KUSC

KUSC (91.5 MHz FM) is a listener-supported classical music radio station broadcasting from downtown Los Angeles, California, United States.[1] KUSC is owned and operated by the University of Southern California, which also operates student-run Internet station KXSC (AM) and San Francisco's classical station KDFC. It is the largest non-profit classical music station in the country and the only classical radio station in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

KUSC
CityLos Angeles, California
Broadcast areaSouthern California
Frequency91.5 MHz
(HD Radio)
Programming
FormatClassical music
Ownership
OwnerUniversity of Southern California
History
First air dateOctober 24, 1946 (1946-10-24)
Call sign meaningK
University of
Southern
California
Technical information
Facility ID69318
ClassB
ERP39,000 watts (directional antenna)
HAAT891 meters (2,923 ft)
Transmitter coordinates34°12′48″N 118°03′41″W
Repeater(s)KPSC: 88.5 MHz
KDSC: 91.1 MHz
KDB: 93.7 MHz
KESC: 99.7 MHz
Links
WebcastListen Live Options
Websitekusc.org

History

The station was one of the first radio stations to operate on the FM band when it officially signed on using the frequency of 91.7 on December 5, 1946.[2] Its primary benefactor was George Allan Hancock. It operated out the Hancock Foundation building on the USC campus and broadcast from a 250 foot tower above the building.[3]

In the 1970s the station adopted a rock format. On April 2, 1973 new station manager Wally Smith oversaw the return to the all classical station. In 1976 the station's transmitter was placed on Lookout Mountain above the Hollywood sign. In 1993 tower was erected near Mount Wilson.[4] In 1996 Smith left the station after changing the format to talk, classical, jazz, folk and world music (he would go on to develop WPBB).

In 2010 it moved its broadcast studio to the USC Building in downtown Los Angeles.[5]

In February 2014, public radio station KCRW of Santa Monica announced that it would buy the Santa Barbara Foundation's classical station KDB (FM) 93.7 in Santa Barbara for $1 million.[6] The transaction will allow KCRW to begin using KQSC, USC's current repeater station in Santa Barbara, as a repeater for KCRW's programming, while transferring KUSC's classical programming from KQSC to KDB, thus perpetuating KDB's role as Santa Barbara's classical station. The legacy KDB call letters have been retained.

Programming

Notable local programming[7] includes:

  • Jennifer Miller and Alan Chapman’s weekday morning shows;
  • Dianne Nicolini’s weekday noontime requests program;
  • Brian Lauritzen and Rich Capparela's weekday afternoon program;
  • Jim Svejda's weekday evening show;
  • Jennifer Miller's Sunday opera show, and
  • Weekend shows by Chapman, Lauritzen, Svjeda, Capparela, Miller, Van Driel and Robin Pressman.
  • The overnight program Classical California All Night is hosted by Rich Capparela "Monday-Tuesday" and John Van Driel "Wednesday-Sunday", and is shared with KDFC In San Francisco.

Management helped establish the nationwide Classical 24 network and also supervised Virginia's WMRA network before taking up leadership at KUSC.

The station holds three membership drives annually to help support operational costs. These drives usually last less than ten days. Corporate sponsors include Lexus, Miramax Films, University of Redlands, Universal Music Group, City of Hope National Medical Center and Providence Health & Services.

KUSC broadcasts in HD.[8]

KUSC is not related to WUSC, the student-run radio station at the University of South Carolina; the two institutions happen to share initials.

Transmitter network
Call signFrequencyLocationPower
KUSC91.5 FMLos Angeles39,000 watts
KPSC88.5 FMPalm Springs1,250 watts
KDSC(†)91.1 FMThousand Oaks4,800 watts
KDB93.7 FMSanta Barbara12,500 watts
KESC99.7 FMMorro Bay285 watts

† KDSC is non-directional (fcc.gov). Coverage pattern is not circular due to mountains to the NE which block line-of-sight FM transmissions. Any interference with the 91.1 (XETRA-FM) in Mexico goes both ways and is caused by a phenomenon called 'ducting'. Ducting occurs most often along coastal areas, particularly during spring and fall when temperature inversions occur. Ducting causes VHF signals to travel farther than normal. All VHF signals experience periodic interference from this phenomenon. (FM is in the VHF band just above TV channel 6.)

See also
  • Abram Chasins – American composer and pianist who helped re-organize KUSC in 1972.

References
  1. "Classical KUSC Our Mission". University of Southern California. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/580312451/?terms=KUSC
  3. https://www.kusc.org/culture/the-story-of-classical-kusc/
  4. https://www.kusc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/KUSC-Annual-Report-2017.pdf
  5. https://www.kusc.org/culture/the-story-of-classical-kusc/
  6. Engel, Allison. "Classical KUSC to Operate Santa Barbara Classical Station". University of Southern California. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  7. "Schedule". University of Southern California. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  8. https://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?latitude=34.052230834961&longitude=-118.24368286133 Archived 2017-08-08 at the Wayback Machine HD Radio Guide for Los Angeles

Other station data
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