KUHF 88.7 FM

Founded in 1950, KUHF 88.7FM serves listeners in Houston and the surrounding 150-mile radius with award-winning public affairs programs, in-depth news from National Public Radio and the finest in classical music. KUHF, Houston Public Radio, is a non-profit, listener-supported stations licensed to the University of Houston System.

KUHF is a member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County.

1950 November 10 - KUHF signs on the air. Licensed to the University of Houston, the station broadcast from the Ezekiel Cullen Building. Built at a cost of more than $400,000, KUHF is originally powered by 9,600 watts with a frequency of 91.3 mHz.

KUHF is an educational/community radio station with emphasis on live studio production.

1956 - A subscription to KUHF's monthly program guide:
1 month . . . . . . $ .20
6 months . . . . . $1.00
12 months . . . . $2.00

Airtime: 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. - Monday through Friday

Station ID:"A New World of Sound is Yours", on KUHF-FM, 91.3 meg., "The Voice of Fine Music in Houston."

9,600 WATTS with a primary coverage of an approximate 75 mile radius.

A student survey in 1956 found that 40% of the Houston FM audience listened to KUHF.

KUHF featured international programming with series from the British Broadcasting Series, the French Broadcasting System, Radio Nederland, Music from Germany, and the Far East, as well as several Armed Services Programs from Washington. All these series were free.

The station subscribed to three music library services at a cost of approximately $60.00 a year per subscription.

The station featured public service programming for such organizations as the Red Cross, United Fund, Boy Scouts, Art Museums, Houston Opera Association, B'nai Brith, Houston Symphony Association, Medical Center, and several religious organizations.

1963 - KUHF and the rest of the Radio-TV Department join the Journalism Department to form the Communications Department. KUHF becomes a student laboratory with live broadcast under University of Houston Communications Professor and Station Manager Dr. William Hawes.

The format is programmed loosely with all-student participation.

1967 - Arvil Cochran is appointed KUHF manager.

1969 - KUHF increases its power from 9,600 watts to 12,000 watts.

1970 - KUHF broadcast from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

KUHF moves from the 5th floor of Ezekial Cullen Building to the Communications Building on the Northeast side of the campus.

KUHF faces financial crises. KUHF manager Arvil Cochran blames it on the UH administration's "benign neglect."

The Corporation of Public Broadcasting refuses to give KUHF a grant, in part because, CPB had recently given a grant to Houston's Pacifica station, KPFT.

In October, KUHF joins the National Educational Radio Network based in Washington, D.C. NERN as the predecessor of NPR. For this affiliation, KUHF receives its first grant of actual money from the university in the amount of $1,700.

KUHF acquires a national news network affiliation (Mutual Broadcast System) through the help of KODA radio.

In April, KUHF changes frequency from 91.3 FM to 88.7FM. Signal conflict with KUHT-TV, as a result of a new 150-foot tower, makes this change necessary.

In April, KUHF returns to the air after an eight-month absence. KUHF had originally signed off for the customary summer break, but numerous technical problems prevented it from returning to the air as scheduled in October, 1969.

The general station format is revamped with emphasis on national and local news. KUHF tries an open-ended newscast beginning at 10:40 p.m. and lasting until all the major news of the day are covered in depth. This type of newscast is done with the idea of presenting the public with more detailed news than generally is offered by many Houston area commercial stations. This newscast was later replaced with five-minute newscasts each hour, a 30-minute cast each week night at 5:00 p.m. and a 20-minute news wrap-up at 10:40 p.m. with sign off at 11:00 p.m.

The music format features a mixture of music from Broadway shows and Hollywood films, folk music, and rock music.

In April, KUHF broadcast the Apollo 13 Moon Probe from NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center. The UH Bookstore contributes $200 to KUHF to help cover the expense.

In April, KUHF receives two telephone bomb threats.

In July, KUHF offers 15 minute Swahili lessons every weekday at 8:00 p.m.

In August, a new series, Experiment in Radio, begins. The series, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., encores old radio shows.

In August, KUHF coordinates with the Red Cross and Civil Defense stations to assist the Corpus Christi area during hurricane Celia.

1971 - In October the station's first proposed budget is submitted for an amount of $5,000.

In January, KUHF broadcasts live coverage of the Apollo 14 moon walk mission.

1973 - 900 albums are donated from Dr. Leonidas B. Kudisch of Houston. These include classical, jazz, pop, and rock music.

1974 - KUHF broadcasts from 4:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. weekdays, and from 3:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on weekends. All 31 staff positions are held by students. Only three positions are paid.

1975 - A female KUHF reporter makes the news when she is nearly thrown out of the locker room following a Rocket basketball game.

1978 - KUHF moves to its present broadcasting facility in the University of Houston School of Communication complex.

KUHF establishes Subsidiary Communications Authorization (SCA) to provide closed-circuit radio services for Houston Taping for the Blind.

1979 - KUHF qualifies for Corporation for Public Broadcasting(CPB) professional radio station status and joins National Public Radio (NPR).

Signal strength increases to 100,000 watts.

