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{{Multiple issues|
'''Dartmouth Broadcasting''' began in 1920s with the ambitions of a few [[Dartmouth College]] students that decided to give a new technology called [[radio]] a try. The first broadcast occurred over copper wires linked in all the dorms. The station used the call letters WDBS (Dartmouth Broadcasting System). The name changed to WDCR (Dartmouth College Radio) when it became an officially licensed station of the [[Federal Communications Commission]] and its first official broadcast at 1340 AM was in 1958. Dartmouth Broadcasting began officially operating WFRD (FM Radio at Dartmouth) 99.3 FM in 1976.
{{original research|date=October 2012}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
}}

'''Dartmouth Broadcasting''' began in 1924 when members of the amateur radio club obtained a federal license to broadcast on the AM band, at 1170&nbsp;kHz, as WFBK.<ref>[[Tim Brooks (television historian)|Brooks, Tim]], ''College Radio Days: 70 Years of Student Broadcasting at Dartmouth College'', p. 22, Greenwich CT: Glenville Press, 2014.</ref> Later renamed WDCH, the station continued until the fall of 1925 when an inadvertent obscenity uttered over the air caused the college president, Ernest Martin Hopkins, to permanently shut it down. Radio finally returned to Dartmouth in 1941 due to the efforts of a group of determined students (led by Richard Krolik, class of 1941) and younger faculty who persuaded Hopkins to give the students a second chance.

The new station, dubbed DBS, at first broadcast via tiny transmitters in each dormitory, each operating on a different frequency.<ref>Brooks, p. 39</ref> In 1942 this unwieldy arrangement was changed to a "[[carrier current]]" system using the college electrical system to reach the dormitories. In 1948 the call letters were changed to WDBS, and in 1958, after considerable controversy, the station obtained a standard AM broadcast license. On March 4, 1958 the students began broadcasting to the entire Upper Valley region as WDCR at 1340&nbsp;KHz on the dial.<ref>Brooks, p. 107-128.</ref> Dartmouth Broadcasting launched WFRD (FM Radio at Dartmouth) 99.3 FM on February 19, 1976.<ref>Brooks, p. 199</ref>


==Student governance==
==Student governance==
The two stations have always been completely managed by students. The vast majority of the on-air personnel are students, although there are some exceptions (such as the football play-by-play announcers.) This is an unusual example of commercial college radio. The management of the stations is by the Directorate consisting of: General Manager, Finance Director, AM Program Director, FM Program Director, Technical Director, Marketing/Alumni Relations, FM Promotions Director, News Director, Sports Director, Internet Director, and Training Director.
Throughout most of its history the two stations were completely managed by students. Even today the vast majority of the on-air personnel are students, although there are some exceptions (such as the football play-by-play announcers.) This is an unusual example of student-run commercial radio. The management of the stations is by the Directorate consisting of: General Manager, Finance Director, AM Program Director, FM Program Director, Technical Director, Marketing/Alumni Relations, FM Promotions Director, News Director, Sports Director, Internet Director, and Training Director.


==Current organization==
==Current organization==


*'''[[WFRD]]''' is the FM half of Dartmouth's radio program, also known as 99 Rock. 99 Rock broadcasts across the entire [[Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region]] (i.e., west-central New Hampshire), along with adjacent east-central [[Vermont]]. Though a [[classic rock]] format until the early 2000s, 99 Rock now runs modern rock music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, showcasing bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Pearl Jam, and Sublime.
*'''[[WFRD]]''' is the FM portion of Dartmouth's radio program, also known as 99Rock. 99Rock broadcasts across the entire [[Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region]] (i.e., west-central New Hampshire), along with adjacent east-central [[Vermont]]. Though a [[classic rock]] format until the early 2000s, 99Rock now runs active rock music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, showcasing bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Pearl Jam, and Sublime. On June 22, 2021, Dartmouth announced its intention to sell the broadcast license for WFRD and use the proceeds of the sale to fund the student-run online station.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dartmouth to Sell Commercial Radio Station, WFRD (99 Rock) |url=https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2021/06/dartmouth-sell-commercial-radio-station-wfrd-99-rock |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref>
⚫
*'''Dartmouth Election Network''' works with Dartmouth Broadcast News to provide election coverage year round. Every four years, it offers special election-night coverage during the famous [[New Hampshire primary]]. In 1988, they made a legendary faux pas when they called the Primary for [[Dick Gephardt]], based on stronger than expected early returns: Gephardt in fact lost to [[Michael S. Dukakis]] by 16 percentage points, 36% to 20%. However, the coverage is of high quality and is sometimes syndicated to conventional radio stations. Dartmouth Broadcasting also covers other major elections as well as the two major parties' quadrennial conventions.
⚫
*'''Dartmouth Broadcast News''' has several news programs running on WDCR and WFRD. The news department works to provide listeners with timely updates of relevant news.


