WVXU History

From its start as a low-power station that filled Xavier University buildings with a range of music genres, 91.7 WVXU grew steadily through the years through the passion and dedication of the student founders and the university’s faculty and staff. It broadcast Xavier basketball games, old-time radio shows, minor league hockey games, and music ranging from jazz and swing to the best in cutting-edge alternative sound. Today, WVXU is squarely positioned as Cincinnati’s respected home of public radio programming from NPR, BBC, APM and PRX.

 

When Xavier University decided to sell the station to raise funds for campus improvements, Cincinnati Classical Public Radio, as we were known at the time, purchased the station and built an award-winning local news team. In August 2005, WVXU joined 90.9 WGUC and a new organization was formed: Cincinnati Public Radio. While the WVXU programming has had additions and subtractions over the years, the foundation from that start remains the same: NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered anchoring our broadcast day, with the BBC World Service keeping night owls informed and entertained.

WVXU History Timeline:

The 1970's

October 1, 1970

October 1 – WVXU (Voice of Xavier University) is on the air and officially licensed by the FCC.

1974

FCC grants WVXU permission to broadcast at 65 watts, allowing a greater reach into the Cincinnati community.

November 18, 1976

WVXU’s rebuilt transmitter begins broadcasting with 6,390 watts of power, further expanding the station’s geographical reach.

1977

Stereo and 24-hour-a-day broadcasting begins. Programming includes jazz, big band, progressive rock music, old-time radio shows, and public affairs programming.

1978

Year-round broadcasting begins. WVXU provided around-the-clock coverage of the Blizzard of 1978, which shut down much of the city.

The 1980's

1981

WVXU became an NPR member station, adding Morning Edition to its daily lineup. The NPR membership made the station eligible for funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

1982

A new transmitter and upgraded antenna allowed WVXU to begin broadcasting at 23,000 watts, allowing for an even wider geographical reach.

The 1990's

1990’s

Wanting to bring public radio programming to some smaller communities, WVXU began purchasing radio stations to create the X-Star Radio Network. At its peak, the network was comprised of the following stations:

  • 91.7 WVXU Cincinnati, OH
  • 96.7 WVXA Rogers City, MI
  • 89.3 WVXC Chillicothe, OH
  • 92.1 WVXH Harrison, MI
  • 97.7 WVXM Maysville, KY
  • 106.3 WVXU
  • Crawfordsville, KY
  • 95.1 WVXG Mount Gilead, OH
  • 89.5 WVXW West Union, OH
  • 89.3 WVXR New Paris, OH
  • 95.3 W237CF Mackinaw City, MI

June 6, 1994

WVXU produced and aired a 12-hour broadcast special called D-Day Plus 50 Years, which earned the station a Peabody Award, among others.

The 2000's

August 21, 2005

The X-Star Radio Network went dark with Xavier University selling WVXU to Cincinnati Public Radio (CPR). The format was refined to present a variety of news and information programs focusing on local, national and international news and events. A full-time news team was created, and local news and arts magazine programs were introduced. Evenings and weekends featured BBC World News and music programs showcasing jazz, blues and swing. CPR now owned two radio stations, including WGUC Classical 90.9.

2005 +

WVXU broadens its reach beyond radio by utilizing technology and social media platforms. The station launched a mobile app, began to stream on the web, and made its service available on smart speakers.

2007

WVXU launched a digital HD Radio™ signal and began multicasting two program services. Digital listeners can tune in to their favorite news and information programs in crystal clear audio on WVXU HD1 or a AAA mix with an emphasis on local music from Radio Artifact on WVXU HD2.

2009

Cincinnati Public Radio enters into a Licensed Management Agreement with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, to provide a simulcast of WVXU on their station, 88.5 WMUB.

The 2010's

2013

Cincinnati Edition, originally WVXU’s weekend news magazine program, becomes a live, daily call-in talk show. After a mix of hosts at the start, news reporter Mark Heyne was named permanent host. Upon his departure from radio, local broadcaster/historian Dan Hurley served as interim host until local journalist Michael Monks was hired in 2018. When Michael left to pursue new opportunities, longtime local journalist Lucy May took over as show host in 2022.

2014

With the support of the Dater Foundation, WVXU introduces a new civic engagement program called Democracy & Me, which is focused on providing high school students with tools and information to become more engaged participants in the democratic process. With the addition of the Democracy & Z podcast, students can share their thoughts and concerns about critical topics of the day.

2017

WVXU produces its first original content podcast, Looking Up. Dean Regas and Anna Hehman from the Cincinnati Observatory hosted Looking Up, a space/astronomy podcast featuring special guests, listener questions and conversation. Along with many NASA engineers, scientists, authors, and local space lovers, the podcast has interviewed William Shatner, Ira Flatow from “Science Friday,” and Beakman from “Beakman’s World.”

The 2020's - Present

August 22, 2020

Cincinnati Public Radio pays off the loan for WVXU ($15 million plus $1 for legal and marketing costs) five years early, thanks to the support of generous listeners, underwriters and foundations, plus extraordinary fiscal leadership from staff and board members.

August 22, 2023

The sun was shining brightly for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new home of Cincinnati Public Radio, the Scripps Family Center for Public Media, located at Keystone Parke at 2117 Dana Avenue in the Evanston community. Planning for this building began in 2018 as discussions about the redevelopment of our rented space on Central Parkway ramped up, and it became evident we needed to find a permanent home.

December 23, 2023

The ceremonial topping out ceremony for CPR’s new building took place, and donors, contractors, crews, and other VIPs were in attendance. The final ceiling panel was lifted into place to commemorate the completion of the structure of the building. The new 35,000-square-foot facility will become part of the first LEED-certified commercial campus in the Tri-State.