WFIT (89.5 FM), is a National Public Radio member station serving the Space Coast. Broadcasts originate from the WFIT Studios on the campus of the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
Programming
WFIT's current weekday programming specializes in the Triple A music format. The station prominently features a live midday broadcast hosted by the station's program director, Steve Yasko.[2] The programming offers occasional showcases of live in-house musical sessions and original interviews with local and touring bands.[3] Original programming during the weekdays is followed by NPR distributed Triple A programs World Cafe and All Things Considered.
The station also broadcasts several syndicated talk and news shows, including Weekend Edition, Morning Edition, Planetary Radio, and Tech Nation. WFIT also produces community content segments Coastal Connection, International Student Spotlight, Psychology Science Minute, and Linking the Arts.[5]
WFIT also airs local news briefs produced in conjunction with Florida Today.[6]
History
In April 1975, Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) launched its noncommercial educational radio station, WFIT, a student-run college radio station. In the 1980s, WFIT was regarded as one of the top alternative music college radio stations in the country. Its programming included early forms of alternative rock, punk, hardcore, post-punk, new wave, synthpop alongside classical, jazz, reggae, blues, and funk. In the early 1980s, the station promoted itself as "The New Music Leader."
In 1985, there were approximately 65 volunteers involved at the station. Of these volunteers, approximately 40 percent were Florida Tech students.[7]
In 1986, the FCC denied a request from WFIT to increase transmitter power to 20,000 watts.[8] The same year, its transmitter was stolen.[9]
In 1988 and 1989, WFIT was recognized as one of the top five college radio stations in the USA by The Gavin Report, an industry trade publication. In 1989, the four other college radio stations competing for top honors with WFIT were KUSF at University of California, KCMU at the University of Washington in Seattle (now KEXP), WRAS at Georgia State University, and WTUL at Tulane University in New Orleans.[10]
In 1990, there were 80 people on staff. This included 49 DJs.[11]
In March of 1993, WFIT dropped its daytime alternative rock format in favor of a contemporary jazz sound similar to that heard on WLOQ-FM in Winter Park. The same year, WFIT was interconnected with the public radio satellite system. Two years later, WFIT became an affiliate of National Public Radio. WFIT's shift into the role of NPR affiliate reinforced the sentiments of serving the broadcast area with access to lifelong learning resources. Public radio news shows, culturally diverse music, local artist exposure, and educational content are central to the ethos of WFIT's community outreach and service.
The outside of the WFIT broadcast center.
In 1998 an FCC-approved power increase to 8 kilowatts extended the station's signal to include more Brevard County listeners, reaching north to Cocoa and Cocoa Beach, as well as south to Vero Beach in Indian River County. Automated equipment has enabled the station to broadcast twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, maximizing the range of audiences served. WFIT upgraded its transmitter in 2004 and became the first radio station in Brevard County to broadcast in HD Radio. WFIT's programming is also streamed worldwide via their website.
In 2006, the station changed its daytime broadcasting to Triple A format with the introduction of in-house produced Sound Waves, followed by NPR distributed World Cafe.[12]
In 2012, the station moved to a newly built 5000 sq. ft. broadcast center next to Florida Tech's Gleason Performing Arts Center. The new building contains six recording studios, a performance studio, and a conference studio.[12]
Community Involvement
WFIT's nearly 30 DJs are community volunteers. WFIT sponsors concerts throughout the community featuring both local musicians and national acts.
The station also collaborates with the Florida Historical Society to produce a weekly Florida Frontiers radio segment designed to "explore the relevance of Florida history to contemporary society and promote awareness of heritage and culture tourism options in the state."[13]
