Washington State University Radio and Television Services Records, 1946-1994

The campus radio station at Washington State University began operations in the early 1920s. In about 1950, it instituted a "tape network," locally produced programs which were distributed on recording tape to commercial and non-commercial broadcasters in the state. About 1954, the facility extended to include a television studio for closed circuit work, and in the early 1960s extended its effort to broadcast television. In the 1970s, a merger combined the campus station with a similar facility at the University of Idaho. A few years later, translator stations were established throughout parts of the Washington, and in adjacent Idaho and Oregon. This network of stations took the name Northwest Public Radio. A second television station at Pasco-Kennewick-Richland -- KTNW -- created a parallel arrangement for television.

Programming for these radio and television stations has long been a mix of local programming and programming acquired from the various public broadcasting networks and program distribution services.