Since its sign-on in 1973, KSHU-FM has served the community of Huntsville with music, news and sports. And now, as it enters its 13th year of operation, KSHU remains the same mix of music, news and sports. But this year, KSHU, “90.5 The Kat,” is shifting its focus during the day away from the classical and jazz programs and moves toward other classical program, such as classic rock. Where Jazz dominated the programming schedule at this time last year, Classic Rock dominates it now, running from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the school week. Jazz is still there and is now mixed with the classical music during the early morning hours from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. during the week. College Rock, Metal and Hip- Hop music are still on the schedule and dominate the weekend and nighttime hours on KSHU.Why the change in pace from jazz to classic rock? “We’re trying to make the station more in tune with the community, be it the Sam Houston State University Campus or the surrounding Huntsville area.”, said KSHU program director Adam Spry.But the format shifts are not the only changes that KSHU will have. John Nelson, an SHSU Radio-TV alumni who just recently joined the RTV Department as the new Broadcast Operations Assistant, says that there’s more to come. “They’re not changes, as so much enhancements”, says Nelson. “KSHU will become interactive radio, between 90.5 The Kat, and KSHU.org”. Nelson is pleased so far with the current operation of KSHU and says that listeners will begin to hear the changes to KSHU soon, but he did not give an exact date as to when. “We’ll have a better idea in a week or so”, said Nelson. According to Nelson, the station and its management is getting the staff up to speed on the new enhancements and noted that soon listeners will know the differenceEven KSHU News and Sports will see some changes. According to Operations Manager Matt Orlando, KSHU news will include more actualities, or sound bites from events, and much more. “One thing that we’re trying to do especially with news and sports, is include more actualities, more breaking news and more news that concentrates specifically on Sam Houston State and the Huntsville communit,” says Orlando.According to Orlando, KSHU Sports will concentrate play-by-play coverage mainly on SHSU Football and Basketball throughout the 2003-04 school year, and have daily sports updates that will keep listeners informed of other SHSU sports and even Huntsville Hornet Football, with updates airing at 8 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. during the school week.So far students and other KSHU management are pleased with the results they are seeing. “There’s not a classic rock station around, so it fits”, was the opinion of sophomore Mike Coffin.KSHU veteran and music director Lowery Woodall is pleased with the direction of the station.”We’re more organized. We’re better at promoting ourselves, getting our name out to the listeners”, said Woodall.KSHU is on the air every day from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. and for those without a radio can listen to the audio signal simulcast over the newly rechristened KSHU-TV, which is Cox Cable Channel 7 in Huntsville.
Sections