1980 - KUHF raises almost $28,000 during its first on-air membership campaign as an NPR station.

1982 - KUHF receives a Cultural Documentary Award for "Texas Jazz: Houston's View" from the Southern Educational Communications Association (SECA).

1983 - NPR's Morning Edition debuts 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. In July, KUHF publishes its first quarterly program guide.

1984 October - KUHF begins transmitting from the Tall tower Complex owned by Capitol Cities/Metromedia. At 1,000 feet and 100,000 watts, the tower improves the signal and expands coverage to a150-mile radius of Houston.

October, KUHF and KUHT-TV host the 1984 SECA Annual Conference.

1985 January - KUHF publishes its first monthly program guide.

March, KUHF joins Houston Jazz Festival for 16 hours of live broadcasts from the jazz stage.

October, KUHF receives a SECA award for Special Events Promotion.

On November 8, KUHF celebrates 35 years of broadcasting.

1986 February - NPR's Weekend Edition with Scott Simon debuts. NPR's Morning Edition extended to three hours, to begin at 5:00 a.m.

On March 17, KUHF broadcasts its first classical music program.

In April, KUHF receives 14,000 classical albums and compact discs as a donation from KLEF (KLDE).

In April, KUHF raises more than $174,000 during the spring membership campaign; $181,522 is pledged during the fall campaign.

In July, Houston Symphony broadcasts debut on KUHF. John Proffitt appointed to the position of General Manager.

On December 1, KUHF becomes a full-time classical music and news station.

1987 January - NPR's Performance Today premieres.

In February, KUHF is named the official radio voice of the Houston Symphony.

KUHF donates 10,000 jazz albums to the University of Houston School of Music.

In March, KUHF is the official radio sponsor of the Houston International Festival's classical stage.

In March, Nat Eisenberg's Main Street Economics series goes on theair.

In June, KUHF co-sponsored Metro's first Miller Theater Express free bus service from University Village.

Garrison Keillor ends his live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion. KUHF has commemorative farewell supper, and continues to feature tapes of the program.

In July, KUHF is the official radio sponsor of the city's first Mostly Mozart Festival, presented by the Houston Symphony.

In August, KUHF is the official radio sponsor of the Houston Shakespeare Festival.

1988 November - Houston In Concert premieres.

In January, Dr. John Lienhard's The Engines of Our Ingenuity debuts, a collaboration with the University of Houston's`College of Engineering.

In March, KUHF's Spring Membership Campaign breaks previous records: 4,629 pledges and $250,208 dollars.

In April, Engines of Our Ingenuity is distributed nationally via NPR's satellite.

KUHF New Reporter Steve Hine is awarded second place in the Press Club of Houston's Excellence in Journalism competition.

In April, KUHF presents the stereo simulcast of the world television premiere of John Adam's Nixon in China in collaboration with KUHT Channel 8 - Houston.

In June, KUHF presents a live broadcast of the Ima Hogg National Young Artist Audition Finals sponsored by the Houston Symphony and the Houston Symphony League.

In July, broadcast of 1988 National Convention of American Guild of Organists in Houston. Michael Barone, host of American Public Radio's Pipedreams visits the station and works with the KUHF production crew. Recorded in RDAT technology and broadcast onKUHF's Houston in Concert, as well as the nationally syndicated Pipedreams.

In July, KUHF is the first American radio station to broadcast in the RDAT technology with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

In October, Susan Stamberg and Sunday Weekend Edition debuts on KUHF.

In October, KUHF's shortened 8-day Fall Membership Campaign brings in 4,023 pledges totaling over $270,000. Introduction of KUHF Classic Card.

In December, KUHF's first annual Family Party at the Alley Theater.

1989 January - KUHF is an official sponsor of the Houston Tenneco Marathon.

In February, KUHF's Donald Ham travels to Poland with the Singing Boys of Houston to tape their performance at the International Boy's Choir Festival in Posnan. They are the first and only American representatives in the 15-year history of the competition. Broadcast on Houston In Concert in April.

With a weekly audience of 185,000, KUHF ranks among the top 25 of nation's public radio stations in national fall Radio Audience Survey compiled by Radio Research Consortium.

Dr. John Lienhard is awarded the 1989 Ralph Coats Roe Medal by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers for The Engines of Our Ingenuity.

In March, record breaking figures for 1989 Spring Campaign for the Classics. 4,283 pledges exceeding $273,000.00.

In April, KUHF is media sponsor for the Houston International Festival's Salute to France.

In May, KUHF hosts and produces a live broadcast of National Ima Hogg Young Artists Audition from Rice University's Hamman Hall.

In July, KUHF is awarded The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's award for greatest increase in listener support in the major market category. The station is recognized for its innovative and effective method of fundraising and marketing with specific mention of the KUHF Classic Card. In September, Da Camera Live goes on air.

In October, KUHF fall campaign raises membership number to over 12,000 and brings in over $275,000.

In October, News Director Bruce Dortin is selected to serve on the Ethics Committee of the Public Radio News Directors Association.

In October, rebroadcasts of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion return to KUHF.

