Section V - WETS-FM

     WETS-FM is a non-commercial public radio station owned and operated by ETSU. It broadcasts 24 hours a day. This 66,000-watt station is affiliated with National Public Radio and Public Radio International. Its estimated weekly audience is some 130,000, and its coverage area contains approximately 1 million people.
     WETS-FM went on the air in February 1974. ETSU currently provides 51 percent of the station's budget. Our listeners contribute 30 percent, and the remaining 19 percent comes in the form of grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In 1989, the station occupied a new studio facility, built entirely through listener funds, near the married student housing on the ETSU campus. The building was named for the late Richard F. Ellis, who managed the station from the time it went on the air until his death in February 1993. Currently, WETS-FM employs eight people full-time and three part-time.
     The station's goals are to:

Enrich the lives of listeners and provide opportunities for personal growth through locally produced and network programming
Convey the diverse cultural past of the region and society by making it known to the present generation and by assisting in its preservation through recordings for university archives
Inform citizens of significant issues facing society, to help the public deal intelligently with those issues
Provide cultural enrichment for listeners by presenting significant programs in music, the arts, and a variety of diverse and sometimes controversial subjects
Offer an additional avenue for the Office of University Relations to communicate with the public

WETS-FM In Brief

On the dial: 89.5 FM
Power: 66,000 watts
Transmitter location: Holston Mountain
Hours of operation: Continuous
Budget: $500,000 per year
Musical format: Eclectic--Classical, jazz, folk, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, New Age, world music
Programming features: News and information, lectures, public service programs, radio theatre, storytelling
Major nationally-distributed programs: "A Prairie Home Companion," "Car Talk," "BluesStage," "Thistle and Shamrock," "Music from the Hearts of Space," "Mountain Stage," "E-Town"
Major locally-produced programs: "Masterworks," "Acoustic Revue," "Bluegrass Heartland," "Blue Monday," "Radio Mojo," "The Jazz Cafe," "WETS Forum," "In the Midnight Hour," "Ideas and Issues," and "Studio One," a weekly live performance program featuring a wide range of musical styles and reminiscent of the old days of live radio

A Capsule History of WETS-FM

February 1973--Richard Ellis hired to manage proposed FM station for ETSU.
February 26, 1974--WETS-FM begins broadcasting from a slightly converted two-story house on the ETSU campus. The broadcast day is 12 hours, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
February 1975--WETS-FM begins publication of the monthly program guide.
July 1975--Broadcast day begins at 6 a.m. and ends at midnight.
February 1979--WETS-FM holds its first fund-raising drive; listeners pledge over $15,000.
1980--WETS-FM enters the satellite age as National Public Radio becomes the first all-satellite network.
November 1981--Long-awaited transmitter move improves reception for most WETS-FM listeners. Move was funded through listener support.
1983--ETSU and WETS-FM begin searching for new facilities for the station.
January 1984--"Down Home Music," produced by WETS Program Director Phil Leonard, begins national distribution; the series is carried by nearly 100 stations nationwide.
1985--Compact discs first used on WETS.
December 1986--Fund drive begins to build new studio facilities for WETS.
November 1988--New studio completed.
July 1989--WETS begins 24-hour broadcasting.
January 1993--Station building dedicated as "Richard F. Ellis Hall."
February 1993--Manager Dick Ellis dies after a long illness; Wayne Winkler named Manager in August.
February 26, 1994--WETS-FM celebrates 20 years of broadcasting.
September 1996--The most successful fund-raiser in station history brings in over $165,000 from listeners.

The following segments of this section describe some of the services provided to the ETSU community by WETS-FM.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSAs)

WETS-FM airs public service announcements (PSAs) several times each day. These PSAs deal with events that are of a non-profit nature -- any and all university functions are appropriate for broadcast. WETS-FM automatically receives all publicity materials produced through the News Bureau, so if you would like to have a PSA aired on WETS-FM, please contact the News Bureau and follow normal news release procedures.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS INTERVIEW PROGRAMS

     WETS-FM has two regularly scheduled public affairs interview programs as part of its "Sunday Magazine": "WETS Forum," a 15-minute program aired on Sundays at 7:45 a.m., and "Ideas and Issues," a 30-minute program aired Sundays at 11:30 a.m. "WETS Forum" is an ideal format for discussing and publicizing new and existing programs, organizations and projects on campus and in the community. "Ideas and Issues" deals with topical issues, featuring discussion with university personnel on topics of broad interest.
     In addition, many of the station's musical programs can accommodate interviews with guest conductors or soloists, music faculty and students, and local or visiting musicians. These interviews are not regularly scheduled and must be arranged with the program producer.
     To discuss or schedule a program for "WETS Forum," call Bob Hoffman at 439-6440. For "Ideas and Issues," contact Dr. Hugh LaFollette at 439-6625. For musically oriented interviews, contact Ron Wickman (classical) or Phil Leonard (all other music) at 439-6440.

LECTURES

WETS-FM broadcasts lectures from ETSU and other regional colleges and universities. These lectures should cover topics of general interest. To arrange for the recording of a lecture, contact Bob Hoffman at 439-6440.

DUPLICATION

Copies of cassette or other recordings can be made (subject to copyright laws). There will be no charge for duplication, but blank tapes must be provided.

OTHER AUDIO SERVICES

WETS-FM has the capability of producing audio for slide and video presentations, remote recordings of meetings and other specialized audio projects. To discuss and arrange these projects, contact Wayne Winkler, Station Manager, at 439-6440.