Power across the Panhandle: FM90 reaches out

Photo by Amanda Castro-Crist
Tyler Williams, a radio-TV production major, and Brian Frank, FM90 program director, review a playlist at FM90.
Photo by Amanda Castro-Crist  Tyler Williams, a radio-TV production major, and Brian Frank, FM90 program director, review a playlist at FM90.
Photo by Amanda Castro-Crist
Tyler Williams, a radio-TV production major, and Brian Frank, FM90 program director, review a playlist at FM90.

By Robert Gauna

Ranger Photographer

 

One-hundred-thousand-watts of commercial free power: that is what KACV-FM uses to reach out to listeners to inform them of upcoming events taking place at Amarillo College.

With that much power pumping through the Panhandle, FM90 is able to reach not only the ears of Amarillo students, but those on the campuses in Dumas and Hereford.

The station is a way for students to find out what’s happening on other campuses.

The Coffee Memorial blood drive is an example of a live event broadcast on the station.

“On-air events lend themselves to FM90’s participation, including the things we have on campus,” said program director Brian Frank.

Anytime disc jockeys have information about what is happening in the community and on campus, FM90 uses the radio waves to promote those events, Frank said.

“We’ve also started airing crime prevention tips, and we’re working on getting some of those done and put together bilingually so we can air them on our Saturday night Tejano program, which is done in English and in Spanish. The crime prevention tips are aired every weekday at 7:20 a.m.,” Frank said.

Any student who wants to work as a radio personality can do so by taking a Radio Experience class as an elective.

“It’s a one-hour course, and that gets you a shift on FM90,” Frank said. “We’ll show you how everything works and the way to follow the FCC rules and regulations.”

Radio-TV production major Tyler Williams hosts Tex-Tunes, which airs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s all Texas country-music. We play older stuff, legendary artists, newer people, local bands; we try to play it all – no Nashville allowed,” Williams said.

Only artists from Texas or produced in Texas get any airtime on Tex-Tunes, he said.

Saturday Night Tejano Throwback Show host and radio-TV production major April Torres has been with FM90 for three semesters. She also hosts the Indie and All Request Show on Thursdays from 8 p.m. to midnight.

“At first, I didn’t think I was going to like radio, but I love it now,” Torres said. “I’m in the field; I’m getting out there. So I really enjoy radio. It’s an interesting experience.”

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