WUFT-FM is an NPR member radio station owned by the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, broadcasting news and public media programming from NPR along with other distributors including PRI, APM, PRX and WNYC Studios. UF has been involved in broadcasting for almost nine decades. It owns WRUF, one of the oldest radio stations in the state and sister television station WUFT-TV was the first public television station in the state outside Miami. Despite this pioneering role, UF was a relative latecomer to public radio. WUFT-FM didn't sign on until 1981, bringing NPR programming to one of the few areas of the state still without any public radio at all. For most of its history, WUFT-FM aired a mix of classical music and NPR news programming. On August 3, 2009, WUFT-FM's programming was switched to mostly news and public affairs, while classical music was moved to WUFT-FM's HD2 digital subchannel. Since 1995, WUFT-FM has also operated WJUF 90.1 FM, licensed to Inverness as a full-time repeater. For years, it was known as Nature Coast 90, but in 2010 re-branded as Florida's 89.1 along with its parent station. In August 2018, the station was rebranded once again to WUFT 89.1/90.1 to reflect the WJUF frequency. WUFT-FM broadcasts with 100,000 watts of effective radiated power and reaches the following counties in north-central Florida: Alachua, Union, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Clay, Columbia, Lafayette and Dixie. WJUF broadcasts with 20,000 watts of effective radiated power and reaches Sumter, Hernando, Citrus and Pasco counties. WUFT-FM broadcasts one live weekly call-in show: Animal Airwaves - Live, hosted by Dana Hill, who interviews veterinarians from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Previous talk programs include Connor Calling with Hank Connor and Sikorski's Attic, hosted by antique expert John Sikorski, who answered listeners' questions about antiques and vintage collectibles. WUFT also has two locally-produced weekly music programs: the soul/R&B-focused Soul Circuit with Margi Hatch on Saturday nights and the classical music-focused Encore! with Dana Hill on Sunday nights.
WUFT-FM also broadcasts in HD. WUFT-FM HD1 simulcasts the analog signal.
WUFT-FM HD2
WUFT-FM broadcasts a classical music format on its 89.1 HD2 channel called WUFT Classic. Programming includes syndicated concerts, the Met's Saturday matinee broadcasts and a locally-produced weekday afternoon program featuring full-length symphonies called Magnum Opus, hosted by long-time WUFT host, Richard Drake. WUFT Classic also includes late-night jazz on Friday and Saturday nights from PRI. Besides being available on 89.1 HD2, WUFT Classic is also broadcast in Gainesville proper on a low-power FM translator, W274BT at 102.7 FM and on WJUF's second digital sub-channel at 90.1 HD2.
WUFT-FM HD3
WUFT-FM broadcasts a student-run Top 40 music format on its 89.1 HD3 channel called GHQ, which also broadcasts in Gainesville proper on a low-power FM translator, W237EJ at 95.3 FM. However, this station is not available on WJUF. Previously, the HD3 sub-channel broadcast a Latin Top 40 music Spanish language format called "Ritmo Latino". Before that, it aired "WUFT Ahora" with Spanish language news programming from Radio Netherlands Worldwide. In addition to regular music, the station airs specialty shows on weekends, ranging from Latin and hip-hop to EDM.
Newscasts
WUFT presents weekday hourly news updates produced and anchored by broadcasting students at the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Additional local newscasts can be heard during NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
