WTBR-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WTBR-FM


city = Pittsfield, Massachusetts
area =
slogan =
branding = "89.7 the Brave FM"
frequency = 89.7 MHz
repeater =
airdate =
format = Active Rock
erp = 380 watts, Stereo
haat = -35.0 meters
class = A
facility_id = 52749
coordinates = coord|42|27|34.00|N| 73|16|31.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning = Taconic BRaves (school mascot)
former_callsigns =
owner = Pittsfield Public School Committee
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = [http://www.wtbrfm.com wtbrfm.com]
affiliations = Public Radio International

WTBR-FM (89.7 FM, "89.7 the Brave FM") is a radio station broadcasting a Active Rock format. Licensed to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA, the station serves the Pittsfield area from Taconic High School. The station is currently owned by Pittsfield Public School Committee and features programing from Public Radio International. [cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTBR-FM |title=WTBR-FM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division]

History

Over the past four decades, the station has helped jump-start the budding careers of many future radio professionals in the Berkshires and beyond. In particular, in the 1970s under the leadership of station director, Bob Cooper, the station flourished with a wide range of student programming and an organization that continued to build the impressive archive of vinyl records. With more than an estimated 10,000 records from the late 1960s into the 1980s, WTBR is truly a priceless gem. Over the years, the station continued to serve as a significant outlet for the school and community. Of note, NASA astronaut, Stephanie D. Wilson, was a member of the radio club and she hosted her own program on WTBR. A 1984 graduate of Taconic High School, Wilson would go on to become the second African-American woman in space, taking part in two successful NASA Discovery missions in 2006 and in 2007.

However, in the several years prior to 2006, the station had again become devoid of programming as student turnover had left WTBR with dead-air for a vast majority of the time.

But, in 2006, a group of radio veterans, led by longtime WUPE-FM News Director Larry Kratka, lit a new spark for the station. Kratka brought in several radio veterans, such as Joe Mindlin and Brad Lorenz, both were DJs for WUPE-FM; Chuck Wright, who has nearly two decades of broadcast experience in radio and community television; and John Krol, who is the former morning news anchor and Opinion show host for WNAW/WMNB-North Adams and Berkshire Bureau Chief for WAMC-Northeast Public Radio. Krol's "Good Morning Pittsfield" serves as the anchor morning program with news from the Berkshire Eagle and two full intelligent interviews with local public officials, business leaders, journalists and other community leaders. The station also features unique specialty music programs including the only underground music program in the Berkshires, Rebel Sound Radio hosted by Andy Poncherello, Mike's Amazing Oldies featuring long lost resurrecting music from the vault of host by Mike Pezzo, the hard rocking metallic edge of Wounded Radio hosted by Tom Harrison and the longest-running Polish polka show in the area. Kratka has also been active in upgrading the technology at the station, including new equipment, upgrading to stereo, and allowing WTBR to transmit its full power allowed by FCC license. In addition, many students from Taconic and Pittsfield High School have created new programs with a mix of eclectic music and talk, including Alex Conklin with sports talk and Sean Mochon (a.k.a. DJ Wheels), who in spite of his physical limitations, has created a popular heavy metal show with the help of special equipment outfitted with the help of UCP. The station continues to move forward with more upgrades, including computer technology to allow more hours of local, original programming for the Pittsfield and greater Berkshire community.

References

External links

*FM station data|WTBR