improving the coverage area. WTBS continued to operate the carrier-current system to the dormitories on 640 kHz, with an identical program, except for commercial breaks on the AM side, during which the noncommercial FM station filled time with public-service announcements, and, later, parody "ads" for fictitious products such as "Apple Gunkies" and firms such as "Nocturnal Aviation". The carrier current transmission was discontinued in the early 1970s. The all-request "Nite Owl" was a popular weekend feature, and a "Waveform of the Week" was broadcast for the enjoyment of MIT students watching the program on oscilloscopes. Since the station allowed a certain amount of non-students to conduct shows, WTBS was able to tap into the vibrant music and arts community in the Cambridge-Boston area and was acknowledged as the metropolitan area's most eclectic station of the era, featuring jazz, folk music, rhythm and blues, classical music and among the first programs featuring the emerging "underground rock" music in the 1960s and the cutting edge, "new wave" music in the 1970s. In 1978, Ted Turner, then operator of WTCG in Atlanta, Georgia, wanted to use the call letters "WTBS" (for Turner Broadcasting System). Although call letters are not technically for sale, Turner and WTBS worked out a stratagem whereby Turner gave a $25,000 donation to WTBS with an agreement that WTBS would apply for new call letters, with a second donation of $25,000 promised if the FCC were to subsequently grant the letters "WTBS" to Turner. All went as planned, WTBS used the donation for new transmitter equipment, and on November 10, 1979, the station signed on as WMBR with 200 watts of power, later increased to 720 watts. (The Atlanta station has since changed its call letters to WPCH-TV.) References Further reading "The Boston Radio Dial: WMBR(FM)" - information and history of WMBR External links Official WMBR website WMBR Program Schedule Track-blaster - WMBR's searchable playlist database Late Risers Club website Late Risers Club documentary website MBR Massachusetts Institute of Technology Radio stations established in 1961 Cambridge, Massachusetts Mass media in Middlesex County, Massachusetts 1961 establishments in Massachusetts