WFYI-FM (90.1
MHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...
) is a
Public Radio station in
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...
. It is operated by
Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting, a public broadcasting community licensee which also operates the area's
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member station,
WFYI Public Television via on-air digital channels 20.1, 20.2 and 20.3. WFYI-FM is a member of
National Public Radio
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
(NPR) and carries news and information programming, plus weekly shows featuring the
Indianapolis Symphony the
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra
The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (ICO) is a nonprofit chamber orchestra headquartered at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2019-2020 it will celebrate its 35th season.
History
The orchestra was founded by musicologist David Urness ...
, ''Harmonia'', and the possible return of ''Classics by Request'', ''Evening Concert'', and ''Opera Hour''.
The studios and offices for WFYI-TV-FM are off
North Meridian Street in Indianapolis. The
transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the ...
is on Township Line Road, also in Indianapolis. WFYI-FM has an
effective radiated power
Effective radiated power (ERP), synonymous with equivalent radiated power, is an IEEE standardized definition of directional radio frequency (RF) power, such as that emitted by a radio transmitter. It is the total power in watts that would h ...
(ERP) of 10,000
watt
The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James ...
s. It broadcasts in the
HD Radio hybrid format. Its HD2 subchannel is known as "The Point", playing
Adult Album Alternative
Adult album alternative (also triple-A, AAA, or adult alternative) is a radio format. See pages 9 and 10Mills, Joshua. "A New Radio Music Format: Rock for Prosperous Adults" New York Times, Feb 28 1994, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. Accessed September 4, 2 ...
and
World Music. Most of WFYI-FM's programming is also simulcast on
WNDY in
Crawfordsville and
WISU in
Terre Haute
Terre Haute ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, about 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a ...
.
History
The station
signed on
Signing may refer to:
* Using sign language
* Signature
A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and often stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on do ...
for the first time on October 14, 1954, as WIAN, operated by the
Indianapolis Public Schools
Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is the largest school district in Indianapolis, and the second largest school district in the state of Indiana as of 2021, behind Fort Wayne Community Schools. The district's headquarters are in the John Morton ...
, with the license held by the Board of School Commissioners. At first, it was powered at only 120 watts. The station offered classroom instruction and some student programming. In the 1960s, the station increased its power to the current 10,000 watts.
After years of operating at low power and limited hours, it expanded its hours and programming through a partnership with
The Fine Arts Society of Indianapolis in which the Society broadcast
classical music, apart from some hours devoted to educational programming. This gave WIAN enough hours to become a charter member of
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
in 1971.
IPS sold the station to Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Broadcasting in 1988, and on March 15, 1988, it changed its
call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally assign ...
to WFYI-FM. Over time, the amount of classical music was decreased as the station added more news and informational programming.
WFYI is the home base of the health news service Side Effects Public Media.
IRIS
WFYI 90.1 FM Public Radio carries services for the print-impaired via the Internet and a
subcarrier (
SCA) broadcast signal. It is known as the Indiana Reading and Information Services (IRIS).
It was previously named Central Indiana Radio Reading, Inc. (CIRRI).
References
External links
WFYI official website*
FYI
NPR member stations
Mass media in Indianapolis
Radio stations established in 1954
1954 establishments in Indiana
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