In November, Garrison Keillor's American Radio Company of the air premieres.

In November, KUHF nationally distributes America Sings!, a joint collaboration with Houston Grand Opera / Texas Opera Theater for American Music Week.

1990 March - KUHF's The Engines of Our Ingenuity receives AmericanWomen in Radio and Television 15th Annual National Commendation Awards.

KUHF broadcasts the Houston Symphony live from Miami Beach, Florida.

In May, the first compact disc produced by KUHF premieres Live from Festival Hill series.

Recordings at the Round Top Festival-Institute in Round Top,Texas. Distributed nationally via satellite.

KUHF's Dean Dalton accompanies Houston Symphony on Singapore concert tour to tape symphony and phone in reports.

1991 - Fall campaign ends November 11, surpassing the goal of 4,000 memberships for a total of $240,000.

1992 - KUHF presents Garrison Keillor's American Radio Company in a live broadcast on Saturday, January 5 in the Music Hall, followed by a reception with Mr. Keillor and cast of the show at the Doubletree Hotel Allen Center. The performance sold out.

KUHF is media sponsor for the Tenneco Marathon on January 26th. The station's location is in from of West University City Hall.

On February 26th, KUHF hosts the opening reception at Blaffer Gallery for Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio who are holding their annual meeting in Houston.

KUHF's spring campaign is March 3 through 13. A goal of 4,500 memberships is achieved for a total exceeding $270,000.

KUHF is media sponsor for the performance Griot New York, an on March 27. Houston International Festival event.

March 24 through April 3, KUHF is media sponsor, with KUHF announcers hosting the performance stage, two nights a week for Foto-Fest held at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

KUHF sponsors the Dance Stage at Houston International Festival April 25-26, and May 2-3. Location is in front of Wortham Center.

1992 KUHF produces the live remote broadcast of the Finalists' Concert of the Ima Hogg National Young Artist Audition on May 16. Theconcert is held at Rice University's Alice Pratt Brown Hall.

KUHF is media sponsor for the Houston Symphony family program Sounds Like Fun on June 17 at Douglass Elementary School. KUHF adopts Douglass Elementary as an outreach project.

Beginning July 13, KUHF extends All Things Considered from 4 p.m.to 6 p.m.. American Public Radio's Marketplace airs from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

August 12, is KUHF night at Houston Shakespeare Festival at Miller Theatre. Dr. Berger gives a pre-curtain talk for KUHF audience members.

KUHF requests listeners to drop off school supplies for Douglass elementary for the start of the school year. The response and donation of crayons, notebook paper, books, cassettes, pencils, etc .was very generous.

KUHF presents Mexican cellist Carlos Prieto in concert at Dudley Recital Hall, University of Houston on October 2. KUHF hosts a reception for the artist and audience members at Blaffer Gallery immediately following the concert.

KUHF's fall campaign, October 28 through November 6, ends with 4,223 new and renewing members for a total of $262,598.

In November, KUHF begins airing Car Talk (featuring the Magliozzi brothers) from 9 to 10 a.m. each Saturday.

December 12 is KUHF hosts its family event, Revels Houston, at Rice University's Alice Pratt Brown Hall. The performance is followed by a reception for KUHF members.

1993 - KUHF is medial sponsor for Tenneco Marathon on January 24th. Location, once again, is in front of West University Place City Hall.

On January 30, KUHF presents Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight at Cullen Performance Hall on the University of Houston Campus. The performance is sold out.

Spring Campaign for the Classics, March 8 through 13, ended with 4,317 new and renewing members for a total of $251,437. For the first time, KUHF shortened the campaign to six days.

The last weekend in April and first weekend in May, KUHF is media sponsor for Houston International Festival's International Stage. This year's Festival salutes Spain. KUHF location is in front of the library (Library Plaza).

KUHF News Department receives five awards in May. Three honors awarded by the Harris County Medical Society : Award of Excellence to Mike Rose for report on Black Blood Donorsâ and Merit Award in General News Category to Rosen for his story on Laparoscopy. Award of Excellence to Irma Garza for her series onLiving with Aids. Two awards were presented to KUHF New Department by The Texas Associated Press: Honorable Mention toLisa Garvin for Best Use of Actuality/Production for her reporting of a Clinton Rally, and Honorable Mention in the category of Best Sports Story to Mike Rosen for his report on Bjorn Borg.

On June 10, KUHF is media sponsor for Houston Symphony's Sounds Like Fun family program at Bellaire Civic Center.

KUHF honors its volunteers on June 22, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston with a reception, lecture and private viewing of the exhibition, Frida Kahlo.

KUHF is media sponsor for the Houston Shakespeare Festival at Miller Theater on August 4 (KUHF night).

1993 Fall campaign, October 23 through 29, concludes with $269,000 from 4,382 new and renewing members. With challenges andmatching gifts, campaign total will be close to goal of $300,000.

KUHF Family Event held in conjuntion with Revels Houston matinee performance on December 11, at Rice University's Alice Pratt Brown Hall. Revels program saluted France. KUHF hosted a dessert reception following the performance.