WSMR (FM)
Tampa Bay Area | |
Frequency | 89.1 MHz |
---|---|
Branding | Classical WSMR |
Programming | |
Format | Classical music |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WUSF | |
History | |
First air date | May 1991 (initial license) |
Former call signs | WAYG (1991–1996) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 64255 |
Class | C1 |
ERP | 54,000 watts |
HAAT | 135 meters (443 feet) |
Transmitter coordinates | 27°6′1.00″N 82°22′18.00″W / 27.1002778°N 82.3716667°W |
Translator(s) | 103.9 W280DW (Tampa, relays WUSF-HD2) |
Repeater(s) | 89.7 WUSF-HD2 (Tampa) |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | wsmr.org |
WSMR (89.1
History
The station was initially licensed in 1991 by
On July 30, 2010, Northwestern College announced that the station would cease broadcasting on August 4 at 5 pm.[2] Northwestern College held a STA to dismantle its current tower and broadcast on another station's auxiliary tower at a lesser power.[3] A loss of donations from listeners and businesses during the recession has led Northwestern College to close WSMR, even though the special temporary authority (STA) filed with the FCC said that the station would continue broadcasting.
On the day of WSMR's closure, the University of South Florida announced its intention to acquire WSMR, with plans to change the station's format to classical music, while reimaging
The station's sale to USF also included W280DW, to carry WSMR's new classical signal in Tampa.[6]
Two weeks after the failed launch of classical replacement WSMR, station management came under public scrutiny [7] for neglecting to perform due diligence regarding the purchase of the WSMR transmitter. According to a Bradenton Herald article:
Arthur Doak, an engineer for the FCC, said there was no record of WUSF or Northwestern College conducting an inspection on the tower but said stations are entitled to a review of tower sites.
"If the buyer wanted it done to protect themselves, certainly they could," Doak said. "That's between the buyer and the seller."
On October 25, 2010, WSMR resumed broadcasting, but temporarily at 5,000 watts on a Sarasota-area tower rented from
WSMR's main studios in Sarasota were completed in early 2011. The studio is used for broadcasting, as well as live and recorded local performances.[10] The station is dedicated to presenting classical music in recorded and live performances and markets itself as Florida's Classical Station. It is available on-line as well around the world.
References
- ^ "W280DW-FM 103.9 MHz - Tampa, FL". Radio Locator.
- ^ "WSMR: "Life 89.1 Going Off Air August 4th.", July 30, 2010".
- ^ "CDBS Print". FCC.
- ^ "Tampa public radio station WUSF-FM to go all NPR and jazz Sept. 15, shifting classical music to Sarasota station". St. Petersburg Times. August 4, 2010.
- ^ "WUSF Public Media". WUSF Public Media.
- ^ "WUSF Public Media". WUSF Public Media.
- ^ "WUSF works to figure out problems, broadcasting tower causing interference issues". Bradenton Herald. September 30, 2010.
- ^ "WUSF Public Media". WUSF Public Media.
- ^ "WUSF debuts new classical music station five weeks late, at low power". St. Petersburg Times. October 25, 2010.
- ^ "WUSF Public Media". WUSF Public Media. November 23, 2010.
External links
- WSMR official website
- WSMR in the FCC FM station database
- WSMR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- W280DW in the FCC FM station database
- W280DW at FCCdata.org