WQKS-FM

WQKS-FM

Montgomery, Alabama
Broadcast area	Montgomery, Alabama
Frequency	96.1MHz(HD Radio)
Branding	Kiss-FM 96.1
Programming
Format	Adult contemporary
Subchannels	HD2: Yo! 100.5 (Classic hip-hop) HD3: 107.1 The Vault (Classic rock) HD4: 103.9 The Possum (Classic country)
Ownership
Owner	Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC (Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC)
Sister stations	WACV,WGMP,WBAM-FM,WJWZ
History
First air date	1990(as WLNE-FM)
Former call signs	WLNE-FM (1990–1995) WRWO (1995–1999)
Call signmeaning	Works for both former branding (Q) and current branding (KiSs)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	43628
Class	A
ERP	900watts
HAAT	250 meters (820 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	32°22′03″N86°15′42″W
Translator(s)	HD2:100.5W263BX (Montgomery) HD3:107.1W296AI (Montgomery) HD4:103.9W280EI (Montgomery)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) Listen Live (HD3) Listen Live (HD4)
Website	kiss961.com yomontgomery.com(HD2) thevault1071.com(HD3) 1039thepossum.com(HD4)

WQKS-FM(96.1MHz), also known asKiss-FM 96.1,is anadult contemporaryformattedradio stationthat serves theMontgomery Metropolitan Area,licensed toMontgomery, Alabama.The station is locally owned and operated by Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC. The station'stransmitteris located in Montgomery. The station's studios are located on Wall St. in Midtown Montgomery.

WQKS-FM also participates in Montgomery rating survey byNielsen Audio(Market #157).

Programming

WQKS-FM broadcasts anadult contemporarymusic format and features news and weather updates from CBS 8WAKA,national news updates fromFox News Radio,and traffic fromMontgomery Skywatch Traffic.

WQKS-HD2

On August 17, 2011 WQKS-HD2 launched asoft ACformat, branded as "Lite 100.5", using the frequency of FM translatorW263BXin its branding. On December 26, 2014, 100.5/96.1 HD2 flipped to classic hip hop, with the old format and name of 107.1/96.1 HD, as "Yo! 100.5".

WQKS-HD3

On August 17, 2011 WQKS-HD3 launched a classichip hopformat branded as "Yo! 107.1", using the frequency of FM translatorW296AIin its branding. On September 25, 2013, the station changed formats toalbum oriented rockas "107.1 The Vault". On September 17, 2015 the station flipped to Top 40/CHR as "Hits 107.1". On August 9, 2017 the station flipped back to classic rock, branded as "107.1 The Vault".

WQKS-HD4

On June 5, 2013 WQKS-HD4 launched aclassic countryformat branded as "103.9 The Possum", using the frequency of FM translatorW280EIin its branding.

History

Logo as Q96.1, 2008-2016

WQKS-FM has featured several sets of call letters and various formats over the past two decades. This station received its originalconstruction permitfrom theFederal Communications Commissionon December 4,1990.The new station was assigned the call lettersWLNE-FMby the FCC on December 21, 1990.WLNE-FM received itslicense to coverfrom the FCC on February 1, 1991.

From its origins in the early 1990s, the station was created and owned by Al Stroh and the now-defunct Montgomery Broadcast Properties.This frequency began as WLNE-FM ( "We're Light N Easy" ) with beautiful music and standards in 1991. Later, 96.1 moved towards Lite AC as "Lite FM 96".

In March 1995, the station switched to the popular "Arrow" (All Rock and Roll Oldies) format and changed the calls toWRWO.The station dropped oldies in 1997 and became known as "Kiss 96" with an urban contemporary format. The station debuted another new format in late 1998, this time all 1980s music with the slogan "The 80's Channel, Kiss 96.1". In June 1999, the call letters officially changed toWQKS-FMto match the "Kiss" branding.

WQKS-FM made yet another format tweak in early 2000 into "Rockin' hits of the 80's, 90's and 70's" with the slogan "Alice 96.1". Alice was a successful station for most of its eight years, particularly on weekends with its popular "Alice Shuffle" format—the musical predecessor of Q 96.1.

On August 26, 2008 WQKS-FM dropped its rockin' hits format for oldies, adopting the moniker "Q 96.1".

On July 2, 2010 WQKS-FM shifted their format from oldies to classic hits.

On March 9, 2016 WQKS-FM flipped to AC as "Kiss-FM 96.1".

Ownership

In March 2004, Montgomery Broadcast Properties Ltd. (Allan Stroh, CEO) reached an agreement to sell this station to Bluewater Broadcasting LLC.The sale was part of a four-station deal valued at a reported $15.3 million.The deal was approved by the FCC on April 21, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on June 21, 2004.At the time of the sale, WQKS-FM was broadcasting aclassic hitsmusic format.

Technical information

WQKS broadcasts in HD with a 2.5kWNauteltransmitter into an Dielectric DCRM-2 non-directional antenna. The antenna is multi-station capable and also broadcasts FM translators W285AJ, W280EI and W263BX.

Translators

WQKS-FM'sHD Radiosubchannels are transmitted by individualbroadcast translatorstations in analog format, which also provide their numerical branding.

Broadcast translatorfor WQKS-HD2

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP(W)	Class	FCC info
W263BX	100.5 FM	Montgomery, Alabama	85917	80	D	LMS

Broadcast translatorfor WQKS-HD4

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP(W)	Class	FCC info
W280EI	103.9 FM	Montgomery, Alabama	150858	250	D	LMS

Broadcast translatorfor WQKS-HD3

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP(W)	Class	FCC info
W296AI	107.1 FM	Montgomery, Alabama	33501	99	D	LMS

External links

• WQKS official website
• WQKS coverage map
• Facility details for Facility ID 43628 (WQKS-FM)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• WQKS-FMinNielsen Audio's FM station database
• Facility details for Facility ID 85917 (W263BX)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• W263BXat FCCdata.org
• Facility details for Facility ID 150858 (W280EI)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• W280EIat FCCdata.org
• Facility details for Facility ID 33501 (W296AI)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• W296AIat FCCdata.org
• Bluewater Broadcasting Company, LLC