 | |
| Broadcast area | Lexington Metro area Central Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 98.1 The Bull |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Subchannels | HD2: 98.5 Icons (Classic country) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WKQQ,WLAP,WLKT,WMXL,WWTF | |
| History | |
First air date | July 15, 1969 (1969-7-15) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Bull" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 70192 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 171 meters (561 ft) |
| Translator(s) | HD2: 98.5 W253BK (Winchester) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) |
| Website | wbul.iheart.com 981thebullicons.iheart.com (HD2) |
WBUL-FM (98.1MHz) is one of fourcountry musicradio stations serving theLexington, Kentucky radio market. The station broadcasts with anERP of 100,000watts, with a nearly 100-mile broadcasting radius. The station is heard as far south asLondon, as far east asGrayson, as far north asCincinnati and as far west asLouisville.iHeartMedia, Inc. currently owns the station. WBUL-FM was the third station to begin broadcastingHD Radio in Lexington afterWUKY andWKQQ.[2]
The station serves as the FM flagship of theUK Sports Network, airingKentucky Wildcats football and men's basketball to make up for shortfalls in coverage by AM flagship and sister stationWLAP.
On April 19, 1966, theFederal Communications Commission issued a construction permit toWLEX-TV, Inc., to build a new FM radio station in Lexington. WLEX-FM began broadcasting July 15, 1969,[3] as a stereo rock music station reliant on automated taped programming. After five years of operation, the television station opted to sell the FM outlet owing to persistent equipment issues. It was purchased by Village Communications, which simultaneously acquiredWBLG (1300 AM), and was relaunched with a new rock format as WKQQ on December 1, 1974.[4][5]: 153–154, 295 In 1979, Village sold off WBLG—which had been less successful for the company than WKQQ[6]—to raise capital for cable television ventures, and the station upgraded in power from 50,000 to 100,000 watts.[7] At this time, the station began a run of success in the Lexington market. It posted double-digit ratings shares in every year from 1978 to 1995, including number one ratings in 1979 and 1981.[8] For most of this time, from 1983 to 1996, Dave "Kruser" Klusenhaus hosted mornings.[9]
As radio ownership rules were deregulated in the 1990s, Village began expanding its holdings in Lexington area by buyingGeorgetown'sWTKT (103.3 FM) andWBBE (1580 AM).[10] The three Village stations were then sold in 1996 toJacor Communications ofCincinnati.[11]
In 1998, Jacor effectuated a format swap between two of its stations. WKQQ's call sign and programming moved tothe former WWYC at 100.1 MHz. In exchange, WWYC's country format moved to 98.1 as part of a substantial relaunch, which local Jacor management noted could not occur without the frequency change. The stationstunted by playing onlyGarth Brooks songs and became country-formatted WBUL.[12]
38°02′06″N84°27′00″W / 38.035°N 84.450°W /38.035; -84.450