KRVS

KRVS (88.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a World Ethnic format. Licensed to Lafayette, Louisiana; it is currently owned by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and features programing from American Public Media, National Public Radio and Public Radio International.

Programming covers various types of music of Louisiana such as Cajun music, zydeco, blues, jazz, swamp pop, swamp rock and other Louisiana singer/ songwriter music. KRVS also broadcasts the annual Festival International de Louisiane.

The station began broadcasting in 1963 with a power of 10 watts and a coverage area of about six city blocks. KRVS's call letters have a dual meaning, as they stand for Radio Voice of Southwestern (UL's name at the time the station signed on was the University of Southwestern Louisiana), but also are mnemonic for the Cajun French word ecrivisse, which means crawfish. Originally a college radio station, it joined NPR in the mid-1970s.

Today the station serves roles as regional public radio and an international online resource. KRVS broadcasts at 100,000 watts providing service to 651,000 residents in 12 parishes across southern Louisiana, an area referred to as Acadiana. KRVS programs also are available on the Internet.

KRVS once operated a translator at 90.5 FM in Lake Charles, but it was shut down after American Family Radio opened a full-power station at nearby 90.3 FM. FCC rules allow a full-power station to force any adjacent translators to shut down. KRVS moved its transmitter 30 miles to the west so Lake Charles would not lose access to NPR programming.