WCUG (FM)

WCUG

Lumpkin, Georgia
Broadcast area	Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area
Frequency	88.5 MHz
Branding	Cougar Radio
Programming
Format	Jazz, News, Sports and College
Ownership
Owner	88.5 The Truth Inc. (88.5 The Truth, Inc.)
History
First air date	April 15, 2008
Former call signs	WTMQ (2002–2009) WBOJ (2009–2015)
Call sign meaning	Cougar
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	88005
Class	C2
ERP	23,000 watts
HAAT	164 meters (538 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	31°59′19″N 84°55′59″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	wcugradio.columbusstate.edu

WCUG (88.5 FM, "Cougar Radio") is a college radio radio station licensedLumpkin, Georgia and serving the metro area. A student-run station, WCUG is owned by the Columbus State University with studios on the university's RiverPark Campus.[2]

History

On December 26, 2009, 88.5 switched its format from latin music[3] to a Contemporary Christian radio station branded as 88.5 The Truth with a callsign of WBOJ.[4]

88.5 The Truth was put on the air by former WCGQ Programming Director/Air Talent Lee McCard who was the morning host until July 2009. Morning successor Heath Jackson was shot and killed at his home in September 2010, in a murder case which stunned Columbus.[5] Police arrested a suspected burglar on murder charges.

In July 2015, the station moved its programming to 107.7 FM and 103.7 WLTC-HD3 and rebranded as 107.7 The Truth.[4] This freed up 88.5 for use by Columbus State University.

On July 1, 2015, the station launched as Cougar Radio, with programming being handled by students and faculty of Columbus State's Department of Communication. The station's programming consists of various music genres including jazz, electronic dance music, country and other programming.[4] CSU obtained the station through a partnership with PMB Broadcasting.[6] The broadcasting group is leasing the station's license to the university for $1 a year.[7]

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for WCUG". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. "Columbus State's first radio station debuts". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
3. "Christian radio station now on 88.5". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
4. "Columbus, GA Stations on the Move". Radio Insight.
5. "Ricardo Strozier pleads guilty to gruesome murder of radio DJ Heath Jackson". WTVM. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
6. "How Columbus State University got a radio station". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
7. "WTVM Editorials 4/22/16: WCUG Radio launches". WTVM. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 88005 (WCUG) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WCUG in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

31.989°N 84.933°W / 31.989; -84.933