WNSD

WNSD was a noncommercial radio station owned by the Northwest Local School District in Cincinnati, Ohio, broadcasting on 90.1 MHz FM. WNSD, based at Colerain High School, operated from December 19, 1972 to February 10, 1978.

WNSD
CityCincinnati, Ohio
Frequency90.1 MHz
Programming
FormatDefunct (was Variety)
Ownership
OwnerColerain High School
(Northwest Local School District)
History
First air dateDecember 19, 1972
Last air dateFebruary 10, 1978
Call sign meaningNorthwest Local School District
Technical information
ClassD
ERP10 watts
Transmitter coordinates39°13′55″N 84°36′11″W

History

In April 1972, after approving the station proposal in December 1971,[1] the Northwest Local School District filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to build a new 10-watt noncommercial educational FM station in Cincinnati.[2] The FCC granted the construction permit to the school district on August 9,[3] sooner than district officials had expected.[4] The district selected the WNSD call letters[5] before going on air on December 19, 1972.[6] Studio equipment, per the plan approved by the school board, was to be built and assembled by school woodworking and electronics students, allowing $5,000 worth of equipment to be put into service for just $500.[1]

Upon signing on, the station broadcast for nearly 12 hours a day on weekdays. When students were listening (in the early morning, at lunch and in the afternoon) and the station was piped into the cafeteria, WNSD was an upbeat Top 40 outlet; in the late morning and early afternoon hours, WNSD broadcast easy listening music.[6] Public service announcements and Colerain home sports coverage were also featured.[7] The station's first program director, Mark Hevel, was the son of the operations manager of WCPO-TV;[8] electronics instructor John Freeman served as faculty advisor.[6]

Students, under the supervision of faculty advisor Freeman, created all of the broadcast programming. The school's principal, Carl Banks, was supportive of WNSD and in helping maintain its on-the-air status. Delbert Williams served as the second faculty advisor, after Freeman left Colerain High School; he was followed by Marian Pysarchuk.[7]

In the mid-1970s, the Northwest Local School District entered into financial difficulties. At the same time, Pysarchuk became pregnant and went on maternity leave until September. The district was unable to find a qualified faculty director to replace her, and with the station continuing on a small budget of $8,000 a year, it was decided to shut the station down indefinitely, with the final day of broadcasts being February 10, 1978.[9] The approval of an emergency property tax lifted hopes for the board that was convened to decide the fate of the facility; it recommended that WNSD be put back into service at an estimated annual cost of $25,000, to provide a station manager, United Press International wire, and equipment repairs.[10] The Northwest Local School District opted not to follow the board's recommendations, justifying the decision by noting that the 10-watt outlet did not reach a majority of the district's area and offered limited classroom experience.[11]

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References
  1. "Plans To Operate Radio Station Okayed By Northwest School Board". Journal News. December 28, 1971. p. 17. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  2. "New FM stations" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 1, 1972. p. 66. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  3. "Final actions" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 25, 1972. p. 52. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  4. "Colerain High School Gets FM License". Cincinnati Enquirer. August 10, 1972. p. 43. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  5. "Call letter actions" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 20, 1972. p. 90. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  6. Portune, Bob (January 27, 1973). "Colerain's new FM radio station goes on the air". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 22. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  7. Wright, Greg (May 21, 1976). "Colerain High Radio Station Has Format For All Seasons". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  8. "New To Area Air". Cincinnati Enquirer. January 11, 1973. p. 65. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  9. Schickel, Bill (March 22, 1978). "Station Could Unite District, Resident Says". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C-2. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  10. Schickel, Bill (April 25, 1978). "Efforts To Renew Tax In Two Years Begin Informally". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D-2. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  11. "WNSD To Remain Silent For Another Year". Cincinnati Enquirer. June 22, 1978. p. E-4. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
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