WVOK-FM
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WVOK-FM is a 6,000-watt commercial FM radio station locally owned and operated in Oxford, Alabama.
[edit] Early History
In 1977, WVOK-FM was launched in Birmingham, Alabama as an Album-Oriented Rock radio station called “K-99.” The station broadcast from the 99.5 MHz frequency; it was originally a counterpart to WVOK-AM 690[1], one of the more popular Top 40 stations of its era. WVOK-FM changed its call letters to WRKK in 1979; it kept its Rock format until 1983, when it became “K-99 Country.” Several format changes later, the station is now known in Birmingham as WZRR “Rock 99-5.”
The WVOK call letters would not be heard on the FM dial again until the creation of a new radio station in Oxford, Alabama. Jimmy and Geraldine Woodard, owners of WEYY-FM in Talladega, Alabama, were granted a construction permit for the first commercial FM station licensed to Oxford. The station began broadcast in 1989 as WKFN “K98” on the 97.9 MHz frequency. In 1992, WKFN switched its call letters to WVOK; however, its “K98” nickname remained the same.
[edit] Recent History
In late 1989, K98 was launched as an Adult Contemporary station, playing music from the 1970’s through the 1990’s. At that time, WVOK was one of very few local stations to compete against the 100,000-watt Country music station WHMA of Anniston, known by listeners as “Alabama 100.” In early 2001, Susquehanna Radio purchased Alabama 100 and moved it to College Park, Georgia. After the move, Alabama 100 changed its call letters to WWWQ and took the moniker “All the Hits – Q100.” As a result, WVOK quickly moved up in the local Arbitron ratings.
Since K98 began broadcast in 1989, it has employed a number of various disk jockeys, including Rick Burgess from the widely-syndicated “Rick and Bubba” morning radio show. Its radio format, however, has seen little change. Shortly after Clear Channel station WQEN ("103-7 the Q") relocated its transmitter from Steele, Alabama to Birmingham, Alabama in early 2005, WVOK briefly changed its music format to Contemporary Hit Radio. It has, however, since returned to the lighter Adult Top 40 format.
In early 2006, WVOK-FM began using its call letters often instead of the "K98" nickname as its station identifier. Its slogan is "The Best of the 80's, 90's and Today".
[edit] Other Facts
- WVOK-FM is recognized as one of the only radio stations in Alabama to remain on the air during the 1993 North American Storm Complex.
- WVOK-FM is one of three stations in the Anniston/Gadsden market whose call letters were previously assigned to Top 40 stations in Birmingham. The other two are WSGN-FM and WKXX.
- Since the move of Alabama 100 to Georgia, WVOK has enjoyed consistently high ratings in Calhoun County, Alabama. Much of its success can be attributed to its morning show[2], featuring local personalities Chris Wright and Steve Stevens. In recent years, however, WVOK has faced more direct competition from two nearby FM radio stations: WHMA "The BIG 95" and WTDR "Thunder 92.7".
| FM Radio stations serving the Birmingham / Anniston/ Gadsden area (Arbitron #56) | |
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WBRC 87.7¹ | WLJR 88.5 | WBFR 89.5 | WBHM 90.3 | WJSR 91.1 (covers the northern half of the city) | WVSU 91.1 (covers the southern half of the city) | WGIB 91.9/101.5 | WPHC 92.5 | WDJC 93.7 | WYSF 94.5 | WBHJ 95.7 | WMJJ 96.5 | WNCB 97.3 | WKLD 97.7 (Oneonta: covers northern suburbs) | WHPH 97.7 (Jemison: covers southern suburbs) | WBHK 98.7 | WZRR 99.5 | WJOX 100.5 | WYDE 101.1 | WDXB 102.5 | WQEN 103.7 | WZZK 104.7 | WENN 105.5 | WBPT 106.9 | WUHT 107.7 ¹ Audio for TV channel 6 (Fox) |
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WJCK 88.3 | WKNG 89.1 | WGRW 90.7 | WTBJ 91.3 | WPIL 91.7 | WLJS 91.9 | WTDR 92.7 | WHMA 95.5 | WVOK 97.9 | WTRB 98.3 | WRHY 105.9 | |
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WTBB 89.9 | WSGN 91.5 | WGMZ 93.1 | WKXX 102.9 | WQSB 105.1 | |
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