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WBAA

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WBAA
Frequency101.3 (MHz) and 920 (kHz)
Programming
FormatNPR, local news, local music, jazz (AM); classical music, NPR talk (FM)
Ownership
OwnerPurdue University
History
First air date
WBAA: April 4, 1922 (originally experimental 9YB 1919-22)
WBAA-FM: 1993
Technical information
ERP14,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
40°17′49.62″N 86°54′3.85″W / 40.2971167°N 86.9010694°W / 40.2971167; -86.9010694 (WBAA)
Links
Websitewbaa.org

WBAA is the callsign for two radio stations owned by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana--an AM station at 920 kHz and an FM station at 101.3 MHz. Both broadcast from studios in the Edward C. Elliott Hall of Music on the Purdue campus, and the transmitters are located in Lafayette, Indiana.

WBAA-AM is the longest continuously-operating radio station in Indiana, having been licensed on April 4, 1922. A fire in 1929 took WBAA-AM off the air for several months. During the day, its 5,000-watt signal reaches a potential audience of 2.5 million people, including the fringes of the Indianapolis area.

WBAA-FM began broadcasting in 1993. It is one of the few NPR stations located on a commercial frequency.

Programming

AM 920 WBAA airs a mixture of NPR and local news/talk programming during the day. Evenings are set aside for music programming with adult album alternative music program, World Cafe, beginning at 7pm with traditional jazz filling up the remainder of the overnight schedule. Weekends consist of similar programming plus ethnic and local music programming on Sunday nights.

FM 101.3, WBAA-FM, simulcasts its AM sister in the morning and late afternoon to broadcast popular NPR talk programs such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Marketplace. Classical music can be heard at all other times.

WBAA also has a strong growing local news initiative.

Staff

WBAA employs Tim Singleton as its general manager. The radio station has a general staff of about 20 news reporters and on-air hosts, comprising many full time professionals and multiple Purdue University students.