City Provo, Utah | Branding Classical 89 | |
Broadcast area Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, Utah Frequency 89.1 MHz (also on HD Radio)
89.1-HD2 for BYU Radio Translator(s) K208BZ 89.5 MHz Spanish Fork, Utah
K295BW 106.9 MHz Nephi, Utah
K241BV 96.1 MHz Milford, Utah
K262BM 100.3 MHz Cedar City, Utah
K264BM 100.7 MHz Ivins, Utah First air date May 9, 1960 (originally carrier current 1946-1960) | ||
KBYU-FM is a classical music radio station run by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Operating at 89.1 MHz, it is known on-air as Classical 89. It transmits at an effective radiated power of 32 kW. Its transmitting tower is located on a peak of the Oquirrh Mountains northwest of the university campus, and southwest of Salt Lake City.
The station previously broadcast at a frequency of 88.9 MHz (during which time its nickname was Classical 88). The frequency was shifted in 1988 by directive of the FCC, to alleviate interference for nearby frequencies used for aerial navigation, and to allow for a new full-power station to be built on 99.5 in the Salt Lake market. Classical 89 also has the following translators: 89.5 FM K208BZ Spanish Fork, 106.9 FM K295BW Nephi, 96.1 FM K241BV Milford, 100.3 FM K262BM Cedar City, 100.7 FM K264BM Ivins.
KBYU began as a carrier current station at 660 AM in 1946. It became available across Provo and the surrounding area in 1948 by using the city's power lines as an antenna. In 1959, BYU was granted a commercial FM license. The new station signed on for the first time on May 9, 1960 under the temporary calls KBRG. After negotiations to get the KBYU calls from a liberty ship, the call letters changed to KBYU on November 9, 1960.
The station presently broadcasts around the clock, having gone to that schedule in 1986. Most of its on-air staff consists of professionals, although students do cover some weeknight and weekend on air shifts. Students also play a key role in behind-the-scenes functions.
The station is operated as a non-profit corporation, and employs three to four fundraisers during the year to raise a portion of its operating revenue. Other funding sources include Brigham Young University, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and local underwriting by businesses and arts organizations.
In 2006, KBYU-FM began broadcasting an 'HD Radio' signal along with its main signal, and subsequently began carrying sports and talk programming from sister station 'BYU Radio' on its HD2 signal.