 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Frequency | 96.3MHz |
| Branding | 96.3 XKE |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Affiliations | United Stations Radio Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WBTU,WJFX,WWFW | |
| History | |
First air date | April 1994 (1994-4) (as WKQM) |
Former call signs |
|
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 22287 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 6,700watts |
| HAAT | 169 meters (554 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | 963xke |
WXKE (96.3FM) is aradio station licensed toChurubusco, Indiana and serving the nearbyFort Wayne, Indiana area. The station airs aclassic rockformat.
The station began operations as WKQM in April 1994, featuring aneasy listening/adult standards music format. In September 1995, WKQM changed its format tomodern rock and adopted the moniker "The Edge". with new call sign WEJE. "The Edge" was consulted by noted rock radio consultant Fred Jacobs, but after Jacobs Media and WEJE parted ways in January 1998, WEJE rebranded as "Extreme 96.3".
In March 2001, the "Extreme" format and WEJE call sign moved to 102.3 FM inAuburn, Indiana (nowWGBJ), and on March 12, 2001, 96.3 debuted a newcountry music format as WWWD, originally tagged "Big Red Country" but then changed to "Red Hot Country" afterArtistic Media Partners notified 96.3's then-owner, Frank Kovas, that the name "Big Red Country" was already service-marked for their station inEllettsville.
On March 1, 2002, following Kovas' sale of his stations to Travis Broadcasting Corporation the previous December, "Red Hot Country" was blown up in favor of WHTD "Hits 96", aCHR/Pop station. On April 5, 2004, afterstunting with "Wild Thing" byTone Loc for a day, 96.3 flipped to anurban-leaning Rhythmic CHR format, branded as "Wild 96.3", and changed its call sign to WNHT. The station was purchased by Summit City Radio Group in July 2004.
In March 2014, Adams Radio Group entered an agreement to purchase Summit City's cluster (which includes WNHT). Days later, Adams announced they would purchase Oasis Radio Group's stations. To meet ownership limits, Adams will retain WNHT,WGL andWXKE, as well as acquiring Oasis Radio Group'sWJFX andWBTU, while selling offWHPP to Fort Wayne Catholic Radio, and sellingWGL-FM to Calvary Radio Network.WLYV and two translators (on 96.9 FM and 103.3 FM) will also be acquired by Adams. The purchase, at a price of $6.4 million, was consummated on June 2, 2014. As a result, Adams plans on massive format restructuring. WNHT's entire airstaff were released on May 30, leading to rumors of a format change. On June 2, Adams announced that WXKE will move to the stronger 96.3 signal on June 11. At first, WNHT's format was speculated to move to the 96.9 FM translator, but on June 5, the station announced via Facebook that its format will be merged into WJFX, a top 40 station that had previously been formatted as urban contemporary and rhythmic contemporary. On June 13, 2014, the station took on the WXKE call sign.
Effective June 9, 2023, Adams Radio Group's portfolio of eighteen stations and translators, including WXKE, was sold for $12.6 million.
41°06′13″N85°10′44″W / 41.1037°N 85.1789°W /41.1037; -85.1789