WTSR
| |
| Broadcast area | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 91.3 MHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | College radio |
| Affiliations | Pacifica Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | October 26, 1966 |
Former frequencies | 89.7 MHz (1966–1972) |
Call sign meaning | "Trenton State Radio" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 67625 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 1,500 watts |
| HAAT | 11 meters (36 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°16′17″N 74°46′53″W / 40.2715°N 74.7815°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | wtsr |
WTSR (91.3 FM) is a student-run non-commercial radio station broadcasting from The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College), servicing Mercer County and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The station's call letters originally reflected the college's former name: "Trenton State Radio".
History
In June 1966, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the college permission to use 89.7 FM at a power of 10 watts under the callsign WTSR.[2] WTSR first went on the air on October 26, 1966, from two studios in Armstrong Hall following a ceremony from then-new college president Dr. Virgil W. Gillenwater.[3][4] In March 1968 the radio station moved from Armstrong into Kendall Hall.[5]
On November 1, 1974, following months of testing, WTSR changed frequency to 91.3 FM when the station was granted an increase in power by the FCC to broadcast at 1,500 watts.[6] This upgrade provided the station with a 30-mile broadcast radius and the capability to reach a potential audience of 750,000 to 800,000 listeners. Following a stint to The Brower Student Center, WTSR moved into brand new facilities inside Kendall Hall at the beginning of the 1993–94 academic year.[7]
In 2011 the Trenton Thunder, then the Double A affiliate of the New York Yankees, announced WTSR as the new flagship station of the Trenton Thunder Radio Network.[8] The agreement saw WTSR broadcast all Thunder Eastern League regular season games and playoff games. In 2017, the Thunder announced a new broadcast deal with WNJE.[9]
WTSR Underground
Once per semester, WTSR collaborates with Lions Television (LTV) to bring underground alternative artists to The College of New Jersey. Each band performs a live set, which is recorded and later uploaded to the WTSR Underground YouTube channel. Artists are also interviewed by WTSR's News Staff. Turnover, Citizen, and Tiny Moving Parts have all performed at Underground.[10]
Management
WTSR is completely student-run consisting of two boards: the executive board (e-board) and the board of directors. The e-board is made up of the station manager, operations manager, and the program manager. The board of directors includes the rest of the board, for a total of 11 student members who operate the station along with the general manager.[11]
Awards
| Year | Award | Entry | Awardee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Best Station Blog | 91.3FM Blog | Zach Rich, Haley Wright | Finalist |
| Best Sports Update | Sports Talk! | Jay Katz | Finalist | |
| Best News Interview | Interview with Dr. Gary Chapman | Nancy Bowne | Finalist | |
| Best College/University Radio Station (under 10,000 students) | 91.3FM WTSR | WTSR Executive Board | Finalist | |
| Best Community Volunteer Program/Personality | Get Funked Up | Dennis Bereznyak "D-Menace" | Finalist | |
| 2023 | Best Talk Program | Slumber Party | Cassie Malnick, Bella Trucco | Winner |
| 2024 | Best Use of Video in Radio Studio | WTSR Underground | Emily Dougherty, DJ Landau, Robert Andersen, Annalise Kelly, Catherine Burns, Delaney Smith, Maddy Breeze, Christopher Ortiz, Sam Herman | Finalist |
| Best Liner/Sweeper | The Pond Splash Zone | Zach Rice, Jake Brancato | Finalist | |
| Best Program Director, Radio | 91.3FM WTSR | Madeline Breeze | Finalist | |
| 2025 | Best Community Volunteer Program | Transmission Control | Thomas Kelley | Winner |
| Best Political News | Live Election Coverage 11/7/24 | Delaney Smith, Sarah Neil, Kevin Potucek, Skye Frawley & Jenna Rittman | Finalist | |
| Best Program Director, Radio | 91.3FM WTSR | Delaney Smith | Finalist | |
| Best Production Director, Radio | The College of New Jersey | Samuel Herman | Winner | |
| Best Music Director, Radio | 91.3FM WTSR | Addie DiPietro | Finalist | |
| Best Sports Director, Radio | 91.3.FM WTSR | Matthew Post | Finalist | |
| Best Business Director, Radio | 91.3FM WTSR | Daniel Landau | Finalist |
See also
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WTSR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Trenton State to Operate FM Station". The Evening Times. Trenton, New Jersey. June 28, 1966. p. 6. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trenton State Going on the Air". The Sunday Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. October 23, 1966. p. 29. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "WTSR Radio On At Trenton State". The Evening Times. Trenton, New Jersey. October 27, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "TSC Student Radio Gets New Quarters". Sunday Times Advertiser. Trenton, New Jersey. March 3, 1968. p. 28. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Action Line". The Evening Times. Trenton, New Jersey. November 22, 1974. p. 42. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Williams, Kerry (December 4, 1993). "The quest to air alternative music is paramount at TSC". The Times. Trenton, New Jersey. p. B4. Retrieved August 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "WTSR 91.3 FM Becomes New Flagship Station of the Thunder Radio Network". MiLB.com. February 23, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (April 14, 2017). "NERW 4/17/17: Unpacking the Repack". Fybush.com.
An update to last week's Baseball on the Radio – the class AA Trenton Thunder have a new radio deal this season that puts the team on WNJE (920 Trenton). When "920 the Jersey" is tied up with weekday Fox Sports Radio coverage, conflicts will move to WCHR (1040 Flemington).
- ^ "WTSR Underground". Retrieved January 21, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Contact Us - WTSR 91.3FM". wtsr.org. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012.
- ^ "Awards". IBS Media. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
External links
- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 67625 (WTSR) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WTSR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database