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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Capital District |
| Frequency | 94.5MHz |
| Branding | K-Love |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian contemporary |
| Network | K-Love |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Educational Media Foundation |
| History | |
First air date | November1991 |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "K-Love" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 73929 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 100 meters (330 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
WYKV (94.5MHz) is a listener-supported, non-commercialChristian contemporary radio station licensed toRavena, New York, and serving theCapital District and upperHudson Valley of New York. The station is owned byEducational Media Foundation and broadcasts at 3,000 wattsERP from a location inSelkirk, New York. It is anowned-and-operated station (O&O) of EMF'sK-Love network.
The 94.5 frequency signed on as WRAV in November 1991 with aJones Radio Networks "Adult Choice" satellite-fedadult contemporary format which tried to target Albany's southern suburbs. WRAV struggled from the outset with no less than three rivals in Albany and, soon after signing on, arival in Catskill as well. As a result, the station struggled financially and was sold in November 1993 after nearly going dark; the new owners switched programming services to theSatellite Music Network "Hot AC" format and relaunched the station as WEMX (Mix 94.5). Though WEMX was better off financially, it still struggled in terms of ratings and revenue.
In June 1995,WKLI andWABY owner Paul Bendat bought WEMX and that August (after five weeks of syndicated talk shows andhot adult contemporary music) changed the station's format to a simulcast of theadult standards format heard on WABY. Initially, the station had various prior commitments on weekends to clear and was forced to sign off overnights due to a programming service conflict between WABY andWCKL in Catskill. In May 1996, the station was granted a call letter change to WABY-FM. From the outset, the simulcast was wildly successful with ratings often being among the top five stations (12+) in the Albany market. WKLI had always supported the WABY stations and although revenue at WABY improved, a misconception of the value of its audience due to poor sales staff never allowed it to reach its potential. A decline at WKLI coupled with the lure of money led to Bendat's days being numbered.
In February 1999, Bendat sold his stations to Tele-Media, Inc., which, that spring, replaced adult standards with satellite-fed soft gold from the ABC/SMN "Memories" network outside drivetimes (and flipped the AM side to news programming by day in April 1999). The station converted back to all-local programming after aChristmas music stunt in late 1999, as well as a flip tosoft adult contemporary, which came on December 26, 1999, with the reincarnation of theK-Lite format formerly on 100.9 FM, with the WKLI calls moving to 94.5. Given its signal impairments and fierce competition fromWYJB, WKLI's ratings fell to levels not seen in years and revenue barely improved compared to the standards format, though the station had some success withDelilah in the evening hours.
Tele-Media left the Albany market in August 2001, with WKLI and WABY being sold toSyracuse, New York–basedGalaxy Communications. The sale resulted in a format flip for WKLI to "Classic rock that Really Rocks", becoming WRCZ (94 Rock) (with formerWPYX morning hostBob Mason in mornings) on October 31, 2001.[2]
On January 4, 2006, WRCZ and WEGQ joined together in a format flip tomainstream rock as93.7/94.5 The Bone. At this time, WRCZ became WBOE, and WEGQ became WOOB. The station became home toNights with Alice Cooper andNASCARNEXTEL Cupmotorsports.J. R. Gach, a holdover from94 Rock, was the morning personality until August 2006.
On February 16, 2007, theBone format ended as the signal was cut off in the middle of "Ride the River" byEric Clapton, as Galaxy exited the Albany market after both stations were sold toEducational Media Foundation in a fire sale. The station became anO&O of theK-Love network, and took on the WYKV call letters on July 6, 2007, after four months under EMF ownership.
42°33′22″N73°52′05″W / 42.556°N 73.868°W /42.556; -73.868