==Former facilities==
*'''[[WDCR]]''' is the College's AM station and broadcasts a wide variety of music, news, and sports. Having at different times been a [[talk radio|talk]], [[Top 40]], and [[alternative rock]] station, WDCR's format now allows students to program their shows freely within the limits that the FCC imposes. Its signal usually only reaches the immediate [[Hanover, New Hampshire|Hanover]]-[[Lebanon, New Hampshire|Lebanon]]-[[White River Junction, Vermont|White River Junction]] area. In October, 2008, WDCR ceased over the air broadcasting, having established streaming over the internet. As of mid-2010 the AM transmitting facilities are still awaiting repairs and there is the possibility they may be sold or leased.
*'''[[WDCR (defunct)|WDCR]]''' was the College's AM station and broadcast a wide variety of music, news, and sports. Having at different times been a [[talk radio|talk]], [[Top 40]], and [[alternative rock]] station. Its signal usually only reached the immediate [[Hanover, New Hampshire|Hanover]]-[[Lebanon, New Hampshire|Lebanon]]-[[White River Junction, Vermont|White River Junction]] area. In October 2008, WDCR ceased over the air broadcasting, having established streaming over the internet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dartmouth to sell FM station, moves all broadcasting online |url=https://apnews.com/article/nh-state-wire-business-entertainment-technology-arts-and-entertainment-35fc0e03030d397bee68e0e1f7ef9ce6 |website=AP News |access-date=22 August 2021 |date=June 28, 2021}}</ref> In September 2010, WDCR's license was returned to the F.C.C..


⚫
==Finances==
*'''Dartmouth Sports Network''' calls the play by play for several Dartmouth sports teams including: football, men and women's basketball, men and women's hockey, baseball, softball and recently lacrosse. Games are broadcast on WDCR or WFRD and are streamed over the internet.
⚫
Dartmouth Broadcasting receives little direct funding from [[Dartmouth College]], although its studios are located on campus, and it is officially owned by the college's Board of Trustees. Money for operating expenses comes from local and national advertisers. The FM transmitter is off-campus in the neighboring community of [[West Lebanon, New Hampshire]].


==References==
⚫
*'''Dartmouth Election Network''' works with Dartmouth Broadcast News to provide election coverage year round. Every four years, it offers special election-night coverage during the famous [[New Hampshire Primary]]. In 1988, they made a legendary faux pas when they called the Primary for [[Dick Gephardt]], based on stronger than expected early returns: Gephardt in fact lost to [[Michael S. Dukakis]] by 16 percentage points, 36% to 20%. However, the coverage is of high quality and is sometimes syndicated to conventional radio stations. Dartmouth Broadcasting also covers other major elections as well as the two major parties' quadrennial conventions.
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading==
⚫
*'''Dartmouth Broadcast News''' has several news programs running on WDCR and WFRD. The news department works to provide listeners with timely updates of relevant news.
* [[Tim Brooks (television historian)|Brooks, Tim]], ''College Radio Days: 70 Years of Student Broadcasting at Dartmouth College'', Greenwich CT: Glenville Press, 2014.

⚫
==Finances==
⚫
Dartmouth Broadcasting is an independent student organization. Dartmouth Broadcasting receives no direct funding from [[Dartmouth College]], although its studios and its AM transmitter are located on campus. (The FM transmitter is off-campus in the neighboring community of [[West Lebanon, New Hampshire]].) All money for operating expenses comes from local and national advertisers.


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.wfrd.com 99Rock Website]
* [http://www.wfrd.com 99Rock Website]
* [http://www.webdcr.com WDCR 1340AM Website]
* [http://www.webdcr.com WebDCR Website]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~brdcast Dartmouth Broadcasting Website]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~brdcast Dartmouth Broadcasting Website]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~brdcast/sports Dartmouth Sports Network Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111005213301/http://www.dartmouthsportsnetwork.com/ Dartmouth Sports Network Website]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~brdcast/news Dartmouth Broadcast News Website]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~brdcast/news Dartmouth Broadcast News Website]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~brdcast/news/election.htm Dartmouth Election Website]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~brdcast/news/election.htm Dartmouth Election Website]
* {{FMQ|WFRD}}
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|68281|WFRD}}
* {{FML|WFRD}}
* {{FMARB|WFRD}}
* {{FMARB|WFRD}}
* [http://www.timbrooks.net/dartmouth-college History, including a list of General Managers]
* {{AMQ|WDCR}}
* {{AML|WDCR}}
* {{AMARB|WDCR}}

