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Clarion University radio expands offerings

Radio station WCUC 91.7 FM at Clarion University will expand its program options tentatively on Feb. 9 when it begins broadcasting “The Saturday Light Brigade” from 6 a.m.-noon each Saturday.

Broadcasting from Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, The Saturday Light Brigade is a radio program featuring acoustic music and family fun. Broadcast since 1978, it is one of the longest-running public radio programs in the United States. Quality music, on-air telephone calls from kids and adults, innovative participatory puzzles and games, and interesting guests have made The Saturday Light Brigade a family radio tradition.

“We are excited to be affiliated with The Saturday Light Brigade,” said Bill Adams, assistant professor of mass media arts, journalism, and communication studies at Clarion University, and WCUC advisor. “It offers us an opportunity to build our audience.”

The impetus to create the affiliation started with 1985 Clarion University graduate Steve Obenreder. He knew that The Saturday Light Brigade executive producer of programs Larry Berger was seeking to fill in the coverage area for the program that was already being carried by radio stations in Pittsburgh, Washington, and Grove City, and placed Berger in contact with Adams. Berger was aware that the program had listeners in the Clarion area through telephone calls to the program. Berger contacted Adams, sending along sample CDs of the program.

“I met with Bruce Exley, chief engineer for WCUC, and some of the radio station students,” recalled Adams. “We listed to the program and agreed that it was a good idea to affiliate with it. Department chair, Dr. Sue Hilton, was also supportive and we decided to sign on.”

Berger donated a decoder and Adams’ and Exley’s job became addressing the technology to receive the audio stream via an IP address and connect the audio to the board at the station so it may be broadcast. They believe that we have the technology issues addressed and should be able to broadcast this weekend.

Adams sees several additional positives to the affiliation – format and educational opportunity – beyond finding a greater audience.

“Our music is top 40, hit radio, classic rock, urban, and alternative new rock,” said Adams about WCUC. “The Saturday Light Brigade music is different, more in the style of public radio, with jazz and classical music. Many people in our area tell us that they listen to public radio, so this should be a good match for them.”

Adams expects the 6 a.m.-noon timeslot to work well with WCUC scheduling, when students do no on-the-air shifts. Currently, the station airs an original public affairs program at noon followed at 1 p.m. by broadcasts of Clarion University basketball games.

The educational aspects reach beyond the kindergarten through age 16 and their parents target audience of The Saturday Light Brigade. Adams sees opportunities for college students in his department and from other departments on campus.

“We have already discussed the possibilities of opening up internship opportunities with the program for students in our department,” said Adams. “From time to time the program has live performances, just like old-time radio. I could see collaborations with the music department and other departments on campus to have Clarion student performers on the show.”

Overall it appears to be a win-win situation for both parties. WCUC expands its programming and opportunities while The Saturday Light Brigade will now be available in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango counties, along with parts of Beaver, Crawford and Westmoreland counties.

WCUC-FM (91.7), at Clarion University is a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) licensed station. It is classified as a non-commercial educational station by the FCC, meaning it does not accept paid advertising. The station can accept underwriting sponsorship, but cannot announce prices for any product. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week and reaches nearly 40 miles in any direction from Clarion. It all originates from a digital studio using a hard drive which allows for 24 hours per day broadcasting. The studio’s computerized, scheduling software allows for the programming of a daily schedule including music, public service announcements, promotional items, and messages from underwriters.

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