KUNR
Public radio station in Reno, Nevada
title: "KUNR" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["radio-stations-in-reno,-nevada", "radio-stations-established-in-1963", "npr-member-stations", "1963-establishments-in-nevada", "college-radio-stations-in-nevada", "university-of-nevada,-reno"] description: "Public radio station in Reno, Nevada" topic_path: "society/education" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KUNR" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Public radio station in Reno, Nevada ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station dual"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name1 | KUNR |
| logo | KUNR Public Radio 88.7 logo.png |
| city1 | Reno, Nevada |
| country | US |
| area | Northern Nevada |
| branding | |
| frequency1 | |
| airdate1 | |
| format | Public radio and talk |
| erp1 | 20,000 watts |
| haat1 | 651 m |
| class1 | C0 |
| licensing_authority | FCC |
| facility_id1 | 69001 |
| coordinates1 | |
| callsign_meaning1 | University of Nevada, Reno |
| affiliations | |
| owner | University of Nevada, Reno |
| licensee | Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education |
| sister_stations | KNCJ |
| webcast | |
| website | |
| name2 | KNCC |
| city2 | Elko, Nevada |
| frequency2 | |
| airdate2 | |
| facility_id2 | 49582 |
| class2 | A |
| erp2 | 54 watts |
| haat2 | 622 m |
| coordinates2 | |
| :: |
| name1 = KUNR | logo = KUNR Public Radio 88.7 logo.png | city1 = Reno, Nevada | country = US | area = Northern Nevada | branding = | frequency1 = | airdate1 = | format = Public radio and talk | erp1 = 20,000 watts | haat1 = 651 m | class1 = C0 | licensing_authority = FCC | facility_id1 = 69001 | coordinates1 = | callsign_meaning1 = University of Nevada, Reno | affiliations = | owner = University of Nevada, Reno | licensee = Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education | sister_stations = KNCJ | webcast = | website = | name2 = KNCC | city2 = Elko, Nevada | frequency2 = | airdate2 = | facility_id2 = 49582 | class2 = A | erp2 = 54 watts | haat2 = 622 m | coordinates2 = KUNR (88.7 FM) and KNCC (91.5 FM) are non-commercial radio stations that jointly carry a talk-oriented public radio format as members of NPR. KUNR is licensed to Reno, Nevada, United States, and KNCC is licensed to Elko, Nevada, United States; both are owned by the University of Nevada, Reno. The studios are located on North Virginia Street in Reno, on the university campus.
KUNR's transmitter is in Carson City, while KNCC's transmitter is atop Elko Mountain. Both stations also have a network of low-power FM translators around Nevada and Northern California.
History
KUNR signed on the air on October 7, 1963. It originally broadcast on 88.1 MHz and was powered at only 10 watts, a fraction of its current output. The station could only be heard on campus and adjacent neighborhoods. It was a college radio station, with students hosting most of the shows. Dr. Donald G. Potter, the director of the university's audio-video center, headed the radio station.
It later moved up the dial to 88.7 MHz, increasing its power and relocating its tower to a high peak between Reno and Carson City. With the increase in coverage area, the university decided to change the station's direction. It became a public radio station, airing news, information and classical music. It joined NPR in 1981, adding the network's news shows to its schedule.
In 1992, KNCC signed on the air. It began simulcasting KUNR's programming in the Elko area of Nevada. A network of translators was also added around Nevada and Northern California so KUNR could be heard in those small communities.
In 2016, the university acquired a non-commercial FM station at 89.5 MHz. That station became KNCJ, where the classical music and jazz programming moved. That allowed KUNR to go all news, talk and information, except for a few weekend shows.
KUNR's signal is also heard in Carson City and around Lake Tahoe. The region is also served by another NPR member station, KKTO 90.5 FM in Tahoe City, which simulcasts the news and information programming of KXJZ Sacramento.
Programming
KUNR and KNCC mostly air programs from NPR and other public radio networks, with local Nevada news updates. The weekday schedule includes Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, Here and Now, 1A, Think, The World and Marketplace. The BBC World Service runs overnight.
On weekend evenings, several music shows are heard, including American Routes from the Public Radio Exchange, as well as two shows produced by KUNR: The Risky Biscuit Hayseed Hoot with Dondo Harue and Jimbo's Juke Joint and Roadhouse Cafe with Jim Burke. Both shows play Americana, Folk, Bluegrass music and other genres with a touch of humor.
Translators
KUNR operates about a dozen translators across Nevada and California.
| callsign = KUNR | call1 = K210AK | freq1 = 89.9 | fid1 = 69187 | watts1 = 43 | haat1 = 143 | class1 = D | city1 = Incline Village, Nevada | coord1 = | notes1 = | call2 = K215CM | freq2 = 90.9 | fid2 = 88142 | watts2 = 25 | haat2 = -81.9 | class2 = D | city2 = Eureka, Nevada | coord2 = | notes2 = | call3 = K217AX | freq3 = 91.3 | fid3 = 69223 | watts3 = 10 | haat3 = 0 | class3 = D | city3 = Winnemucca, Nevada | coord3 = | notes3 = | call4 = K218AO | freq4 = 91.5 | fid4 = 69009 | watts4 = 10 | haat4 = 978.8 | class4 = D | city4 = Hawthorne, Nevada | coord4 = | notes4 = | call5 = K219AR | freq5 = 91.7 | fid5 = 69279 | watts5 = 190 | haat5 = 0 | class5 = D | city5 = Verdi, Nevada | coord5 = | notes5 = | call6 = K220BC | freq6 = 91.9 | fid6 = 69363 | watts6 = 45 | haat6 = 456 | class6 = D | city6 = Yerington, Nevada | coord6 = | notes6 = | call7 = K263AB | freq7 = 100.5 | fid7 = 36496 | watts7 = 19 | haat7 = 366 | class7 = D | city7 = Battle Mountain, Nevada | coord7 = | notes7 = Relays KNCC | call8 = K201FV | freq8 = 88.1 | fid8 = 87063 | watts8 = 65 | haat8 = -188.7 | class8 = D | city8 = Truckee, California | coord8 = | notes8 = | call9 = K215BQ | freq9 = 90.9 | fid9 = 69221 | watts9 = 20 | haat9 = 0 | class9 = D | city9 = Bishop, California | coord9 = | notes9 = | call10 = K220DB | freq10 = 91.9 | fid10 = 36654 | watts10 = 60 | haat10 = 673 | class10 = D | city10 = Susanville, California | coord10 = | notes10 = | call11 = K237DA | freq11 = 95.3 | fid11 = 139742 | watts11 = 10 | haat11 = -152.4 | class11 = D | city11 = Tom's Place, California | coord11 = | notes11 = | call12 = K248AT | freq12 = 97.5 | fid12 = 139743 | watts12 = 10 | haat12 = -152.4 | class12 = D | city12 = Crestview, California | coord12 = | notes12 =
In addition, KNCC has a translator, K263AB (100.5 FM) in Battle Mountain, Nevada. One translator, K215DN (101.5 FM) in Crescent Valley, Nevada, was shut down. KUNR is also simulcast on KUNV-HD3 serving the Las Vegas Valley.
References
References
- [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1965/B-All-Radio-1965-YB-All.pdf ''Broadcasting Yearbook 1965'' page B-95. Retrieved Aug. 2, 2024.]
- (1 December 2016). "KUNR launches new classical and jazz station, adds new app". University of Nevada, Reno.
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