WTBU

WTBU is the student-run radio station of Boston University, broadcasting primarily online with a secondary carrier-current AM signal. As one of the oldest college radio stations in the United States, it has served as a training ground for broadcasting professionals and a platform for diverse, non-commercial programming. The station is operated by the Boston University College of Communication and maintains a significant presence in the university's media landscape.

History

The station first signed on the air in 1960, broadcasting on 640 AM via a carrier-current system that reached Boston University dormitories. In 1971, WTBU secured a license from the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast terrestrially on 89.3 FM, significantly expanding its reach across the Boston metropolitan area. This FM era ended in 1978 when the license was sold to WGBH, which launched the station now known as WGBH-FM; this controversial sale prompted student protests and a lawsuit against the Boston University administration. After two decades off the airwaves, WTBU returned in 1999 as a pioneering internet radio station, later reintroducing a limited-range AM signal in 2005 to serve the campus core.

Programming

WTBU's programming is eclectic and student-driven, encompassing a wide variety of music genres including indie rock, hip hop, electronic music, jazz, and classical music. The station features numerous specialty shows dedicated to specific styles such as punk rock, ambient music, and music from regions like Latin America and East Asia. In addition to music, WTBU produces talk programming including news segments, sports talk covering Boston University Terriers athletics, political commentary, and comedy shows. The station also provides live coverage of major campus events and has historically broadcast performances from the annual Boston Calling Music Festival.

Notable alumni

Many WTBU alumni have achieved prominence in media, journalism, and the music industry. Notable figures include television journalist and former CBS News anchor Lara Logan, and award-winning radio producer David Isay, founder of StoryCorps. In music, alumnus Mike O'Malley served as a program director for XM Satellite Radio, while journalist Bill Simmons hosted early sports talk programs at the station before founding The Ringer. Other distinguished alumni include National Public Radio correspondent Tovia Smith and former MTV president of programming Tony DiSanto.

Technical specifications

WTBU primarily broadcasts via its online stream, which is accessible worldwide through its website and mobile apps. Within the Boston University campus, it also transmits a carrier-current AM signal on 640 kHz, which is receivable on standard radios in most university buildings and dormitories. The station's studios and production facilities are digitally equipped with modern broadcasting consoles, digital audio workstations, and a comprehensive music library. WTBU has also experimented with low-power broadcasting and podcast distribution for its original content.

Campus and facilities

WTBU's main studios are located within the Boston University College of Communication building at 640 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The facilities include multiple on-air broadcast studios, a production studio for recording interviews and podcasts, and a dedicated newsroom. The station operates under the auspices of the university's Department of Journalism and often collaborates with other student media organizations like The Daily Free Press and BUTV10. Its location in the heart of the university's Charles River Campus provides easy access for student staff and guests.