WPCK

WPCK (104.9 FM) is a radio station licensed to Denmark, Wisconsin and serving Green Bay. The station is owned and operated by Educational Media Foundation. WPCK's studios are located on Victoria Street in Green Bay, while its transmitter is located off Finger Road in Montpelier.

"WKAU" redirects here. For its former AM counterpart, which used the call sign from the mid-1960s until 1984, see WJOK.
WPCK
CityDenmark, Wisconsin
Broadcast areaGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Frequency104.9 MHz
BrandingK-Love
SloganPositive and Encouraging
Programming
FormatContemporary Christian
AffiliationsK-Love
Ownership
OwnerEducational Media Foundation
Sister stationsWPFF
History
First air date1969 (as WKAU-FM)
Former call signsWKAU-FM (1969-1986)
WKAU (1986-1990)
WKFX (1990-1997)
Call sign meaningPaCKer Country (reflecting the branding used in its 1990s simulcast with WPKR)
Technical information
Facility ID119
ClassC3
ERP10,000 watts directional
HAAT157 meters
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websiteklove.com

History
WPCK's former logo as "Kicks 104.9" (2003-2011)

The station was previously known in the 1970s and 1980s as Top 40 station WKAU-FM (licensed to Kaukauna), but became oldies-formatted WKFX by 1990. In an eleven–station channel swap, including moving Sheboygan's 97.7 to Lomira, Wisconsin the frequency landed east of Green Bay. In 1997, an ownership change saw the station become WPCK, simulcasting its Oshkosh sister station WPKR ("Packer Country", never licensed or sanctioned by the NFL team). Both stations would eventually be acquired by Cumulus Media, who would break off the simulcast in November 2003, with WPCK keeping a country format but adopting its own identity, "Kicks 104.9." In 2009, Clear Channel Communications would acquire WPCK and 4 other Green Bay area stations owned by Cumulus as part of an ownership swap for 2 Ohio stations that went from Clear Channel to Cumulus;[1] Cumulus, as part of the deal, continued to operate WPCK; in August 2013, Clear Channel reached a deal to sell its Green Bay stations back to Cumulus.[2] The sale was consummated on December 31, 2013 at a price of $17,636,643.

Logo as Nash FM, 2013-2018; the logo from 2018-2019 is similar, but does not include 99.5.

In June 2011, WPCK would reunite with WPKR in a simulcast, branded as "99.5 and 104.9 The Wolf," incorporating new and existing elements from both stations.[3] The "Wolf" branding would give way on May 24, 2013 to the new branding of "Nash FM, 99.5 and 104.9;" WPCK and WPKR were two of six Cumulus country stations to adopt the "Nash FM" branding that day, part of Cumulus' plan to nationally expand its multimedia "Nash FM" country branding, which was launched earlier in 2013 at its New York City station, WNSH.[4][5] Cumulus Media filed for bankruptcy protection in early 2018.

On March 27, 2018, WPCK and three other Cumulus stations (WTOD/Toledo, OH, KJMO/Jefferson City, MO, and WNUQ/Albany, GA) were placed into the Cumulus Reorganization Divestiture Trust for a future sale.[6] KJMO's sister station KZJF's license was surrendered by Cumulus, prior to the trust receiving the assets. Shortly after this, the simulcast between WPCK and WPKR was broken. While both stations retained the country format and "Nash FM" branding, the stations began airing separate programming and separate airstaffs.[7]

On October 17, 2019, Cumulus announced it would sell the station for $512,000 to the Educational Media Foundation, the owner of the K-Love and Air1 CCM networks. EMF already owns WPFF (90.5) in the market, which carries K-Love; the acquisition of WPCK would possibly allow both networks over-the-air distribution in Green Bay. The station would be converted to a non-commercial educational station as part of the transaction.[8]

Ahead of the closure of the sale to EMF, WPCK dropped the country format on November 1 at midnight and began stunting with Christmas music as "Christmas 104.9".[9] The stunt lasted until just before midnight on December 31, 2019, when Andy Williams' "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" led into Carrie Underwood's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" and a farewell message advising listeners to turn to WPKR.[10]

On January 8, 2020 WPCK returned to the air with EMF's "K-Love" Contemporary Christian format.[11] It is unknown if EMF has plans to convert WPFF to Air1 and move its market translators to carrying programming among the two networks.

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References
  1. Ownership swap is in the works for 5 area radio stations - Green Bay Press-Gazette (released January 3, 2009)
  2. "Ownership Of Green Bay Cluster Goes Back From Clear Channel To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  3. Source: WisconsinBroadcasting.com, posted 6/12/2011
  4. "Cumulus Launches Five Additional NashFM's," from RadioInsight, 5/24/2013
  5. "NashFM Phase Two On The Way?" from RadioInsight, 5/22/2013
  6. Cumulus Files Reorganization Plan With FCC; To Divest Four Stations
  7. Dayton Kane Moves from Cumulus Green Bay to Appleton as WPKR/WPCK Break Simulcast
  8. Ellis, Jon (16 October 2019). "K-Love Operator Buys Green Bay Station". Northpine. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  9. WPCK Becomes Christmas 104.9 Ahead Of EMF Sale
  10. "Green Bay FM Station Ends Commercial Era," from Northpine.com, 1/1/2020
  11. K-Love Gets Stronger Green Bay Signal Upper Midwest Broadcasting - January 8, 2020

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