WHWS-LP

Infobox Radio station
name = WHWS-LP


city = Geneva, New York
area = Finger Lakes Region of New York State
branding = Hobart and William Smith College Radio
frequency = 105.7 MHz
format = Spanish - Alternative
erp = 100 watts
class = L1
callsign_meaning = Hobart and William Smith Colleges
former_callsigns = WSAC-LP
owner = Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council
webcast =
website = http://www.whws.fm
affiliations = [http://www.radiobilingue.org Radio Bilingue]

WHWS-LP (105.7 FM) is an LPFM radio station operated by Hobart and William Smith Colleges and broadcasting to Geneva, New York. It is primarily staffed by the students of [http://www.hws.edu HWS] . The station is owned by the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council (which manages [http://www.thesmith.org The Smith Opera House] in Geneva).

Mission statement

The mission of the station is threefold:
*Provide a broadcast information & entertainment service to the Spanish-speaking populace in and around Geneva.
*Provide an outlet for programming by and for the interest of HWS students, administration and faculty.
*Provide coverage of HWS athletics.

History

WHWS-LP was originally applied for as WSAC-LP as a LPFM (low powered FM) license and had a variety of different, sporadic, shows. Eventually the station was organized around having " [http://www.radiobilingue.org Radio Bilingue] " as its core programming, and began continuous operations as such towards the end of 2007. In January 2008, a fully-functional studio was brought on-line in conjunction with WEOS and full operations commenced with HWS student programming intermixed with " [http://www.radiobilingue.org Radio Bilingue] ".

The call letters were still WSAC-LP ( [http://www.thesmith.org the Smith] (Opera House) Arts Council) in early 2008 due to some minor bureaucratic delays; the "WHWS" call letters were originally assigned by the FCC, via the US Coast Guard, to a defunct World War II naval vessel. But in mid-May 2008, the change to WHWS-LP became official.

While the WHWS studios are located in the same building as the other Hobart and William Smith Colleges station, WEOS, and both stations share some of the same staff members...there is virtually no direct coordination between the two operations in regards to programming; the two stations are designed to be separate and independent offerings to Geneva. Similarly, while WEOS is under the direct control of the Colleges of the Seneca, WHWS is under the control of a separate entity - the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council.

However, like WEOS, there are multiple opportunities for Hobart & William Smith students to volunteer at WHWS in the areas of music vetting/organization, promotions, sports, and the like.

Programming

WHWS primarily broadcasts the satellite service of " [http://www.radiobilingue.org Radio Bilingue] ", which is primarily based in Fresno, California, and described on [http://www.radiobilingue.org/cat_index_50.htm their website] as: "...a non-profit radio network with Latino control and leadership, (and) is the only national distributor of Spanish-language programming in public radio. This satellite network was formed to provide stations with news, information, and cultural programming in Spanish and musical programs showcasing a variety of Latino formats with emphasis on Mexican folk and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Satélite Radio Bilingüe builds on Radio Bilingüe's decades-old tradition of talk programs, special events coverage and its flagship news service, Noticiero Latino, for stations across the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico." [http://www.radiobilingue.org/article_10076.htm Here is their full program schedule] .

WHWS also has HWS students airing their own shows, with their own choice of rock/alternative, hip-hop, CHR, modern rock and other genres of music. It also provides coverage of [http://www.hws.edu/athletics_hobart.aspx Hobart "Statesmen] " and [http://www.hws.edu/athletics_ws.aspx William Smith "Herons"] athletics games, particularly:
* Basketball (Hobart & William Smith)
* Lacrosse (William Smith)
* Ice Hockey (Hobart)
* Field Hockey (William Smith)
* Soccer (Hobart & William Smith)

See also WEOS for Hobart Football and Hobart Lacrosse games.

WHWS occasionally rebroadcasts some special programming that WEOS has previously aired, including:
* [http://www.hws.edu/academics/fisher_center/ The Fisher Center] Lecture Series
* [http://www.hws.edu/about/forum.aspx President's Forum]
* [http://www.hws.edu/about/radio_show.aspx The President's Radio Show]

WHWS also sometimes switches formats for special days, such as [http://www.hws.edu/orientation HWS Orientation Weekend] in late August each year, when WHWS becomes a quasi-Highway Advisory Radio station, broadcasting a loop of scheduled events, weather and driving directions for incoming first-year students and their parents (informing the local community, as well)

References

* [http://www.radiobilingue.org/affiliates.htm List of "Radio Bilingue" affiliates]

External links

* [http://whws.blogspot.com WHWS official website]
*FMQ|WHWS
*FML|WHWS
*FMARB|WHWS