WIKS (101.9 FM) is an urban contemporary-formatted broadcast radio station licensed to New Bern, North Carolina. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group. WIKS is an affiliate of the Steve Harvey Morning Show.
 | |
| Broadcast area | New Bern Greenville Jacksonville Kinston |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.9 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 101.9 Kiss FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Urban contemporary |
| Subchannels | HD2: WNCT simulcast (Beach music) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WMGV, WMJV, WSFL-FM, WNCT | |
| History | |
First air date | August 1977 |
Call sign meaning | Variation of the branding "Kiss" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 72389 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 299 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°12′07.00″N 77°11′15.00″W / 35.2019444°N 77.1875000°W |
| Translator(s) | HD2: See WNCT (AM) § Translators |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | 1019online.com |
History
editThe 101.9 FM frequency in New Bern signed on with an Album-oriented Rock format in August 1977 as WRBK ("K101").[2] Due to the nature of its frequency at 101.9 and the advent of digital tuners, the slogan was changed to "K102" in the summer of 1978. In August 1979, the station flipped to a country music format, as WAZZ ("Country Ways").[3]
By 1986, the station would become "Kiss 102" with the WIKS call letters and an Urban Contemporary format. Transmitting power increased to 100,000 watts. Rap and hip-hop music was introduced in the 1990s, as WIKS became a full modern mainstream urban station by 1998. In 1997 WIKS picked up competition from the 92.3 frequency when WQSL adopted a rhythmic top 40 format as "The Beat of Carolina". WIKS responded by tweaking its format to Urban Adult Contemporary station in 2003, though they eventually returned to their current format.
On February 2, 2017, Beasley Media Group announced that it would sell its six stations and four translators in the Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville market, including WIKS, to Curtis Media Group for $11 million to reduce the company's debt.[4] The sale was completed on May 1, 2017.[5]
Translators
editWIKS feeds low-powered FM translators, by way of their HD2 subchannel. "Beach, Boogie and Blues" features a beach music/rhythmic oldies format, originating from sister stations WELS-FM and WNCT.
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WIKS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1978
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1980
- ^ Layden, Laura (February 3, 2017). "Beasley to sell six stations in North Carolina for $11 million". Naples Daily News. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. May 3, 2017. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
External links
edit- WIKS Website
- BeachBoogieandBlues.com (HD2 programming)
- Facility details for Facility ID 72389 (WIKS) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WIKS in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
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