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| KCAC | |
|---|---|
| Name | KCAC |
| City | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Frequency | 89.5 MHz |
| Airdate | 1978 |
| Format | College radio / Alternative / Jazz |
| Erp | 2,500 watts |
| Haat | 112 meters |
| Facility id | 66226 |
| Owner | Oklahoma City University |
| Website | kcac.okcu.edu |
KCAC is a campus radio station associated with Oklahoma City University that serves the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The station operates as a student-run outlet featuring a mix of alternative, jazz, and specialty programming, and functions as a training ground for broadcasting, journalism, and music industry careers. KCAC has been linked to regional arts organizations, collegiate athletics, and public radio initiatives while maintaining affiliation with university curricula and extracurricular media.
KCAC began broadcasting in the late 1970s amid a surge of college radio expansion in the United States, contemporaneous with developments at KEXP, WKCR-FM, WFMU, KALX, and KCRW. Early station leadership drew inspiration from community-minded broadcasters such as Pacifica Radio affiliates and campus peers like WBER and WRAS. During the 1980s and 1990s KCAC expanded its library and transmitter capacity, paralleling upgrades seen at KEXP and campus media changes at institutions including University of California, Berkeley and New York University. The station weathered regulatory shifts from the Federal Communications Commission while aligning with university objectives similar to those at Boston University and University of Southern California. Notable milestones included the adoption of stereo FM broadcasting, digitization of archives like peers at WFMU and participation in regional music festivals alongside venues such as Cain's Ballroom and promoters linked to SXSW.
KCAC's programming blends contemporary alternative music, classic and contemporary jazz, student-produced talk shows, and specialty blocks mirroring formats at KEXP, WXPN, WUOM and WNYC. Regular segments include album-oriented rotation, local band showcases akin to NPR affiliate support structures, syndicated jazz hours reminiscent of Jazz at Lincoln Center broadcasts, and live studio sessions comparable to those at KEXP and KCRW. Sports coverage has featured Oklahoma City University athletics in ways comparable to collegiate broadcasts at University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University affiliate stations. The station has collaborated with arts organizations such as Oklahoma City Philharmonic and venues like Civic Center Music Hall for live remotes and promotional partnerships.
KCAC transmits on FM with parameters consistent with a Class A facility regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. The station's transmitter and antenna sit at a height similar to suburban college outlets and provide coverage across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, competing within the market alongside commercial stations like KWPN (AM), KOMA (FM), KJYO and public stations such as KGOU. Technical upgrades over time paralleled industry trends at institutions including NPR stations and college broadcasters like KALX and WKCR-FM, with transitions from analog carts and turntables to digital audio workstations and streaming platforms operated similarly to iHeartRadio-affiliated services and university streaming initiatives. KCAC's signal contour and effective radiated power are documented in FCC facility records alongside other regional licensees such as KXXY-FM and KREF-FM.
KCAC is owned and licensed to Oklahoma City University, an institution with administrative structures comparable to universities such as Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, and University of Tulsa. Governance includes university-appointed station managers, faculty advisors from programs akin to University of Oklahoma's communications departments, and student executive boards modeled on student media organizations at University of Southern California and Indiana University Bloomington. Financial and strategic oversight has involved coordination with university advancement offices, alumni relations teams, and campus event offices similar to those at Tulane University and Vanderbilt University. Periodic compliance reviews reference FCC rules and higher-education accreditation practices comparable to Middle States Commission on Higher Education procedures.
KCAC has hosted and promoted concerts, benefit drives, and cultural events in partnership with local entities such as Oklahoma Contemporary, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and regional music venues including The Jones Assembly and Blue Door. The station’s public affairs programming has featured interviews with civic leaders, artists, and performers comparable to guests on Fresh Air and college radio roundtables, and has participated in emergency information networks alongside broadcasters like The Oklahoman and local television affiliates. Fundraising events, on-campus festivals, and collaborative showcases mirror activities conducted by student stations at University of Texas at Austin and University of Michigan.
Former KCAC staff have moved into professional roles across broadcasting, music, and media industries, following career trajectories similar to alumni from WNYC, KEXP, and NPR. Notable individuals include producers, on-air personalities, and music directors who later affiliated with regional outlets such as KGOU, KOSU, and commercial stations like KOMA (FM), as well as arts administrators at institutions like Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Faculty advisors and guest hosts have included academics and practitioners with connections to universities such as University of Missouri and media organizations like Public Radio International and American Public Media.
Category:Radio stations in Oklahoma