WCHC, Student-Run Radio Station at Holy Cross, Begins Live Web Streaming

WORCESTER, Mass. – WCHC 88.1 FM, the student-run radio station at the College of the Holy Cross, has started live Web streaming of its broadcast content, 24 hours a day, seven days a week via its Web site: http://college.holycross.edu/wchc.

Listeners are now able to tune into WCHC, including student-run music and talk radio shows and a number of Crusader Division I basketball and hockey games, outside the 15-mile radius broadcast coverage area.

Christian Santillo ’06, chief engineer and Webmaster, is excited about the development at the completely student-run radio station with the slogan "Worcester’s Only Alternative Source."

"A lot of people are now on the Internet at home and at work," he said. "Especially for alumni and friends who want to listen, it gives people two options to listen to the shows: on the radio in the local area or online anywhere in the world. WCHC is one of the few stations that plays unsigned bands. People that tune in like the unique music we play. They can’t hear that on many other stations."

The Web stream comes amidst a number of significant improvements to the radio station. A new transmitter, which replaced the last one which malfunctioned, has increased the clarity of the broadcast. "It now comes in rock-solid in the 15-mile radius," Santillo said.

Other enhancements that are expected to arrive spring semester include a new CD player, microphone processors, CD decks and a computer, which will help support the Web streaming. A new hip-hop studio, complete with a mixer for the turntables, will allow the station to play the urban music that so many disc jockeys are eager to spin. Another exciting development includes Web-based DJ reporting forms that will allow Web site visitors to view the titles and artists of the songs played on WCHC in real time.

"As DJs play the song, they’ll type it in and it’ll appear on the Web site and viewers will be able to see what artists are playing," he said.

Listeners to the Web stream will need the free RealPlayer software to access the feed.