WKBK
WKBK (1290 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Keene, New Hampshire, United States, the station is currently owned by Saga Communications (through its Monadnock Radio Group) and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC and features programming from Westwood One, CBS News Radio and Premiere Radio Networks.[1]
 | |
| City | Keene, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Monadnock Region |
| Frequency | 1290 kHz |
| Branding | 94.1 & 1290 WKBK |
| Slogan | "#1 for News & Talk" |
| Programming | |
| Format | News/talk |
| Affiliations | Westwood One CBS News Radio Premiere Radio Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Saga Communications (Saga Communications of New England, LLC) |
| Sister stations | WINQ, WINQ-FM, WKNE, WKVT-FM, WSNI, WZBK |
| History | |
| First air date | June 2, 1927 |
| Former call signs | WNBX (1927–1940) WKNE (1940–2002) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 36833 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 5,000 watts |
| Transmitter coordinates | 42°56′46″N 72°18′33″W |
| Translator(s) | 94.1 MHz - W231DV (Keene) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | wkbkradio |
History
WKBK originally signed on as WNBX on June 2, 1927 in Springfield, Vermont. The station operated at 1240 kc. (as kilohertz was known then). In November 1928, the frequency was changed to 1260 kc. On December 25, 1940, WNBX signed on from its new location as WKNE. The move to Keene also brought an increase in power to 5,000 watts, the third most powerful AM station in New England behind WBZ/1030 in Boston and WTIC 1080 in Hartford. In 1941 as part of the NARBA shift, WKNE shifted to its permanent home on 1290 AM. In Spring of 2002, WKNE was sold to Saga Communications, along with sister station WKNE-FM. In 2002, Saga Communications also purchased WKBK 1220 AM, the other AM signal in the Keene radio market, which began the steps for a change in for the impending format flips. In late 2002, Saga Communications moved the talk programming from weaker signaled WKBK to 1290, changing the call sign to WKBK. 1220 would pick up the call sign WZBK with the adult standards format (which was later dropped for a simulcast of WKVT in Brattleboro, Vermont).[2]
Translator
.png){kind=logo}
WKBK began broadcasting on its FM translator, W281AU, on May 16, 2008 after a decision by the Federal Communications Commission. In January 2009, the FM simulcast was dropped and 104.1 became "Keene Classics 104.1", playing a classic rock format. WKBK was returned to the 104.1 FM frequency in early-May 2009. W281AU transmits 59 watts from the tower of sister station WZBK.
Until December 2018, WKBK was heard on FM translator W298BT (107.5 FM). This translator was converted to a Soft adult contemporary station, fed via the HD2 channel of WKNE, after WKBK signed on a new translator, W231DV (94.1 FM); this translator was obtained in an FCC filing window that requires W231DV to permanently be associated with WKBK.[3]
| Call sign | Frequency (MHz) | City of license | Facility ID | ERP (W) | Height (m (ft)) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W231DV | 94.1 | Keene, New Hampshire | 201996 | 250 | 0 m (0 ft) | D | 42°55′50″N 72°18′0″W | FCC |
References
- "WKBK Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- "Granite and Ether: A Chronicle of New Hampshire Broadcasting (1/20/17)". Manfrommars.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- Venta, Lance (December 30, 2018). "Saga Brings EZ Favorites To Brattleboro & Keene". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
External links
- WKBK in the FCC's AM station database
- WKBK on Radio-Locator
- WKBK in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- W231DV in the FCC's FM station database
- W231DV on Radio-Locator
- Monadnock Broadcasting Group