WXVU, known as

Villanova University Villanova University is a Private university, private Catholic church, Roman Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinians in 1842 and named after Thomas of Villanova, Sa ...

Radio, is a

college radio Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively created or produced ...

station which is broadcast in the

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

area via a 100-watt

transmitter In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna (radio), antenna. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which i ...

that covers an radius around the Villanova University campus. WXVU offers a variety of music, news, sports, public affairs and specialty programming. All full and part-time Villanova students are eligible to sign up for training and become a station member. The station formerly shared its FM frequency with

Cabrini College Cabrini University is a private Roman Catholic university in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1957, and was named after the first American naturalized citizen saint, Mother ...

's station,

WYBF WYBF (89.1 FM, "Cavalier Radio") was a college radio station which broadcast in the Philadelphia area via a 700 watt transmitter that covered a 15-mile radius around Radnor, Pennsylvania; the station was owned by Cabrini College. WYBF had a free ...

, with WXVU broadcasting four days a week over the air and every day of the week online. In 2022, Villanova and Cabrini reached a deal to end the share-time agreement, with WYBF agreeing to surrender its license and move online-only to allow WXVU to operate full-time. Villanova student radio began in 1947 when returning GIs built a closed circuit AM carrier current transmitter, located since 1955 in Dougherty Hall. The station's original call letters were WWVU and later WKVU 640 AM. Sporadic attempts to "go FM" came to fruition with the birth of WXVU 89.1 FM in 1991. Notable carrier current-era staff members include

Jim Croce James Joseph Croce (; January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and numerous singles. During this period, Croce took a series of odd jobs to pa ...

and

Don McLean Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1971 hit song " American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early ...

, both of whom would become music legends. Ed Gallagher DJ'd a 104-hour radiothon to benefit muscular dystrophy research in March 1975 with guest appearances by notable Philadelphians of the day including WFIL AM 560 boss jock

Banana Joe Joe Montione, commonly referred to as Banana Joe, (born in Hartford, CT, January 21, 1954 – died in Los Angeles, Sept.11, 2021) was a well-known a radio personality. Early career Banana Joe grew up in Pittston, PA, about 100 miles north of Phi ...

Montione, whose 8 foot fiberglass banana was briefly absconded in a prank. In the late 1970s WKVU became known for its sports programming, and was even briefly the exclusive radio home of Villanova basketball, a relationship which, though no longer exclusive, extended into the Big East era (1980 forward). WXVU/WKVU alumni, including Ryan Fannon and Whitey Rigsby, have long enjoyed success in professional broadcasting.

References

External links

WXVU Website
* * * XVU XVU Villanova University 1991 establishments in Pennsylvania Radio stations established in 1991 {{Pennsylvania-radio-station-stub