KCUR-FM
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| City of license | Kansas City, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Kansas City |
| Frequency | 89.3 MHz |
| Format | Public broadcasting |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 250.0 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 14738 |
| Transmitter coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Callsign meaning | Kansas City University Radio |
| Affiliations | National Public Radio |
| Owner | University of Missouri-Kansas City (The Curators of the University of Missouri) |
| Webcast | PLS |
| Website | www |
KCUR 89.3 is the flagship NPR station in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The station, licensed to and governed by the Curators of the University of Missouri, broadcasts at 89.3 MHz with an ERP of 100,000 watts and covers a 90-mile radius in Northwestern Missouri and Northeastern Kansas.
History
In the spring of 1956, C.J. Stevens, then Director of Radio and TV at the University of Kansas City (forerunner of UMKC), submitted a budget request for the establishment and operation of an educational FM radio station. This request was turned down. Stevens and Sam Scott then decided to raise money outside the university and, with the approval of then President McGrath, a modest fundraising campaign was undertaken and a separate FM fund was established.
KCUR began broadcasting on October 21, 1957 from the third floor of Scofield Hall with a signal range of four miles, two full-time employees and a budget of $15,000 from the University. Wiring and setup of the station was done by student volunteers, including some from Rockhurst (Richard J. Allen and Gary Labowitz, who was an announcer/engineer the first two years). KCUR was the first university licensed educational FM station in Missouri and the second FM station in Kansas City. [1]
In 1961, the University of Kansas City Board of Trustees decided to drop operation of KCUR from the 1962 budget along with the elimination of the intercollegiate athletic program. This was a time of financial problems for the University of Kansas City, leading to its merger into the University of Missouri system a few years later. An Editorial in the Kansas City Times suggested several reasons why the university should reconsider its decision including, "In the community, it (KCUR) is a source of education, culture and pleasure."
The decision to eliminate funding for KCUR was reversed at the next meeting. In 1965 — two years after UKC became the University of Missouri-Kansas City — the station moved to 524 Pierce Street. The MU board approved purchase of $24,000 worth of transmitter equipment that more than doubled the station's coverage area, boosting its broadcasting power to 40,000 watts.
In 1970, KCUR was awarded a grant of $7,500 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for Community Service. [2] A year later, it became a charter member of NPR. In 1976, KCUR-FM moved to 5327 Holmes and the signal was expanded to 100,000 watts.
In 1985, KCUR moved to its current location in the Student Services Building at 4825 Troost. Over the next few years, the public radio programming was streamlined and most of the volunteers were either eliminated from on-air responsibilities or became employees of KCUR. The station began broadcasting 24 hours a day with the BBC World Service being heard in the overnight hours.
In 1992, national and local news programming was added to the broadcast schedule, eliminating classical music during the day. These changes along with more sophisticated fundraising success enabled the station to increase its listening audience and local news staff.
Programming
KCUR 89.3 broadcasts 24 hours a day. The station airs a wide range of national and international (NPR, PRI, BBC, APM) news, entertainment, and music programming. It's also home to several locally produced and hosted news and music programs.
Central Standard is a one-hour program, hosted by Gina Kaufmann. A popular co-host of The Walt Bodine Show from 2008 to 2010, Kaufmann returned to KCUR in March 2014 [3] as the host of Central Standard, which airs Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. The show "explores what really matters to the people in the Kansas City area. We tell the stories of our city and region from the bottom up and through the perspective of individuals. We are an inclusive forum that explores art, ideas and how the news affects lives and communities."
Up to Date is a one-hour public affairs/talk show featuring newsmakers of the Kansas City community. It airs Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. Host Steve Kraske, a political correspondent for The Kansas City Star brings pressing issues, both local and national, to the table including politics, economics, entertainment and social points of view.
The station also features diverse local music programs, including The Fish Fry, Cyprus Avenue, and Night Tides.
Many of KCUR's programs are streamed live at KCUR.org or available as archives and podcasts.
