All-Campus Radio Network (ACRN) Collection

In the late 1960s, multiple dormitory radio stations used the buildings' electrical wiring for broadcasting (carrier current) programming to Ohio University's East, West, and South greens. It was very inexpensive to install and operate. Eventually there were ten student-run green stations in all. Students were responsible for an idea which would link the dorm stations to a news network feed. In 1971, ACRN had its first broadcast to its network affiliates. By 1974, ACRN was broadcasting 24 hours a day. In that same year, ACRN linked with Continental Cable of Athens and expanded its listener base to the surrounding Athens area. In 1976, through the Ohio University Employees' Credit Union, ACRN received a loan to purchase updated equipment. According to ACRN's website (2012) "by pioneering stereo cable FM and being the first to adapt the industry standard Optimod FM (1978) to cable, ACRN made radio history".

Despite these advances, ACRN could rarely be heard on campus. This is not only because of the decline in the dorm station usage, but also the short-lived exposure broadcasting in the dining halls. Not wanting to lose a major listener base, ACRN proposed that Ohio University install cable in all the dorms, so that they could broadcast over Cable FM. After many years of pressuring and petitioning the university, OU agreed to install cable in all dormitories in 1995. ACRN used the CATVision University Cable System as a means of increasing their presence on campus.

However, due to rising costs and decreases in funding, ACRN could no longer utilize its Cable FM broadcasting system in 1998. In 1999, they switched to an online platform through their website ACRN.com. Currently (as of 2012), ACRN continues to broadcast 24 hours a day through their online web server.