Centenary’s KSCL radio station joins Red River Radio Network
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College’s KSCL radio station, a home for alternative music programming since 1976, officially joined the Red River Radio Network in February 2024. KSCL, located at 91.3FM, will continue to air alternative rock as well as arts features, community information, and short news breaks.
Under an agreement approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on February 15, ownership of KSCL’s equipment and transmitter tower was officially transferred to Red River Radio, though the equipment will remain physically in place on the Centenary College campus.
“We are excited to strengthen the relationship between Centenary and Red River Radio,” said Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman. “RRR’s expertise and resources will ensure that KCSL will continue to be on the air providing great entertainment for our area, as well as opportunities for Centenary students to gain experience in modern multi-platform broadcasting.”
KSCL originally went live on March 19, 1976, and featured alternative music from studios located in the Student Union Building (SUB) on the Centenary campus. KSCL co-founder and first station manager Jay Reynolds ’76 recorded memories of the station’s early years for an archival project around 2000, sharing that the entire cost for the station to go on air in 1976 was less than $700.
“Doug Stewart, Chief Engineer of KSLA-TV volunteered countless hours to cut and shape the original console table which consisted of a sheet of marine plywood fitted to an old desk,” shared Reynolds. “The only new equipment when the station opened for operation were two Garrad turntables ($49 each) and one microphone. The station was ‘soundproofed’ with outdated carpeting samples that [I] rounded up in the community. Doug Stewart built and had ‘type accepted’ (i.e. certified as an original and compliant design) by the FCC the original transmitter which was a reworked State Police Car FM radio transmitter.”
Red River Radio will program KSCL 91.3 FM, which will be known as Alt Red River, with the best in alternative music sourced both nationally and locally.
“LSUS, Red River Radio, and Centenary have enjoyed networking together on past projects, and when Centenary reached out to us concerning KSCL, we were able and willing to bring KSCL under our network of public radio stations,” said Red River Radio General Manager Kermit Poling. “We appreciate the trust Centenary has placed in us in transferring KSCL to our network, and we will strive to preserve the history of KSCL. We find there is an audience for alternative music among a broad age demographic. The Shreveport-Bossier area has been lacking in a professional source for alternative music, and this is a gift we feel we can effectively bring to the community.”
Poling shared that Centenary students, LSUS students, and students attending any university in the Shreveport-Bossier City community are eligible to apply for internships at Red River Radio, including on KSCL, to learn production, on-air announcing, or news reporting.
“LSU Shreveport is very pleased to partner with our neighbors at Centenary to ensure that KSCL remains on the air, continuing to serve the community,” said LSUS chancellor Robert Smith. “This partnership between Red River Radio and KSCL is a natural fit and a great extension of our commitment to community outreach and engagement.”
About Red River Radio
Red River Radio is a community-supported service of LSUS and has served the community with public radio programming for 40 years. Red River Radio airs NPR, APM and locally-produced programs. The network provides news, information and entertainment to a large geographical area, broadcasting as KDAQ at 89.9 FM in Shreveport, La.; KLSA at 90.7 FM in Alexandria, La.; KLDN at 88.9 FM in Lufkin, Texas; KTYK at 100.7 FM in Overton/Tyler/Kilgore, Texas; KBSA at 90.9 FM in El Dorado, Ark.; and on the Lincoln Parish translator at Grambling State University at 90.7 FM. The network is licensed to the LSU Board of Supervisors and headquartered on the campus of LSUS. For more information on Red River Radio visit www.redriverradio.org or download the Red River Radio app available for Apple or Android devices.
About LSUS
Founded in 1967, Louisiana State University Shreveport offers a wide array of nationally accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a doctoral degree. The university’s mission is to educate a diverse population of graduate and undergraduate students; engage in regional and global thought leadership through community collaboration and service; and innovate to enhance the application of knowledge and intellectual discovery through faculty and student research and creative endeavors.