KTSC-FM 89.5 is the student-operated radio station of Colorado State University Pueblo and one of Southern Colorado’s longest-running educational FM outlets.
The station received its FCC license in October 1970. In its earliest years KTSC functioned largely as a media laboratory with eclectic block programming that mixed jazz, rock, classical music and blues. The 1980s brought more contemporary music along with experiments in public affairs, news, sports and talk.
By the early 1990s the station was moving toward album-oriented and alternative rock. On July 4, 1995, KTSC adopted the name The Revolution — Rev 89, becoming southeastern Colorado’s first modern-rock station. The university says that within six months it was reaching more than 12,000 listeners in a city of roughly 120,000.
Rev 89 later moved through Top 40, rhythmic and CHR variations. In the early 2000s it became a major Pueblo ratings success; university and Radio World histories report that it reached No. 1 in the market in 2003. The station has also received national and regional college-media recognition.
Through every format shift, KTSC-FM has remained an educational training ground for students entering broadcasting, production and media careers.
Current era
On August 11, 2026, CSU Pueblo Athletics named REV 89.5 the flagship radio home of ThunderWolf athletics for the 2026–27 school year. The station carries every CSU Pueblo football game, men’s and women’s basketball games and the weekly Pack Football Coaches Show, expanding its role as both a student training operation and a local sports broadcaster.
Sources: Colorado State University Pueblo, “CSU-Pueblo Celebrates 20 years of The Revolution” (2015); Radio World, “CSU-Pueblo’s KTSC 89.5 Rebuilds” (2011); FCC records.
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KTSC-FM History
Southern Colorado State College educational broadcasting application granted
Southern Colorado State College's long-running effort to create educational broadcasting advanced when its amended television application was granted June 26. The college's surviving archives contain planning and communications records dating to the early 1960s; its FM station would finally begin broadcasting in October 1970.
KTSC-FM begins continuous operation on 89.5
The educational FM station at Southern Colorado State College began continuous operation on 89.5 MHz, beginning the lineage of today's Rev 89. A later account by longtime faculty adviser Sam Lovato describes the original facility as a 10-watt experiment. Early programming functioned largely as a media laboratory, with eclectic blocks of jazz, rock, classical and blues rather than a single commercial-style format.
Jack Jennings works at KTSC
A 1973 Colorado Springs radio directory's career history for Jack Jennings lists KTSC in 1970, providing contemporary evidence of early on-air personnel at the new college FM station.
KTSC-FM begins broadcasting
The educational FM station at what was then Southern Colorado State College began continuous operation on 89.5 MHz. Later station history describes the original facility as a 10-watt experiment and an educational media laboratory with eclectic block programming.
Jim Sipes works at KTSC
A 1973 Colorado Springs radio directory's career history for Jim Sipes lists KTSC in 1971, adding a documented name to the station's otherwise sparsely preserved early personnel history.
KTSC-FM seeks major federal signal-expansion grant
The University of Southern Colorado's proposal to expand KTSC-FM's public-broadcasting signal to more residents of Southeastern Colorado was deemed acceptable for federal consideration. The project was estimated at $182,900 and requested $137,175 in grant funding. University president Richard Pesqueira signed the application, documenting a major effort to grow the station beyond its original low-power educational operation.
Kevin Lockhart works at KTSC-FM
Kevin Lockhart's professional biography documents four years at KTSC-FM while attending the University of Southern Colorado. He worked on-air as a DJ and talk-show host and served as assistant station manager, placing him at the station during its early-1990s AOR/alternative evolution and through the July 1995 creation of the Rev 89 identity.
KOAA and KTSC propose Pueblo television channel exchange
Sangre de Cristo Communications, licensee of commercial KOAA-TV Channel 5, and the University of Southern Colorado, licensee of educational KTSC-TV Channel 8, jointly proposed exchanging their Pueblo channel assignments. The FCC opened MM Docket 93-191. Competing Colorado Springs interests including KKTV and Pikes Peak Broadcasting opposed the proposal, beginning a regulatory fight that ultimately reached federal court.
KTSC-FM launches “The Revolution / Rev 89”
KTSC-FM adopted “The Revolution / Rev 89” identity and a modern-rock format. CSU-Pueblo's later station history calls it Southeastern Colorado's first modern-rock station and says this was the first time in KTSC's 25-year history that the station used an actual name rather than simply call letters and frequency. The university retrospective describes a rapid early-1990s evolution toward U2, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana.
The Revolution / Rev 89 launches
KTSC-FM adopted “The Revolution / Rev 89” identity and modern-rock programming. University history identifies July 4, 1995 as the launch date and describes it as Southeastern Colorado's first modern-rock station.
Sam Lovato documented with Rev 89 heavy-music programming
CMJ's contemporary loud-rock reporting listed Sam Lovato as the KTSC contact. A June playlist included Metallica, Sepultura, Pantera, Rage Against the Machine, Ministry, Bad Religion, Gravity Kills and Skinny Puppy, documenting the harder musical edge of Rev 89's first full year after adopting The Revolution identity.
2003: Dan Hardee starts on-air at KTSC-FM / Rev 89
October 2003 — Dan Hardee began on-air at KTSC-FM / Rev 89 at Colorado State University–Pueblo, working the 3–6 a.m. shift.
2004: Dan Hardee becomes KTSC-FM Production Director
2004 — Dan Hardee became Production Director at KTSC-FM / Rev 89 at Colorado State University–Pueblo.
2005: Dan Hardee becomes KTSC-FM Student Station Manager
2005 — Dan Hardee became Student Station Manager of KTSC-FM / Rev 89 at Colorado State University–Pueblo.
2006: Dan Hardee leaves KTSC-FM after graduation
May 2006 — Dan Hardee left KTSC-FM / Rev 89 upon graduating from Colorado State University–Pueblo, ending a run that began on-air in October 2003 and included Production Director and Student Station Manager duties.
REV 89.5 becomes flagship radio home of CSU Pueblo athletics
CSU Pueblo Athletics named KTSC-FM REV 89.5 the flagship radio home of ThunderWolf athletics for the 2026–27 school year. The student-operated station began carrying every CSU Pueblo football game, men’s and women’s basketball games, and the weekly Pack Football Coaches Show. The partnership followed Fox Sports Pueblo 1350’s decision not to renew its previous agreement with the university.
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