 | |
| Broadcast area | Montgomery, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Kiss-FM 96.1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Subchannels | HD2: Yo! 100.5 (Classic hip-hop) HD3: 107.1 The Vault (Classic rock) HD4: 103.9 The Possum (Classic country) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WACV,WGMP,WBAM-FM,WJWZ | |
| History | |
First air date | 1990 (as WLNE-FM) |
Former call signs | WLNE-FM (1990–1995) WRWO (1995–1999)[1] |
Call sign meaning | Works for both former branding (Q) and current branding (KiSs) |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 43628 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 900watts |
| HAAT | 250 meters (820 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°22′03″N86°15′42″W / 32.36750°N 86.26167°W /32.36750; -86.26167 |
| Translator(s) | HD2: 100.5 W263BX (Montgomery) HD3: 107.1 W296AI (Montgomery) HD4: 103.9 W280EI (Montgomery) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) Listen Live (HD3) Listen Live (HD4) |
| Website | kiss961.com yomontgomery.com (HD2) thevault1071.com (HD3) 1039thepossum.com (HD4) |
WQKS-FM (96.1MHz), also known asKiss-FM 96.1, is a United Statesadult contemporary formattedradio station that serves theMontgomery Metropolitan Area, licensed toMontgomery, Alabama. The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. The station'stransmitter is located in Montgomery. The station's studios are located on Wall St. in Midtown Montgomery.
WQKS-FM also participates in Montgomery rating survey byNielsen Audio (Market #157).
WQKS-FM broadcasts anadult contemporary music format and features news and weather updates from CBS 8WAKA, national news updates fromFox News Radio, and traffic fromMontgomery Skywatch Traffic.
On August 17, 2011 WQKS-HD2 launched asoft AC format, branded as "Lite 100.5", using the frequency of FM translatorW263BX in its branding. On December 26, 2014, 100.5/96.1 HD2 flipped to classic hip hop, with the old format and name of 107.1/96.1 HD, as "Yo! 100.5".
On August 17, 2011 WQKS-HD3 launched a classichip hop format branded as "Yo! 107.1", using the frequency of FM translatorW296AI in its branding. On September 25, 2013, the station changed formats toalbum oriented rock as "107.1 The Vault". On September 17, 2015 the station flipped to Top 40/CHR as "Hits 107.1". On August 9, 2017 the station flipped back to classic rock, branded as "107.1 The Vault".[3]
On June 5, 2013 WQKS-HD4 launched aclassic country format branded as "103.9 The Possum", using the frequency of FM translatorW280EI in its branding.[4]
WQKS-FM has featured several sets of call letters and various formats over the past two decades. This station received its originalconstruction permit from theFederal Communications Commission on December 4,1990.[5] The new station was assigned the call lettersWLNE-FM by the FCC on December 21, 1990.[1] WLNE-FM received itslicense to cover from the FCC on February 1, 1991.[6]
From its origins in the early 1990s, the station was created and owned by Al Stroh and the now-defunct Montgomery Broadcast Properties.[6] This frequency began as WLNE-FM ("We're Light N Easy") with beautiful music and standards in 1991. Later, 96.1 moved towards Lite AC as "Lite FM 96".
In March 1995, the station switched to the popular "Arrow" (All Rock and Roll Oldies) format and changed the calls toWRWO.[1] The station dropped oldies in 1997 and became known as "Kiss 96" with an urban contemporary format. The station debuted another new format in late 1998, this time all 1980s music with the slogan "The 80's Channel, Kiss 96.1". In June 1999, the call letters officially changed toWQKS-FM to match the "Kiss" branding.[1]
WQKS-FM made yet another format tweak in early 2000 into "Rockin' hits of the 80's, 90's and 70's" with the slogan "Alice 96.1". Alice was a successful station for most of its eight years, particularly on weekends with its popular "Alice Shuffle" format—the musical predecessor of Q 96.1.
On August 26, 2008 WQKS-FM dropped its rockin' hits format for oldies, adopting the moniker "Q 96.1".
On July 2, 2010 WQKS-FM shifted their format from oldies to classic hits.
On March 9, 2016 WQKS-FM flipped to AC as "Kiss-FM 96.1".
In March 2004, Montgomery Broadcast Properties Ltd. (Allan Stroh, CEO) reached an agreement to sell this station to Bluewater Broadcasting LLC.[7] The sale was part of a four-station deal valued at a reported $15.3 million.[7] The deal was approved by the FCC on April 21, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on June 21, 2004.[8] At the time of the sale, WQKS-FM was broadcasting aclassic hits music format.[7]
WQKS broadcasts in HD with a 2.5kWNautel transmitter into an Dielectric DCRM-2 non-directional antenna. The antenna is multi-station capable and also broadcasts FM translators W285AJ, W280EI and W263BX.
WQKS-FM'sHD Radio subchannels are transmitted by individualbroadcast translator stations in analog format, which also provide their numerical branding.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W263BX | 100.5 FM | Montgomery, Alabama | 85917 | 80 | D | LMS |
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W280EI | 103.9 FM | Montgomery, Alabama | 150858 | 250 | D | LMS |
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W296AI | 107.1 FM | Montgomery, Alabama | 33501 | 99 | D | LMS |