City Geneva, New York Format Spanish - Alternative | Frequency 105.7 MHz ERP 100 watts | |
Broadcast area Finger Lakes Region of New York State Branding Hobart and William Smith College Radio | ||
WHWS-LP (105.7 FM) is an low power FM (LPFM) radio station operated by Hobart and William Smith Colleges and broadcasting to Geneva, New York. It is primarily staffed by the students of HWS. The station was first owned by the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council which manages The Smith Opera House in Geneva. The license was transferred to Hobart and William Smith Colleges on April 24, 2015. Hobart and William Smith Colleges also holds the license for WEOS 89.5 FM and 90.3 FM in Geneva, N.Y., which is primarily an NPR news/talk station operated in conjunction with WXXI in Rochester, N.Y.
Contents
History
WHWS-LP was originally applied for as WSAC-LP as a LPFM (low powered FM) license and had a variety of different, sporadic, shows. Eventually the station was organized around having Radio Bilingue as its core programming, and began continuous operations as such towards the end of 2007. In January 2008, a fully functional studio was brought on-line in conjunction with WEOS and full operations commenced with HWS student programming intermixed with Radio Bilingue.
The call letters were still WSAC-LP (the Smith (Opera House) Arts Council) in early 2008 due to some minor bureaucratic delays; the "WHWS" call letters were originally assigned by the FCC, via the US Coast Guard, to a defunct World War II naval vessel. But in mid-May 2008, the change to WHWS-LP became official.
While the WHWS studios are located in the same building as the other Hobart and William Smith Colleges station, WEOS, and both stations share some of the same staff members...there is virtually no direct coordination between the two operations in regards to programming; the two stations are designed to be separate and independent offerings to Geneva. Similarly, while WEOS is under the direct control of the Colleges of the Seneca, WHWS is under the control of a separate entity - the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council.
However, like WEOS, there are multiple opportunities for Hobart & William Smith students to volunteer at WHWS in the areas of music vetting/organization, promotions, sports, and the like.
Radio Bilingue
From midnight until 10am weekdays, and all day Saturday and Sunday, WHWS-LP is an affiliate station of the satellite service Radio Bilingue, which is primarily based in Fresno, California, and described on their website as: "...a non-profit radio network with Latino control and leadership, (and) is the only national distributor of Spanish-language programming in public radio. This satellite network was formed to provide stations with news, information, and cultural programming in Spanish and musical programs showcasing a variety of Latino formats with emphasis on Mexican folk and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Satélite Radio Bilingüe builds on Radio Bilingüe's decades-old tradition of talk programs, special events coverage and its flagship news service, Noticiero Latino, for stations across the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico."
Local Programming
From 10am to midnight weekdays (and some other times), WHWS-LP broadcasts a medley of local programming, from rock/alternative, hip-hop, modern rock, classic rock, CHR, jazz, world and other genres. Programming at the discretion of the DJ, who is often a HWS student. If no live DJ is present, an Enco DAD automation system plays from the latest selection of music that the station receives from a variety of music labels.
Special Local Programming
WHWS also has specialty programming, such as Fridays at the Scandling Cafe, a two-hour live broadcast every Friday at lunchtime from the HWS Scandling Center. A rotating staff of student DJ's man this shift.
WHWS also broadcasts Geneva community events, like Candidate's Forums and City Council meetings.
HWS Sports Coverage
WHWS also provides coverage of Hobart Statesmen and William Smith Herons athletics games, particularly:
See also WEOS for Hobart Football and Hobart Lacrosse games.
Rebroadcast
WHWS occasionally rebroadcasts some special programming that WEOS has previously aired, including:
Special days
WHWS also sometimes switches formats for special days, such as HWS Orientation Weekend in late August each year, when WHWS becomes a quasi-highway advisory radio station, broadcasting a loop of scheduled events, weather and driving directions for incoming first-year students and their parents. (informing the local community, as well)