WBSU

For the television station, see WBSU-TV.
WBSU
City Brockport, New York
Broadcast area Rochester
Slogan The Best New Music First
Frequency 89.1 MHz
Format Rock Music, Alternative Rock, Top 40
ERP 7,300 watts
HAAT 53.0 meters
Class B1
Facility ID 63118
Transmitter coordinates 43°12′45.00″N 77°57′17.00″W / 43.2125000°N 77.9547222°W / 43.2125000; -77.9547222
Callsign meaning Brockport State University
Owner State University of New York
Website 891thepoint.com

WBSU (89.1 FM) is a radio station licensed to Brockport, New York, USA. The station serves the entire Western New York region and into Toronto. WBSU is known better today as 89.1 The Point. The station is currently owned by State University of New York.[1][2]

History

The Radio Club began at College at Brockport in the late 1950s and, shortly thereafter, efforts began to acquire a FM frequency. Starting in 1957, the Radio Club began broadcasting via public address to the student union on the Brockport campus. On May 1, 1964, the station, then known as WBSN began transmitting to the entire campus via telephone lines. In January 1970, the station moved into its present facilities in the Seymour College Union and became WBSU-AM.

Following many years of hard work and patience, WBSU-FM was born on January 14, 1981 with 10 watts at 88.9. Thanks to the efforts of many people including the FM Task Force, Lloyd Trufelman, Dr, Melvin Smagorinsky, Edward Rothstein, Chief Engineer Bernard Lynch, Brian Issacson, Dr. Fred Powell, Martha Walstrum, Frank Filardo, Terrin Hover, Harry Goldberg, Scott Fishman and many others, the dream finally became a reality. The first General Manager was David Van Wie and he spearheaded an immediate power increase to 150 watts in May of that year. Following Van Wie four years later was Timothy Lyman who was instrumental in the May, 1989 move to 89.1 at 7,338 watts where The Point now stands.

The 1990s brought much technological change to the station starting with a new Orban Optimod 8100 signal processor in the transmitter, under the recommendation of then Engineering Director Lester Wilson, who proclaimed at a Brockport Student Government board meeting that the upgrade would "give the station balls", and thus, the BSG board approved the purchase. WBSU implemented a computerized music playlist in 1992, new studio consoles in 1992 and 1994, and digital equipment during the summer of 1995. The Point's web site was created in 1997 and began webcasting in 1999. Their latest digital upgrade came in January 2005 and we installed a digital phone editing system in August 2005.

WBSU-FM became 89.1 the Point with a new logo on June 10, 1998 in an effort to simplify the stations nickname. The hope was to make it easier to remember and make the station more marketable.

The station has been recognized four times by the New York State Broadcasters Association for excellence in broadcasting in competition with other professional stations around the state as well as ten other awards from national organizations since 1988. The station received two awards from the Broadcast Education Association in 2003 and two from the now-defunct National Association of Collegiate Broadcasters in the 1990s. College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) has recognized the station as a national finalist in their National Student Production Awards competition once in 2003, twice in 2004, once in 2005, twice in 2007 and once more in 2008. The success of the alumni is their ultimate legacy as they continue to represent Brockport in their broadcast and related careers in New York City, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta and Tampa nationally and Rochester, Utica, Buffalo, Binghamton, Albany and Syracuse more locally.[3]

Programming

In May 2011, the Point worked with Brockport's Fire and Police department to encourage High School students at Brockport High School to not drink and drive.

WBSU is run by volunteer students at The College at Brockport and plays Top 40, Rock, and Alternative music. The Point also takes song requests at (585)395-2500 from the local community. There are several different programs featured on the station.

Freeway Giveaway

Every weekday between 4-6pm, The Point gives away prizes to listeners who call in. When the listener hears the DJ say to be the first caller at 395-2500, the first caller to say the phrase "Best New Music First" wins the prize of the week. Prizes range anywhere from tickets to local sporting events such as Rochester Knighthawks, Rochester Red Wings, Buffalo Bisons, etc., to the Strong Museum of Play, Aquarium of Niagara, Darien Lake Theme Park & Resort, and more.

Sports

The station also has a large sports department that provides play by play for many SUNY Brockport sports teams as well as local high school football contests during the fall. The station previously carried play-by-play of the Batavia Muckdogs professional baseball team. WBSU also provides coverage of Section V high school athletics, division I NCAA athletics, and area pro teams including the Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Americans, Rochester Red Wings, and many others.

Wake Up Show, 5:00/11:00 Reports

The Wake Up show is from 6:00-9:00 AM Monday to Friday and features AP Radio News, local news and sports, and Western New York weather multiple times during the morning. The 5:00 report is very similar to the Wake Up Show, in that it has AP Radio News, local news and sports, and Western New York weather, but also features a local pet that is up for adoption. The 11:00 report features sports news and Western New York weather.

Premiere Party

Every week, The Point brings in new music from song artists who have just released new singles. The Point has featured new songs from artists such as Katy Perry, Mumford & Sons, Avenged Sevenfold, Lady Gaga, Death Cab for Cutie, and more. The Premiere Party is every Wednesday night at 7:00.

The Starting Point

The Starting Point is a specialty program on 89.1 The Point that features local community artists with the focus on exposing them in the community. The Starting Point is every night at 6:00 and feature a local artist once every two hours. Starting Point artists can be found on The Point's website.

9 90's at 9

Every weekday at 9:00 PM, The Point plays 9 consecutive songs from the 1990s.

35 Live

35 Live is The Point's top 35 songs of the week. It's a collaboration of several different charts meshed into one countdown. The 35 Live Countdown is every Sunday from 3-6pm. It also features new music and songs that have been hastily moving up different charts. Just before the #1 song of the week, The Point plays the #1 song from one year ago.

References

  1. ↑ "WBSU Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ↑ "WBSU Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ↑ "History of 89.1 The Point".
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