View source for WPTS-FM

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WPTS-FM
| logo = Wptsfm LOGO cmyk.jpg
| city = [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
| area = [[University of Pittsburgh]] campus
| branding = 
| airdate = August 26, [[1984 in radio|1984]]
| frequency = 92.1 [[Megahertz|MHz]]
| repeater = 92.9 [[WLTJ|WLTJ-HD4]] (Pittsburgh)
| format = [[College radio]]
| erp = 16 [[watt]]s
| haat = 141 meters/463 feet
| class = D
| facility_id = 68946
| callsign_meaning = '''P'''i'''T'''t'''S'''burgh
| owner = [[University of Pittsburgh]]
| webcast = {{listenlive|http://audio.wpts.pitt.edu:8000/wpts_live_128s.mp3}}
| website = [https://wpts.pitt.edu/ wptsradio.pitt.edu]
}}
'''WPTS-FM''' (92.1 [[Hertz|MHz]]) is a non-commercial [[radio station]] owned by the [[University of Pittsburgh]], and offers a mix of student-run programming, ranging from music programming to news and sports coverage. The station operates  with an [[Effective radiated power|ERP]] of 16 [[watt]]s, and is licensed to [[Pittsburgh]]. Its transmitter is located on the top of the university's [[Cathedral of Learning]] in Pittsburgh.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=http://wptsradio.org/?page_id=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902164449/http://wptsradio.org/?page_id=5|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 2, 2011|title=WPTSradio:About|publisher=Wptsradio.org|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref>

== History ==
WPTS-FM originally evolved from WPGH, an AM [[carrier current]] station that broadcast to the Pitt Student Union and dormitories. WPGH was started in the fall of 1957 by 12 students, including [[Adrian Cronauer]], whose experiences in Vietnam were made famous by [[Robin Williams]] in the movie ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]''.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?xc=1;g=documentingpitt;cc=pittpressreleases;didno=pittpressreleases19940159;idno=pittpressreleases19940159|title=Pitt's WPTS-FM Radio to Change Frequency|first=Patricia Lomando|last=White|publisher=University of Pittsburgh Office of Public Affairs|date=July 28, 1994|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref> Since then, [[WPGH-TV|WPGH]] is now the call letters of the [[Fox Network|Fox]] TV station in Pittsburgh.  The push to get an [[FM radio|FM station]] began in the fall of 1977 when Pitt requested a space on the commercial [[FM broadcast band]]. Because the [[Federal Communications Commission]] was concerned that the move of WPTS to FM might set an unfavorable precedent for other non-commercial stations seeking to make a similar move, Pitt had to reassure the FCC that WPTS-FM was a unique case. As a result, WPTS-FM was granted a class D license with a radiating power of 10 Watts in the fall of 1984, the last 10-Watt station to be licensed by the FCC. The station was originally on 98.5 until 1994, when it moved to the current frequency.<ref name="about"/>

After a reduction in power to two watts in May 2005 at the request of the FCC,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facility Details « Licensing and Management System Admin « FCC|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityTechDetails.html?facilityId=68946&applicationId=bf3febb7c8b34092962bc1b6063ebeb7|access-date=2022-01-16|website=enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov}}</ref> WPTS acquired a new directional antenna in the summer of 2006<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facility Details « Licensing and Management System Admin « FCC|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityTechDetails.html?facilityId=68946&applicationId=3408f0fc612d4175aea0c1b6063ebeb7|access-date=2022-01-16|website=enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov}}</ref> to reduce interference with [[WPKL|WKPL]], a commercial station to the northwest.

In 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2015 WPTS was nominated as one of the five to ten finalists for the [[mtvU]] [[mtvU#Woodie Awards|Woodie Award]] for best college radio station in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://radiowoodie.ratemyprofessors.com/ | title=College Radio Woodie Award | publisher=RateMyProfessors.com | access-date=2009-11-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pittnews.com/index.php/newsx/71043-wpts-makes-the-final-cut-in-contest-for-best-college-radio-station|title=WPTS makes the final cut in contest for best college radio station|first=Gwenn|last=Barney|newspaper=The Pitt News|date=February 26, 2013|access-date=February 26, 2013}}</ref> WPTS was awarded the Woodie Award in 2015.

In 2018, WPTS placed 2nd in the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Production Award for “Best Station Imaging.” CBI would award WPTS the first place position for “Best Podcast” in 2020 for the station’s “Impeachment Podcast,” based on the 2019 impeachment proceedings of President Donald J. Trump.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Friez|first=Cara|title=Past National Student Production Awards|url=https://www.askcbi.org/contests/past-national-student-production-awards/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=College Broadcasters, Inc.|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Promotions ==
WPTS-FM has conducted a variety of promotions. The "Moustache Challenge" was a group collaborative effort created by a number of WPTS-FM station staff in 2006 with the idea to see who might grow the most impressive moustache over the month of November.  The idea is based on [[Jay Della Valle]]'s [[The Glorious Mustache Challenge]] and the competition was open to anyone at the [[University of Pittsburgh]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wpts.wikidot.com/promotions | title=WPTS: Promotions | access-date=2009-11-19}}</ref> The promotion won the 2007 College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Production Award for "Best Station Promotion".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.askcbi.org/?page_id=88 | title=2007 National Student Production Awards | publisher=College Broadcasters, Inc. | location=Hummelstown, PA | access-date=2009-11-19}}</ref> This contest followed the 2005 "[[Egg hunt|Egg Hunt]]" contest, which won the 2006 College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Production Award for "Best Station Promotion".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.askcbi.org/?page_id=87 | title=2006 National Student Production Awards | publisher=College Broadcasters, Inc. | location=Hummelstown, PA | access-date=2009-11-19}}</ref>

As part of its promotional efforts, WPTS-FM typically hosts a national touring band in both the fall and spring. Past bands that have played at WPTS-FM include [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], [[Matt & Kim]], [[Mates of State]], [[Man Man]], [[Cloud Nothings]], [[No Age]], [[Of Montreal]], [[Jens Lekman]], [[Girl Talk (musician)|Girl Talk]], [[Why? (American band)|Why?]], [[Real Estate (band)|Real Estate]], [[Woods (band)|Woods]], [[Waxahatchee]], [[Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin]], and many others.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Radio}}
* {{Official website|http://wptsradio.org/}}
*[http://wpts1980s.blogspot.com/ Playlists for The Eighties At Seven]
*[http://thereverendonwpts.blogspot.com/ Playlists for Almost the Weekend with The Reverend]
*{{FM station data|68946|WPTS-FM}}

{{University of Pittsburgh}}
{{Pittsburgh FM}}
{{Pennsylvania college radio}}

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[[Category:Radio stations in Pittsburgh|PTS-FM]]
[[Category:College radio stations in Pennsylvania|PTS-FM]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh]]