WKSE
WKSE (98.5 FM, branded as KISS 98.5) is a Top 40 (CHR) station serving the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region of Western New York. The station's transmitter is located on Grand Island, New York. It has a sizable market in the Greater Toronto Area, but unlike the WBLK of old, does little marketing and promotion outside Western New York, but now has to compete with two CHR/Top 40 stations, (after the format change of CKIS-FM) in the Greater Toronto Area; therefore, this will lower the number of listeners there. It is currently owned by Entercom Communications, with studios located on Corporate Parkway in Amherst, New York.
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City | Niagara Falls, New York |
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Broadcast area | Buffalo, New York |
Frequency | 98.5 MHz (HD Radio) |
Branding | Kiss 98.5 |
Slogan | The #1 Hit Music Station! |
Programming | |
Format | Top 40/CHR |
Subchannels | HD2: Sports radio (WGR simulcast) HD3: Talk radio (WBEN simulcast) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Entercom (Entercom License, LLC) |
WBEN, WGR, WWKB, WTSS, WWWS, WLKK | |
History | |
First air date | 1947 |
Former call signs | WHLD-FM (1947–1980) WIZR (1980–1984) WRXT (1984–1985) |
Call sign meaning | KiSE as in Kiss |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 34384 |
Class | B |
ERP | 46,000 watts |
HAAT | 128 meters (420 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 43.005°N 78.993°W |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live (via Radio.com) |
Website | kiss985 |
History
WKSE signed on as WHLD-FM in 1947. It changed its call sign to WZIR in 1980, WRXT in 1984, and the current call sign in early 1985. It currently runs a Top 40 format, which has been in place since September 1984. Much of its playlist overlaps that of sister station Star 102.5 at times. (The 102.5 frequency was a CHR competitor of WKSE in the late 1980s and early 1990s as WMJQ "Majic 102".)
WKSE sold its broadcast tower to Vertical Bridge in March 2019; WKSE will continue to use the tower under a leasing arrangement.[1]
Programming
Most of WKSE's program lineup originates locally, with the exception of Ryan Seacrest's programs On Air and American Top 40, as well as Open House Party. Janet Snyder has been the station's morning show co-host since 1989, with her co-host Nicholas Pickolas joining in 1994.
External links
- Official Kiss 98.5 Website
- WKSE in the FCC's FM station database
- WKSE on Radio-Locator
- WKSE in Nielsen Audio's FM station database