Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM

What Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM does

Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM is an educational public radio station owned and operated by the Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) and headquartered on the UFSCar campus in São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil (Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235). The station has broadcast continuously since August 23, 2007, under a Ministry of Communications concession held by the FAI UFSCar institutional support foundation. It transmits 24 hours per day on 95.3 MHz FM at 500W (prefix ZYU 757), covering São Carlos and the surrounding region, and operates a parallel worldwide internet streaming service at radio.ufscar.br together with on-demand podcast distribution. The platform is notable as the first Brazilian radio to run 100% on free/open-source software — Ardour for audio production and Rivendell for broadcast automation — which removes licensing cost and defines an unusual technical identity for a community broadcaster.

Its programming combines in-house productions, coproductions with the UFSCar academic community, and independently produced shows selected through an annual open public call (Chamada Pública). The current slate comprises roughly 50 programs across formats: news bulletins (Notícias Rádio UFSCar, airing at 8h, 10h30, 13h30, 17h30), interview and culture shows (Estação 953, Polifonia, Subtexto), music programs (Banquete de Hits, Hora Extra, Vozes Negras, Rap Du Bom, Digestivo Reggae), sports (Hora do Esporte), and the multi-series science communication column Fala Cientista. An annual independent artist selection process maintains a rotation library of more than 90 artists, and the broader catalog includes themed specials on topics ranging from astronomy and geo-diversity to racial literacy, queer culture, and food security.

The business model is non-commercial public service. Rádio UFSCar does not charge listeners or program participants, does not sell advertising, and discloses no commercial revenue stream. Operating costs are absorbed within the federal university system via FAI UFSCar. Distribution relies on linear FM, web streaming, podcast aggregators, WhatsApp listener engagement, and a content-marketing blog. Strategic content partnerships include UFSCar's Social Communication Office (CCS), Institute of Scientific Culture (ICC), and Extension Office (ProEx), as well as inter-university alliances with Rádio USP, Rádio UNESP, Rádio UNICAMP, and content-sharing with Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) and a broader federal-university network anchored at UFSCar for national emergency broadcasts.

Name

Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM

Legal name

Fundação de Apoio Institucional ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Website

https://radio.ufscar.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM is a non-commercial educational radio station operated by the Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil, broadcasting 24/7 to São Carlos and globally online, with 50+ programs spanning news, science, culture, and independent music.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Local Radio Stations (MPABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)

Keywords

• Educational radio broadcasting
• Public university radio
• Community radio programming
• Science communication media
• Independent music promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

São Carlos

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public University Funding: The radio is operated as a public university broadcaster, funded through the Fundação de Apoio Institucional ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FAI UFSCar), which holds the broadcast concession from the Ministry of Communications. No commercial revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM is a public educational radio station that produces and broadcasts educational, cultural, musical, and journalistic content via FM radio (95.3 MHz, 500W, 24/7) and worldwide internet streaming. Its portfolio includes approximately 50 programs (news bulletins, interview shows, music selections, science columns, and culture programs) produced in-house, in coproduction with the UFSCar community, or independently by external producers selected through an annual public call (Chamada Pública). The station also operates an on-demand podcast platform and an independent artist music selection program.

