KUNR

KUNR and KNCC
Broadcast areaNorthern Nevada
Frequencies
  • KUNR: 88.7 MHz
  • KNCC: 91.5 MHz
Branding
  • KUNR Public Radio
  • KNCC Public Radio
Programming
FormatPublic radio and talk
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KNCJ
History
First air date
  • KUNR: October 7, 1963 (1963-10-07)
  • KNCC: 1992 (1992)
Call sign meaning
  • KUNR: University of Nevada, Reno
Technical information[1][2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID
  • KUNR: 69001
  • KNCC: 49582
Class
  • KUNR: C0
  • KNCC: A
ERP
  • KUNR: 20,000 watts
  • KNCC: 54 watts
HAAT
  • KUNR: 651 meters (2,136 ft)
  • KNCC: 622 meters (2,041 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Website

KUNR (88.7 FM) and KNCC (91.5 FM) are non-commercial radio stations that jointly carry a talk-oriented public radio format as members of NPR. KUNR is licensed to Reno, Nevada, United States, and KNCC is licensed to Elko, Nevada, United States; both are owned by the University of Nevada, Reno. The studios are located on North Virginia Street in Reno, inside Edmund J. Cain Hall on the university campus.

KUNR's transmitter is in Carson City, while KNCC's transmitter is atop Elko Mountain. Both stations also have a network of low-power FM translators around Nevada and Northern California.

History

KUNR signed on the air on October 7, 1963.[3] It originally broadcast on 88.1 MHz and was powered at only 10 watts, a fraction of its current output. The station could only be heard on campus and adjacent neighborhoods. It was a college radio station, with students hosting most of the shows. Dr. Donald G. Potter, the director of the university's audio-video center, headed the radio station.

It later moved up the dial to 88.7 MHz, increasing its power and relocating its tower to a high peak between Reno and Carson City. With the increase in coverage area, the university decided to change the station's direction. It became a public radio station, airing news, information and classical music. It joined NPR in 1981, adding the network's news shows to its schedule.

In 1992, KNCC signed on the air. It began simulcasting KUNR's programming in the Elko area of Nevada. A network of translators was also added around Nevada and Northern California so KUNR could be heard in those small communities.

In 2016, the university acquired a non-commercial FM station at 89.5 MHz. That station became KNCJ, where the classical music and jazz programming moved.[4] That allowed KUNR to go all news, talk and information, except for a few weekend shows.

KUNR's signal is also heard in Carson City and around Lake Tahoe. The region is also served by another NPR member station, KKTO 90.5 FM in Tahoe City, which simulcasts the news and information programming of KXJZ Sacramento.

Programming

KUNR and KNCC mostly air programs from NPR and other public radio networks, with local Nevada news updates. The weekday schedule includes Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, Here and Now, 1A, Think, The World and Marketplace. The BBC World Service runs overnight.

On weekend evenings, several music shows are heard, including American Routes from the Public Radio Exchange, as well as two shows produced by KUNR: The Risky Biscuit Hayseed Hoot with Dondo Harue and Jimbo's Juke Joint and Roadhouse Cafe with Jim Burke. Both shows play Americana, Folk, Bluegrass music and other genres with a touch of humor.

Translators

KUNR operates about a dozen translators across Nevada and California.

Broadcast translators for KUNR
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info Notes
K210AK 89.9 FM Incline Village, Nevada 69187 43 143 m (469 ft) D 39°14′52.6″N 119°55′20.6″W / 39.247944°N 119.922389°W / 39.247944; -119.922389 (K210AK) LMS  
K215CM 90.9 FM Eureka, Nevada 88142 25 −81.9 m (−269 ft) D 39°30′40″N 115°57′55.9″W / 39.51111°N 115.965528°W / 39.51111; -115.965528 (K215CM) LMS  
K217AX 91.3 FM Winnemucca, Nevada 69223 10 0 m (0 ft) D 41°0′29″N 117°46′12.7″W / 41.00806°N 117.770194°W / 41.00806; -117.770194 (K217AX) LMS  
K218AO 91.5 FM Hawthorne, Nevada 69009 10 978.8 m (3,211 ft) D 38°27′25.1″N 118°45′52.3″W / 38.456972°N 118.764528°W / 38.456972; -118.764528 (K218AO) LMS  
K219AR 91.7 FM Verdi, Nevada 69279 190 0 m (0 ft) D 39°34′37.6″N 119°56′22.7″W / 39.577111°N 119.939639°W / 39.577111; -119.939639 (K219AR) LMS  
K220BC 91.9 FM Yerington, Nevada 69363 45 456 m (1,496 ft) D 38°59′14.6″N 119°14′38.5″W / 38.987389°N 119.244028°W / 38.987389; -119.244028 (K220BC) LMS  
K263AB 100.5 FM Battle Mountain, Nevada 36496 19 366 m (1,201 ft) D 40°34′9.6″N 116°41′42.3″W / 40.569333°N 116.695083°W / 40.569333; -116.695083 (K263AB) LMS Relays KNCC
K201FV 88.1 FM Truckee, California 87063 65 −188.7 m (−619 ft) D 39°19′33.4″N 120°11′59.1″W / 39.325944°N 120.199750°W / 39.325944; -120.199750 (K201FV) LMS  
K215BQ 90.9 FM Bishop, California 69221 20 0 m (0 ft) D 37°21′18″N 118°11′7.8″W / 37.35500°N 118.185500°W / 37.35500; -118.185500 (K215BQ) LMS  
K220DB 91.9 FM Susanville, California 36654 60 673 m (2,208 ft) D 40°26′47″N 120°21′29.7″W / 40.44639°N 120.358250°W / 40.44639; -120.358250 (K220DB) LMS  
K237DA 95.3 FM Tom's Place, California 139742 10 −152.4 m (−500 ft) D 37°34′7.7″N 118°40′50.4″W / 37.568806°N 118.680667°W / 37.568806; -118.680667 (K237DA) LMS  
K248AT 97.5 FM Crestview, California 139743 10 −152.4 m (−500 ft) D 37°42′45.7″N 118°39′29.4″W / 37.712694°N 118.658167°W / 37.712694; -118.658167 (K248AT) LMS  

In addition, KNCC has a translator, K263AB (100.5 FM) in Battle Mountain, Nevada. One translator, K215DN (101.5 FM) in Crescent Valley, Nevada, was shut down. KUNR is also simulcast on KUNV-HD3 serving the Las Vegas Valley.

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KUNR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KNCC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1965 page B-95. Retrieved Aug. 2, 2024.
  4. ^ "KUNR launches new classical and jazz station, adds new app". University of Nevada, Reno. December 1, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2017.