Content deleted Content added
DJV11181988 (talk | contribs) Updated coordinates. |
m Task 30 - update Template:Infobox radio station following a redesign (+genfixes) |
||
Line 1:
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WHKO
|
| city = [[Dayton, Ohio]]
| area = [[Dayton, Ohio]]<br>[[Springfield, Ohio]]<br>[[Cincinnati, Ohio]]
| branding = ''K99.1FM''
| slogan = New Country
| frequency = 99.1 [[Megahertz|MHz]] {{HD Radio}}
| translator = 98.7 W254BA ([[Riverside, Ohio|Riverside]], relays HD3)
| airdate = [[1946 in radio|1946]] (as WHIO-FM)
| format = [[Country music|Country]]<br>HD2: [[Classic hits]] ([[WZLR]] simulcast)<br>HD3: [[Urban oldies]] "The Soul of Dayton"
| erp = 50,000 [[watt]]s
| haat = {{convert|325|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class = B
| facility_id = 14245
| coordinates = {{coord|39.733944|N|84.248|W|type:landmark_region:US-OH_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = A portmanteau of former '''WHIO''' callsign and '''K'''99.1 branding
| former_callsigns = WHIO-FM (1946–1989)
| owner = [[Cox Media Group]]
| licensee = Camelot Radio Buyer, LLC
| sister_stations = [[WHIO (AM)|WHIO]], [[WHIO-FM]], [[WHIO-TV]], [[WZLR]]
| webcast = {{listenlive|https://www.k99online.com/stream/}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.k99online.com/}}
}}
Line 29:
==Early history==
WHKO was founded in 1946 as WHIO-FM, with a [[beautiful music]] format which since the 1960s was a kindred complement to the [[middle of the road (music)|middle of the road]] format of [[WHIO (AM)]]. While many FM stations initially failed during its inception in the 1950s in favor of AM, WHIO-FM flourished and remained solid. It eventually became and remained the top-rated station in the Dayton market for many years as FM was considered to be an easy alternative to commercial pop music and the rise of [[Top 40]] and [[country music]] on the AM dial during that time. The format remained consistent in the 1970s and 1980s playing reel to reel of beautiful music provided by national syndicators.
===Final Years===
Line 35:
==WHKO Today==
On March 17, 1989, the station switched its call sign to WHKO, and the format abruptly changed from beautiful music to country. This was unexpected in the market since the 12+ overall numbers still had WHIO-FM as the #1 station in the market. The last song played on WHIO-FM was Rick Astley's "[[Together Forever (Rick Astley song)|Together Forever]]", at which point the format flipped to country music, although the announcer pre-sold another 30 minutes of easy listening favorites. The first song played under the new format was Barbara Mandrell's "[[I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool]]". The first announcer on the station was Jim Manley who at that time moved from WHIO (AM) to mornings on the new K99.1FM. Nancy Wilson joined Manley shortly thereafter and to this day remains the morning host.
The previous format's audience, mainly the older listeners, were very unhappy about the format change. The station received hundreds of complaint letters, and other radio stations in and around the Dayton area fielded numerous phone calls demanding to know why "FM 99" was playing country music. The change was otherwise well-received in the market; after 2 ratings periods WHKO maintained its number one ranking among its target demographic of 25-54. Prior to the switch, the top-rated country station in Dayton through the 1970s and 1980s was [[WONE (AM)]], which now employs a sports/talk format.
At first the station was "easy listening country" playing more soft crossover hits from Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Rita Coolidge, Gordon Lightfoot then most modern country stations at that time. The disk jockey style was very laid back, at times it sounded almost like the previous format. Over the next several years the station slowly modernized the format and today is reminiscent of a CHR country format with tight rotations, upbeat jocks and community involvement.
WHKO is the Dayton Children's Radiothon station the market and has raised over $4 million dollars since 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://coxmediagroupohio.com/2019/01/14/k99-1fm-raises-over-300000-for-dayton-childrens-hospital-during-annual-radiothon/|title=K99.1FM Raises over $300,000 for Dayton Children's Hospital during annual Radiothon > Cox Media Group Ohio|date=2019-01-14|website=Cox Media Group Ohio|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-06}}</ref> WHKO won the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Award in 2018 for outstanding community service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nab.org/events/awards/overview.asp?id=1927|title=Overview {{!}} NAB Crystal Radio Awards|website=www.nab.org|access-date=2019-03-06}}</ref> WHKO was only one of eight stations receiving the award. WHKO has also been nominated for several Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dayton.com/entertainment/k99-1fm-earns-one-the-highest-honors-country-music-again/1Xwo6EeBOp7PQgsj1ehCtJ/|title=K99.1FM earns one of the highest honors in country music again|last=reports|first=Staff|website=dayton|language=English|access-date=2019-03-06}}</ref>
| |||