WMRT
{{short description|Radio station at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WMRT
| logo =
| city = Marietta, Ohio | country = US
| area = Parkersburg-Marietta
| branding =
| frequency = 88.3 MHz
| airdate = {{Start date|1975|11|17}}
| erp = 9,200 watts
| haat = 62 meters
| class = B1
| facility_id = 40117
| coordinates = {{coord|39|25|07|N|81|26|32|W|display=inline,title|region:US-OH_type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning = "Marietta"
| former_callsigns =
| affiliations =
| owner = Marietta College
| licensee =
| sister_stations = WCMO-LP
| webcast = {{listen live|https://www.marietta.edu/student-media-wmrtfm}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.marietta.edu/student-media-wmrtfm}}
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
WMRT (88.3 FM) is a radio station at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, United States, broadcasting a classical music and jazz music format. The station is one of two stations on the Marietta College campus; WMRT is managed by the college's communications department,{{r|co}} while WCMO-LP 97.5 is student-oriented and student-led. WMRT went on the air in 1975 and has retained its format throughout its history.
History
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Marietta College a construction permit on January 31, 1974, to build a radio station broadcasting at 88.3 MHz.{{cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=70576|title=History Cards for WMRT|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} WMRT began broadcasting November 17, 1975.{{Cite news|url=https://cdm16824.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll10/id/20787/rec/37|title=News Spectrum|page=1|work=The Marcolian|date=April 7, 1978}} From the beginning, WMRT was designed to be more regional and public-oriented than the college's existing station, WCMO; its original lineup included classical, folk and jazz music programs.{{cite news|url=https://cdm16824.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll10/id/20692/rec/28|work=The Marcolian|date=November 7, 1975|page=1|title=MRT sends more vibes}} WCMO had been running much of this programming, but it broadcast with 10 watts, and the move freed that facility to become a student-led outlet in 1976.{{cite news|title=WCMO-FM to return as student-based radio station|page=5|work=The Marcolian|date=November 12, 1976|url=https://cdm16824.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll10/id/20751/rec/32}} It also offered radio courses for distance learners.{{cite news|title=Radio station offers courses|page=6|date=September 3, 1976|work=The Marcolian|url=https://cdm16824.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll10/id/20750/rec/29}} The station operated from the basement of Andrews Hall until the McKinney Media Center opened in 1984.{{cite news|title=WMRT: the sounds of jazz from the basement of Andrews|first=Stacy|last=Hurchalla|date=November 11, 1983|work=The Marcolian|page=3|url=https://cdm16824.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll10/id/20795/rec/1}}
In 1997, WMRT debuted local news broadcasts produced by journalism and radio production students.{{Cite news|page=7|title=WMRT provides local news coverage|work=The Marcolian|first=Mike|last=Thorp|url=https://cdm16824.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll10/id/21148/rec/2|date=February 6, 1997}} Two years later, the station was upgraded with the installation of an automation system, making operation more efficient and less staff-intensive.{{Cite news|url=https://cdm16824.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll10/id/21218/rec/5|title=Upgrade will improve WMRT|pages=1, 3|first=Siusanne|last=Stewart|work=The Marcolian|date=February 4, 1999}} For a time beginning in December 2004, Fine Arts Radio rebroadcast WMRT to the Athens area on a translator. This filled a void in that area created when WOUB-FM dropped classical music earlier that year.{{Cite news|first=Nick|last=Claussen|work=The Athens News|title=New radio signal brings classical and jazz back to Athens area|date=January 10, 2005|id={{ProQuest|362642015}} }} The McKinney Media Center studios were renovated in 2017.{{Cite news|work=The Marcolian|via=University Wire|id={{ProQuest|2383738822}}|first=Matt|last=Peters|date=December 6, 2017|title=Radio studio renovations near completion}}
Though WMRT airs some student-produced programming, most of its output comes from the WFMT Radio Network as well as the Metropolitan Opera and public radio distributor PRX. Seven Ranges Radio Company, owner of commercial station WVVV in the Parkersburg–Marietta area, provides engineering and automation support services for WMRT and built its studio facilities.{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff38aaf80cc018abdb029f40781|title=Marietta College Attributable Interests: Cross Ownership|date=December 6, 2023|author=Marietta College|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|website=Licensing and Management System}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{FM station data|40117|WMRT}}
{{Parkersburg-Marietta Radio}}
{{Ohio college radio}}