MU Purchases KWWC-FM from Stephens College; Increases News, Music Coverage for Mid-Missouri
October 31st, 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Officials from the University of Missouri and KBIA-FM today announced the purchase of 90.5 FM (KWWC-FM) from Stephens College in Columbia, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
“The purchase of KWWC will allow us to expand the educational experience for broadcast students at the MU School of Journalism,” said Michael Dunn, director of KBIA-FM and a faculty member at the School of Journalism. “This acquisition also will allow us to improve our classical music service for the residents of Boone County from our current programming of 15 hours most days to 24 hours, seven days a week.”
Currently, KBIA, which is a National Public Radio (NPR) member station for mid-Missouri, airs classical music from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. With the purchase of 90.5 FM, KBIA-FM will become an almost all news network while 90.5 FM will be devoted to airing classical music full-time. This will allow increased exposure and experience for MU journalism students covering the news for KBIA while giving the community and area classical music enthusiasts the ability to enjoy music all day and night on the 90.5 FM frequency as well as streaming over the Internet for those living outside signal range.
Upon approval by the FCC, MU will change the call letters of 90.5 FM from KWWC-FM; Stephen’s College will retain the use of those call letters as they will continue to broadcast as KWWC in an online-only format that should be up and running by the start of the spring semester. Online, KWWC will continue to feature “cool jazz” and the “awesome ’80s” programming. It will also allow more Stephens students to create content for the station as an extracurricular activity. The new call letters for the MU-owned FM station have not been determined at this time.
“The online station will be more convenient for students and will give them a broader audience—friends and family members will be able to listen in from anywhere in the world,” said Rebecca Kline, Stephens College director of marketing and communications. “We’re pleased our university neighbors will be able to incorporate 90.5 FM into their academic programming.”
MU will pay Stephens College $50,000 for KWWC, as well as $50,000 in public service announcements for the College during the next five years.
Since 1972, KBIA has served mid-Missouri with the best in public radio service. KBIA is now on the air at 91.3 FM in mid-Missouri and 89.7 FM in Kirksville, and streaming online worldwide, seven days a week, 24 hours a day to its listeners and members. KBIA is a University-licensed, community-supported not-for-profit institution, actively involved in the lives of the mid-Missourians.