“Anyone who works here is just obsessed and in love with WKNC. That is something that has not changed. That is our tradition — an undying, unwavering love for college radio.”
– General Manager Emily Ehling, as published in the Nov. 3, 2016 Technician
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Student Media IT Manager Doug Flowers shows General Manager Emily Ehling pieces of the WKNC antenna on the roof of D.H. Hill Library. WKNC reconfigured its antenna pattern in June 2016 to reach further southeast toward Goldsboro and Wilmington. Photo by Jamie Lynn Gilbert.
In 2016, WKNC reconfigured its antenna pattern to increase its signal coverage further south and east to include another 24,000 potential listeners. WKNC also expanded its non-indie rock programming, giving more hours to Underground and Afterhours to better balance the radio’s primary formats.38 To celebrate its 50th anniversary as an FM radio station, WKNC launched its HD-1 channel on Oct. 9, 2016. The station continued to upgrade its equipment, converting one of its production studios to a second on-air studio and launching WKNC HD-2 on January 9, 2019. WKNC’s HD-3 signal, leased to Wolfbytes Radio, went on air on May 3, 2019.
By the end of 2019, WKNC had completed a seven-year, $288,000 upgrade that also included creating a climate-controlled space to house WKNC’s transmitter and renovation of the station’s three studio spaces.
In March 2020, like many other college students across the country, WKNC DJs went home for spring break and didn’t come back. The global COVID-19 pandemic closed Witherspoon Student Center to non-essential personnel for months. A handful of DJs continue to produce pre-recorded programming remotely, while others pivoted to sharing Spotify playlists in lieu of air shifts. Staff worked from home reviewing new music, creating podcasts and writing blogs. DJs returned to the station in early July with strict safety guidelines39. Fall 2020 and spring 2021 training classes took place on Zoom, with in-studio training components.
To celebrate World College Radio Day on Oct. 1, 2021, WKNC hosted a 24-hour live broadcast that included 24 one-hour DJ sets on WKNC’s HD-1 channel, 16 hours of live DJs on WKNC HD-2 and a 24-hour YouTube live stream. The highlight of the day was a special guest appearance by NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson.
Fall 2022 brought about WKNC’s Local Lunch Live, a partnership with NC State’s Visit Centennial Campus to showcase student performers. The six-week series takes place in the fall and spring semesters at The Corner, an outdoor venue on the corner of Main Campus and Research Drives. And in March 2023, WKNC made its triumphant return to Shack-a-Thon, raising more than $1,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Wake County.
38. Crabtree, Kelly. (2016, Nov. 3). “WKNC celebrates 50th anniversary, switches to HD.” Technician.
39. Dunlow, Austin. (2020, July 8). “WKNC to begin reopening with emphasis on staff safety.” Technician.