KWTO-FM

KWTO-FM "98.7 the Dove" is a radio station licensed to Springfield, Missouri, United States broadcasting a soft rock format. The station was most recently a sports talk format known as "JOCK 98.7 ESPN." This format moved to KWTO-FM's sister stations KBFL (AM) and KBFL-FM (1060 AM/96.9 FM/99.9 FM) on July 30, 2020 as part of the purchase of the Meyer Communications owned stations (which also includes KWTO (AM) and KTXR) by Zimmer Midwest Communications.

KWTO-FM
CitySpringfield, Missouri
Broadcast areaSpringfield, Missouri
Frequency98.7 MHz
Branding98.7 the Dove
SloganLite Rock Favorites
Programming
FormatSoft rock
Ownership
OwnerZimmer Midwest Communications
History
First air dateNovember 1972
Call sign meaningF.M. station of KWTO.
Technical information
Facility ID35901
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT168 meters (551 ft)
Transmitter coordinates37°04′06″N 93°18′31″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website987thedove.com

History

KWTO-FM went on the air in November 1972 at 98.7 FM with a rock format and was known as "Rock 99." This format lasted well into the 1980s until rival station KXUS went on the air in April 1985 with a similar format. Rock 99 was originally an automated music format utilizing the TM Stereo Rock format based from Dallas, TX. Several FM radio stations used this format during the 1970s into the 1980s. These stations had the same announcer and same call letter type music jingles. One example, WIBW-FM 97.3 in Topeka, KS was Rock 97 and sounded just like KWTO-FM Rock 99. That was a great automated music format without the talkative DJ's, it was rock, pop, oldies, and some album cuts. The on-air format basically went like this: Two new songs followed by two older songs then commercial break (usually four commercials) then call letter jingle and back to the music.

In March 1987, the station adopted a more Top-40 format and became "99 Hit FM." This format was changed again in 1991 to a soft-rock format, the call letters were changed to KKHT and the slogan became "The Heart - 98.7 FM." In 1993, the station returned to its classic rock roots with the moniker "98.7 FM Rock 99" and changed the call letters back to KWTO-FM.

In 2001, the station adopted an all-sports format and became known as "The JOCK, 98.7 FM." The station became an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio but also carried The Jim Rome Show from CBS Sports Radio daily.[1]

On October 23, 2014, it was announced that KWTO-FM would drop Fox Sports Radio and affiliate with ESPN Radio effective January 1, 2015. On the same date, Fox Sports Radio moved to KGMY, which was the previous ESPN Radio affiliate for Springfield.

On July 24, 2020, on air personality Art Hains announced that the group of Meyer Communications owned radio stations were being purchased by Zimmer Midwest Communications and the JOCK sports format would be moving to the KBFL frequencies (1060 AM/96.9 FM/99.9 FM) in early August. He also advised that KWTO-FM would transition "into a frequency that's music and personality-driven."[2] The JOCK began simulcasting on all of the KBFL signals on July 30, and unveiled a new logo reflecting the new frequencies "JOCK 96.9 FM 99.9 FM 1060 AM".[3] ESPN on air promos branded the new stations as "ESPN the JOCK". The format fully transitioned to the KBFL frequencies as of August 7.

On August 11, 2020 KWTO-FM began broadcasting soft rock music with the moniker "98.7 the Dove".

References
  1. "Radio Stations - Missouri". The Jim Rome Show. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  2. Springfield News-Leader, July 24, 2020: https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/2020/07/24/springfield-sports-radio-station-jock-98-7-programming-moving-frequencies/5507238002
  3. Jock 98.7 Springfield Begins Move To New Frequencies Radioinsight - July 31, 2020
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