {{ubl|KFIF (1961–1968)|KUAT (1968–2000)}}
| owner = [[University of Arizona]]
| licensee = [[Arizona Board of Regents]]
| sister_stations = {{hlist|[[KUAT-FM]]|[[KUAT-TV]]}}
| webcast = {{listenlive|http://media.azpm.org/radio/m3u/kuaz128.m3u}}
| website = {{URL|http://radio.azpm.org/kuaz/}}
| affiliations = {{ubl|[[National Public Radio]]|[[Public Radio Exchange]]}}
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
}}

'''KUAZ''' and '''KUAZ-FM''' are [[public radio]] stations in [[Tucson, Arizona]], owned by the [[University of Arizona]].  KUAZ transmits on 1550 [[Hertz|kHz]] on the AM dial, and KUAZ-FM is at 89.1 [[hertz|MHz]] on the FM dial.  The stations [[simulcast]] a [[radio format]] of news and information, as a member of [[National Public Radio]].  KUAZ-AM-FM carry such popular NPR shows as ''[[All Things Considered]]'', ''[[Morning Edition]]'','' ''[[1A (radio program)|1A]]'' and ''[[Terry Gross|Fresh Air with Terry Gross]]''.

KUAZ's transmitter is located in [[Marana, Arizona|Marana]], while KUAZ-FM's transmitter is located in Tucson. Programming is also heard on '''KUAS-FM''' at 88.9&nbsp;MHz in [[Sierra Vista, Arizona|Sierra Vista]], as well as three low-power FM [[Broadcast relay station|translators]] that fill in service gaps around Tucson and Southeastern Arizona.

==History==
As a [[construction permit]], 1550 AM began as KSWC, but changed its [[call sign]] to KFIF before signing on the air on June 25, 1961.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200614142932/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1961-62/section%20B%20All%20Radio%20%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201961-1962-9.pdf World Radio History] </ref> It was owned by the Southwest Broadcasting Corporation.

In 1967, John B. Walton, who had bought KFIF in 1965, also bought a station at 580 AM, which he would christen [[KIKX (defunct)|KIKX]]. The station on 580 could operate 24 hours a day.  Walton then donated 1550 AM to the University of Arizona.  The station became KUAT on October 7, 1968.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200608011839/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1970/B%20Radio%20All%20BC%20YB%201970%20All-3.pdf World Radio History] </ref> KUAT initially had a format of [[classical music]] and [[jazz]]. When [[KUAT-FM]] went on the air in 1975, the FM played all classical music and the AM went all jazz.

The U of A put 89.1 FM on the air in Sierra Vista on April 27, 1992.  It took the call sign KUAZ-FM, so as to distinguish itself from KUAT-FM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1993/B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1993-B%26W.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2022-02-08 |archive-date=2021-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926050321/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1993/B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1993-B%26W.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The AM station adopted the KUAZ calls on August 11, 2000.

==Repeaters==
On October 11, 2018, after an 11-year process, KUAS-FM 88.9 came to air for the first time, broadcasting to Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Benson, Huachuca City, and Douglas.  Previously, Sierra Vista received KUAZ via translator K217GI (91.3&nbsp;MHz).<ref>{{cite web|date=October 30, 2018|work=Arizona Public Media|url=https://about.azpm.org/p/community/2018/10/30/141385-new-radio-station-launches-in-southeast-arizona/|access-date=April 23, 2019|title=AZPM Launches New Radio Station in Southeast Arizona}}</ref>

A second translator, K283DC at 104.5&nbsp;MHz, fills service gaps in the Catalina and Saddlebrooke areas to the north of Tucson and began operating in 2019.

{{RadioTranslators
| call1        = KUAS-FM
| watts1        = 1,700
| class1        = C2
| freq1        = 88.9
| city1        = Sierra Vista, Arizona
| haat1        = 675.1
| fid1        = 173449
| coord1 = {{coord|31|28|51.7|N|109|57|31.3|W|region:US_type:landmark}}
}}

{{RadioTranslators
| callsign    = KUAZ-FM
| call1        = K217GI
| watts1        = 82
| class1        = D
| freq1        = 91.3
| city1        = Sierra Vista, Arizona
| call2        = K283DC
| watts2        = 250
| class2        = D
| freq2        = 104.5
| city2        = Catalina, Arizona
| fid1        = 2720
| fid2        = 201630
}}{{RadioTranslators
| callsign = KUAS-FM
| call1 = K202EM
| watts1 = 70
| class1 = D
| freq1 = 88.3
| fid1 = 3391
| cpxcity1 = [[Bisbee, Arizona|Bisbee]]–[[Douglas, Arizona]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://radio.azpm.org/kuaz/ KUAZ official website]
{{AM station data|2723|KUAZ}}
* {{FM station data|3383|KUAZ-FM}}
* {{FM station data|173449|KUAS-FM}}
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|2720|K217GI}}
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|201630|K283DC}}
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|3391|K202EM}}

{{University of Arizona}}
{{Tucson Radio}}
{{NPR Arizona}}
{{Daytime-only radio stations in Arizona}}

[[Category:NPR member stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Tucson, Arizona|UAZ]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1961]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:College radio stations in Arizona|UAZ]]
[[Category:University of Arizona]]
[[Category:Daytime-only radio stations in Arizona|UAZ]]