Product overview

Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM is an educational radio station operated by the Universidade Federal de São Carlos via its institutional support foundation FAI UFSCar. The station operates as a unified offering combining FM broadcast (95.3 MHz, 500W, 24/7) and internet streaming, with a portfolio of approximately 50 programs including in-house productions (Notícias Rádio UFSCar, Estação 953, Banquete de Hits, Polifonia, Hora do Esporte), the multi-series Fala Cientista science communication column, coproductions with the university community via its annual Chamada Pública process, and independently produced programs selected through public calls. The station also offers an on-demand podcast platform and an annual independent artist music selection program. All production and transmission operates 100% on open-source software. The station is a concession of Brazil's Ministry of Communications held by FAI UFSCar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rádio UFSCar FM Broadcast Educational FM radio broadcast at 95.3 MHz with 500W power (prefix ZYU 757), serving São Carlos and surrounding region in São Paulo, Brazil, broadcasting 24 hours daily, 7 days a week, with programming focused on education, culture, music, news, and science.
• Rádio UFSCar Internet Streaming Live internet audio streaming available worldwide via the station website www.radio.ufscar.br, complementing the FM broadcast for global audience reach and providing 24/7 access to Rádio UFSCar's programming.
• Rádio UFSCar Podcast Platform On-demand podcast section offering Programs da Casa (in-house productions), Coproduzidos (co-produced with UFSCar community), and Fala Cientista column episodes available anytime via the station website and content aggregators. Includes 480+ episodes covering science, UFSCar research, public health, environment, technology, and social issues.
• Chamada Pública de Programação (Public Call for Programming) Annual public call service enabling community members (UFSCar affiliates and independent producers aged 18+) to submit radio program proposals for the station's annual schedule. Programs are selected through a jury commission based on originality, production capacity, and social relevance, and can be produced independently or in coproduction with the radio's team.
• Independent Artist Selection Program Annual selection service for independent musicians and bands to have their music aired on the station, promoting at least one song per hour to showcase local, regional, and national independent artists, with 90+ artists currently in rotation.
• Notícias Rádio UFSCar (News Bulletins) Daily news bulletins airing Monday to Friday at 8h, 10h30, 13h30, and 17h30, covering principal news from Brazil and the world, with a second edition and specialized science, education, technology, and health reporting for the São Carlos region and broader audience.
• Estação 953 (Daily Interview Program) Daily interview program airing Monday through Friday at 11h30 featuring specialists discussing topics impacting daily society life, with coverage of health, science, UFSCar research, and public interest subjects. Available as a podcast with over 480 episodes.
• Fala Cientista (Science Communication Column) Science communication column featuring multiple themed editions including Por Dentro da Ciência, A Química Nossa de Cada Dia, Decisão de Valor, Direito ao Ponto, Inovação Social e Sustentabilidade, and others, with researchers from UFSCar and partner institutions as guests.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44 proposals received, 24 programs selected in 2025 Chamada Pública
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidades Federais em Rede (UFFS, UFCSPA, UFSM, UFRGS, Unipampa, FURG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2024Partnership with federal universities across Brazil for the 'Comunicação Universitária em Rede - Emergência Climática Rio Grande do Sul' project. The program was anchored from UFSCar studios and broadcast nationally via public radio network.
• FAI UFSCar (Fundação de Apoio Institucional ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAI UFSCar is the institutional foundation that holds the broadcast concession from the Ministry of Communications and manages the radio station operations. The foundation provides administrative, financial, and operational support for the radio.
• Coordenadoria de Comunicação Social (CCS) da UFSCarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Social Communication Office collaborates on content production, journalism coordination, and institutional communication support for the radio.
• Instituto da Cultura Científica (ICC) da UFSCarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute of Scientific Culture coordinates scientific dissemination content and participates in the Fala Cientista column and other science programming.
• Pró-Reitoria de Extensão (ProEx) da UFSCarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Extension Office participates in program selection committees and supports community engagement initiatives.
• Rádio USP FM, Rádio UNESP FM, Rádio UNICAMPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with other university radio stations in São Paulo for content sharing and collaborative broadcasting initiatives. The first meeting of partner university radios took place at UFSCar in April 2023.
• Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for public broadcasting content sharing and distribution across Brazil's public media network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rádio UNESP FM: University radio operated by São Paulo State University (UNESP). Closely comparable as another state public university broadcaster and named collaborator in the same SP university radio partnership group as UFSCar.
• Rádio USP FM: University radio station operated by the University of São Paulo (USP), broadcasting on 93.7 MHz. Directly comparable to Rádio UFSCar as a São Paulo state public university radio with similar non-commercial educational mission, and listed as an explicit partnership peer.
• WFMU: Long-running free-form, listener-supported community radio station in the US. Comparable as a non-commercial independent music and community broadcasting outlet with similar grassroots programming ethos.
• UFRGS Rádio: Federal university radio of UFRGS in Rio Grande do Sul. Comparable as a federal university broadcaster and explicit UFSCar collaborator on the national 'Comunicação Universitária em Rede' emergency coverage project.
• Rádio UFMG: Federal university radio operated by the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Comparable as a federal university broadcaster with similar non-commercial educational programming mandate and Brazilian public broadcasting context.
• KEXP: Seattle-based community radio station globally recognized for championing independent music and operating with a free-form, non-commercial programming philosophy similar to UFSCar's independent artist platform.
• Rádio UNICAMP: University radio operated by the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Comparable as a third SP public university broadcaster and named collaborator in the same partnership group as UFSCar and USP.

Broad incumbents

• NPR: US public radio network. Comparable in mission and editorial positioning as a non-commercial, educational, public-interest broadcaster, though operating at vastly larger scale as a national network rather than a single university station.
• Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC): Brazil's state-owned public broadcaster, operator of TV Brasil and national radio networks. Comparable as the larger public broadcasting ecosystem in which UFSCar participates as a content partner, though EBC operates at national scale.

Emerging players

• Pública - Central Pública de Notícias: Brazilian public-interest journalism network. Comparable as a non-commercial, education- and public-service-oriented media outlet operating within Brazil's public communication ecosystem alongside university broadcasters like UFSCar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/escutediferente
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/radioufscar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rádio UFSCar 95,3 FM