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| Broadcast area | Central Jersey,South Jersey,Philadelphia |
| Frequency | 103.3MHz (HD Radio) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Freeform |
| Subchannels |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner | Princeton Broadcasting Service, Inc. |
| History | |
First air date |
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Call sign meaning | Princeton Broadcasting Service (owner)[1] |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 53567 |
| Class | B |
| ERP |
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| HAAT | 222 meters (728 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 40°16′58.4″N74°41′9.6″W / 40.282889°N 74.686000°W /40.282889; -74.686000 (WPRB) |
| Translators |
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| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | |
WPRB (103.3MHz) is anFMradio station licensed toPrinceton, New Jersey, and owned by Princeton Broadcasting Service, Inc. It broadcasts afreeformradio format, includingshoegaze,slowcore,noise music,harsh noise wall,plunderphonics,illbient,jazz,electronic,folk,reggae,ska,metal,world,soul,rap,blues,screamo, and rock.[4] While the station is non-profit, it is licensed as acommercial radio station. It is funded primarily by listener contributions, raised especially during WPRB's annual spring 10-dayMembership Drive. It also derives funding through communityunderwriting contracts with local businesses. Almost all on-air staff and management arePrinceton University alumni and students. WPRB's slogan is "New Jersey's Only Radio Station".
Thetransmittertower is shared withWKXW "New Jersey 101.5".[5] It is located inLawrence Township northeast ofTrenton. WPRB has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 14,000 watts. It broadcasts usingHD Radio technology. The HD2digital subchannel carriesIndian programming andOldies are heard on its HD3 subchannel.
WPRB traces its origins to a campusAM station, WPRU, that launched December 6, 1940. WPRU was founded by H. Grant Theis, a Princeton University student at the time. It often is cited as the oldest commercially licensed campus radio station in the United States.[6] In 1955, WPRU got its FM license. Itsigned on as WPRB, the first college station on the FM dial in the United States, after the WPRUcall sign was found to be already in use by a ship.[1] It is considered a pioneer in FM stereo broadcasting, transmitting a stereo signal beginning in 1964.
WPRB has broadcast on three different FM frequencies in its history: it first was heard on 103.9 MHz;[7] in 1959, it moved to 103.5 MHz;[8] and it moved to its current frequency of 103.3 MHz in 1962.[9] During the 1960s and 1970s, it joined with otherIvy League universities to form the "Ivy Network", sharing some programming and resources. It later was anaffiliate of theABC FM Network.[10]
In 1986,Spin Magazine named WPRB the best commercial college station in the country.[11]
After decades of operation under an advertising-supported business model, in 2006 WPRB switched to a listener-supported model (although it remains a commercially licensed station). In 2009, WPRB went on to acquire a Princeton student magazine, theNassau Weekly.Nassau Weekly was founded in 1979 by Princeton students includingDavid Remnick, who later became the editor ofThe New Yorker.[6]
One of its disc jockeys,Jon Solomon, has hosted a 24-hour+ Christmas musicradiothon every year but one since 1988.[12]
WPRB was the first commercial radio station in the United States to playLil Nas X's "Old Town Road" when it debuted on John Weingart's long-running program "Music You Can't Hear on the Radio".[citation needed]
WPRB is a fullclass B signal. Its service contour covers most ofCentral Jersey and portions of thePhiladelphia andNew York Cityradio markets.[13]
WPRB is short-spaced to two other class B stations:WKTU103.5 KTU (licensed toLake Success, New York) andWARM-FMWarm 103.3 (licensed toYork, Pennsylvania). Since WPRB dates back to the early days of FM broadcasting (before current rules had been adopted) it isgrandfathered on its current frequency and power level.
WPRB and WKTU operate on first adjacent channels and the distance between the two stations' transmitters is only 49 miles as determined byFederal Communications Commission rules.[14] The minimum distance between two Class B stations operating on first adjacent channels according to current FCC rules is 105 miles.[15]
WPRB and WARM-FM operate on the same channel and the distance between the two stations' transmitters is only 103 miles.[14] The minimum distance between two Class B stations operating on the same channel according to current rules is 150 miles.[15]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W236CT | 95.1 FM | Edison, New Jersey | 138032 | 250 | D | 40°31′45.5″N74°23′32.2″W / 40.529306°N 74.392278°W /40.529306; -74.392278 (W236CT) | LMS | Relays WPRB-HD3 |
| W300CZ | 107.9 FM | Ewansville, New Jersey | 141281 | 100 | D | 40°24′15″N74°25′0″W / 40.40417°N 74.41667°W /40.40417; -74.41667 (W300CZ) | LMS | Relays WPRB-HD3 |