{{Dartmouth College}}
{{Dartmouth College}}
{{New Hampshire college radio}}
{{New Hampshire college radio}}


[[Category:Dartmouth College student groups|Broadcasting, Dartmouth]]
[[Category:Dartmouth College student organizations|Broadcasting, Dartmouth]]
[[Category:Radio broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Radio broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Companies based in New Hampshire]]

Latest revision as of 06:31, 7 July 2024

Dartmouth Broadcasting began in 1924 when members of the amateur radio club obtained a federal license to broadcast on the AM band, at 1170 kHz, as WFBK.[1] Later renamed WDCH, the station continued until the fall of 1925 when an inadvertent obscenity uttered over the air caused the college president, Ernest Martin Hopkins, to permanently shut it down. Radio finally returned to Dartmouth in 1941 due to the efforts of a group of determined students (led by Richard Krolik, class of 1941) and younger faculty who persuaded Hopkins to give the students a second chance.

The new station, dubbed DBS, at first broadcast via tiny transmitters in each dormitory, each operating on a different frequency.[2] In 1942 this unwieldy arrangement was changed to a "carrier current" system using the college electrical system to reach the dormitories. In 1948 the call letters were changed to WDBS, and in 1958, after considerable controversy, the station obtained a standard AM broadcast license. On March 4, 1958 the students began broadcasting to the entire Upper Valley region as WDCR at 1340 KHz on the dial.[3] Dartmouth Broadcasting launched WFRD (FM Radio at Dartmouth) 99.3 FM on February 19, 1976.[4]

Student governance

[edit]

Throughout most of its history the two stations were completely managed by students. Even today the vast majority of the on-air personnel are students, although there are some exceptions (such as the football play-by-play announcers.) This is an unusual example of student-run commercial radio. The management of the stations is by the Directorate consisting of: General Manager, Finance Director, AM Program Director, FM Program Director, Technical Director, Marketing/Alumni Relations, FM Promotions Director, News Director, Sports Director, Internet Director, and Training Director.

Current organization

[edit]
  • WFRD is the FM portion of Dartmouth's radio program, also known as 99Rock. 99Rock broadcasts across the entire Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region (i.e., west-central New Hampshire), along with adjacent east-central Vermont. Though a classic rock format until the early 2000s, 99Rock now runs active rock music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, showcasing bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Pearl Jam, and Sublime. On June 22, 2021, Dartmouth announced its intention to sell the broadcast license for WFRD and use the proceeds of the sale to fund the student-run online station.[5]
  • Dartmouth Election Network works with Dartmouth Broadcast News to provide election coverage year round. Every four years, it offers special election-night coverage during the famous New Hampshire primary. In 1988, they made a legendary faux pas when they called the Primary for Dick Gephardt, based on stronger than expected early returns: Gephardt in fact lost to Michael S. Dukakis by 16 percentage points, 36% to 20%. However, the coverage is of high quality and is sometimes syndicated to conventional radio stations. Dartmouth Broadcasting also covers other major elections as well as the two major parties' quadrennial conventions.
  • Dartmouth Broadcast News has several news programs running on WDCR and WFRD. The news department works to provide listeners with timely updates of relevant news.

Former facilities

[edit]
  • WDCR was the College's AM station and broadcast a wide variety of music, news, and sports. Having at different times been a talk, Top 40, and alternative rock station. Its signal usually only reached the immediate Hanover-Lebanon-White River Junction area. In October 2008, WDCR ceased over the air broadcasting, having established streaming over the internet.[6] In September 2010, WDCR's license was returned to the F.C.C..

Finances

[edit]

Dartmouth Broadcasting receives little direct funding from Dartmouth College, although its studios are located on campus, and it is officially owned by the college's Board of Trustees. Money for operating expenses comes from local and national advertisers. The FM transmitter is off-campus in the neighboring community of West Lebanon, New Hampshire.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Brooks, Tim, College Radio Days: 70 Years of Student Broadcasting at Dartmouth College, p. 22, Greenwich CT: Glenville Press, 2014.
  2. ^ Brooks, p. 39
  3. ^ Brooks, p. 107-128.
  4. ^ Brooks, p. 199
  5. ^ "Dartmouth to Sell Commercial Radio Station, WFRD (99 Rock)". Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Dartmouth to sell FM station, moves all broadcasting online". AP News. June 28, 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Brooks, Tim, College Radio Days: 70 Years of Student Broadcasting at Dartmouth College, Greenwich CT: Glenville Press, 2014.
[edit]
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