98.1 WKQQ

WKQQ History
By Scott Wills

WLEX-FM [WKQQ's original call letters] came on the air in 1968 on 98.1 MHz, with an RCA transmitter running 50KW ERP. WLEX was an RCA house, for the most part. RCA videotape machines and transmitters have been used at the TV facility for years and RCA audio consoles were used for the FM station. It surprised me that they used Harris (GE) studio cameras for years. WLEX-FM was another automated station. Using Drake-Chenault's "Hit Parade" and "Solid Gold" formats for years, it kept bringing in the bacon.

Sometime in the mid 1970s, it was sold to Village Communications of Chapel Hill, NC and the call sign was changed to WKQQ or "Double Q" as it was known. The format became AOR. Shortly afterwards they acquired WBLG-AM and the old WKYT-TV building. This gave them a broadcast facility, with a 500' black iron tower on site. WKQQ was licensed as a 50KW facility, and sometime in the late 70's or early 80's that was increased to 100KW. A Sintronix transmitter was purchased for the upgrade in power. It ran from this site until the late 90's when the FCC mandated that all Class C FMs running 100KW ERP must be 1000' HAAT. At this point, WKQQ switched frequencies with the old Winchester, KY Class A FM, received a CP for 100KW on 100.3Mhz and built a new station and identity. Winchester received the old 98.1Mhz frequency at the 50KW power level.

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WKQQ Audio

WKQQ 1979 Composite
6:29 - 4565 KB

Christopher Randolph (June 15, 1985)
13:57 - 9813 KB

All audio is in downloadable MP3 format.