WQKY

WQKY (98.9 FM, "The River 98.9") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Emporium, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Salter Communications, Inc. and broadcasts a classic hits format. The station's transmitter facilities are located off Whittimore Road on the outskirts of Emporium.

History

The Federal Communications Commission granted Emporium Broadcasting Company a construction permit for the station on April 27, 1983 with the WQKY call sign. Originally assigned to 92.7 MHz,^[1] the FCC granted the station its first license on August 6, 1985.^[2]

For much of its early years, WQKY simulcast full-time the full-service country music format of its AM sister, WLEM, despite having dissimilar call letters. The arrangement allowed listeners to enjoy full-service radio after sunset, when WLEM was mandated to sign off prior to getting nighttime broadcasting authorization by the end of the 1980's.

The FCC granted a transfer of the station's license from Emporium Broadcasting to Priority Communications, Inc. on December 20, 1993.^[3] On July 13, 1994, the FCC granted the station a construction permit to change the station's frequency to 98.9 MHz (Channel 255A)^[4] followed by a new license granted on September 11, 1996.^[5] Upon the change in ownership, programming was separated between WLEM and WQKY, with the latter adopting an oldies format.

The FCC granted a transfer of the station's license to Salter Communications, Inc. on November 9, 2006. The sale consummated on November 22, 2006.^[6] WQKY then changed its format from oldies to adult contemporary.

The station has since adopted a classic hits format and the moniker "The River 98-9", and maintains a secondary office in Franklin Center on South St. Mary's Street in St. Mary's.

References

External links

• Official website
• WQKY in the FCC FM station database
• WQKY in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

41°29′32″N 78°15′18″W / 41.492278°N 78.255°W / 41.492278; -78.255

This page was last edited on 5 March 2024, at 00:19