KRVS

For the airport near Tulsa, Oklahoma assigned the ICAO code KRVS, see Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport.
KRVS
Broadcast areaLafayette-Acadiana combined statistical area, Lake Charles metropolitan area
Frequency88.7 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingRadio Acadie
Programming
Language(s)
FormatPublic radio/Cajun/Zydeco
Subchannels
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
History
First air date
August 8, 1963; 61 years ago (1963-08-08)
Call sign meaning
Radio Voice of Southwestern, in reference to former name of owner, University of Southwestern Louisiana
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID66595
ClassC0
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT379.0 meters (1,243.4 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
30°19′20.00″N 92°22′40.00″W / 30.3222222°N 92.3777778°W / 30.3222222; -92.3777778
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via TuneIn)
Listen live (HD2)
Websitewww.krvs.org
kampusfm.krvs.org (HD2)

KRVS (88.7 FM) is an American radio station broadcasting a public radio format. Licensed to Lafayette, Louisiana, United States, it is currently owned by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and features programming from American Public Media, NPR and Public Radio International.[2]

Programming covers various types of music of Louisiana such as Cajun music, zydeco, blues, jazz, swamp pop, swamp rock and other Louisiana singer/songwriter music. KRVS also broadcasts the annual Festival International de Louisiane. The station also carries news and music programming in Louisiana French.[3]

History

The station began broadcasting in May 1963 and was officially licensed on August 8, 1963, to operate a power of 10 watts and a coverage area of about six city blocks.[4][5] The station initially operated on FM at 88.3 MHz with an AM carrier current simulcast on 600 kHz.[6] In 1979, the station increased its FM transmission power to 3 kilowatts and shifted to 88.1 MHz.[5][7] In November 1982, the station again increased its transmission power to 100 kW[3][8] and switched to its current frequency of 88.7 MHz.[9]

KRVS's call letters stand for Radio Voice of Southwestern (The university's name at the time the station signed on was the University of Southwestern Louisiana).[4][10] Originally a college radio station, it joined NPR in the mid-1970s.

Today the station serves roles as regional public radio and an international online resource. KRVS broadcasts at 100,000 watts, providing service to 651,000 residents in 12 parishes across southern Louisiana, an area referred to as Acadiana. KRVS programs are also available on the Internet.

In fall 2023, KRVS launched an HD Radio subcarrier for the student-run station, KampusFM.[11] The station also operates an all-talk channel, "News & Talk," featuring public radio programming on a third HD subcarrier.[12]

Earlier version of KRVS logo used from 2005 to 2012.

KRVS operated a translator at 90.5 FM K213AZ in Lake Charles that was licensed on February 6, 1989.[13] It was shut down on May 22, 2001 after American Family Radio opened a full-power station, KYLC, at nearby 90.3 FM.[14][15][16] FCC rules allow a full-power station to force any adjacent translators to shut down. In 2003, KRVS moved its transmitter 30 miles to the west to extend its signal to Lake Charles.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KRVS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "KRVS Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ a b McBride, Stewart (May 6, 1982). "Louisiana's Cajuns; Music May Set a Culture on Its Feet Again". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "KRVS Radio Acadie still thriving after 50 years". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette. December 26, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Broadcasting Station License Record: KRVS". FCC. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  6. ^ L'Acadien. University of Southwestern Louisiana. 1966. p. 103.
  7. ^ L'Acadien. University of Southwestern Louisiana. 1979. p. 134.
  8. ^ L'Acadien. University of Southwestern Louisiana. 1984. p. 230.
  9. ^ "FM Station Construction Permit (modified)". Washington, D.C.: FCC.
  10. ^ Broussard, Ryan (June 17, 2009). "Radio Voice of Southwestern". The Independent Weekly. Lafayette. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Parker, Kade (2024-04-24). "KampusFM is bringing KRVS back to its roots". University of Louisiana at Lafayette | University News. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
  12. ^ "Context-HD3 News and Talk Schedule". KRVS Radio Acadie. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
  13. ^ FCCdata.org - powered by REC
  14. ^ "Import letter". Federal Communications Commission. September 23, 2002. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "Lake Charles with no public radio". The Town Talk. Alexandria, Louisiana. Associated Press. April 14, 2001. p. 5. Retrieved July 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Harden, Blaine (September 15, 2002). "Religious and Public Stations Battle for Share of Radio Dial". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2002. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  17. ^ "Louisiana". Public Radio Coverage 2004. National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Archived from the original on October 22, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2020.