WKST (AM)
Encyclopedia
WKST is an AM
radio station
in New Castle, Pennsylvania
, USA broadcasting at 1200 kHz with a news/talk
format. It is currently owned by Forever Broadcasting, LLC of Altoona, Pennsylvania
which also owns 12 other radio stations in Pennsylvania including WJST
(AM) in New Castle and WWGY
(FM) in Grove City
. WKST is home to New Castle High School basketball and football broadcasts. The station currently has one local talk show, which is hosted by longtime employee and Youngstown, Ohio resident Ken Hlebovy. News coverage is provided by New Castle resident Wade Sutton.
landed his first broadcasting job at WKST, before moving on to Cleveland
where he is purported to have coined the term "rock and roll
." By the 1970s WKST was owned by Faye and Herb Scott, formerly based in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
, and held in the name of Great Scott Broadcasting. Great Scott purchased FM station WFEM in Ellwood City
, and it became WKST-FM on January 1, 1988. In the late 1990s, after the death of the Scotts, Great Scott decided to concentrate on its radio holdings in Delaware, and it sold WKST and WKST-FM to Jacor for $2.5 million dollars in December 1998.
Prior to November 5, 1999, the 1200 kHz frequency was occupied by WBZY. WBZY began broadcasting in 1968. In December 1986 WBZY was sold by Lawrence County Broadcasting Corp. to a partnership called WBZY Radio Sam (the "Sam" representing the surname initials of partners Samuel M. Shirey, William G. Andrews and Robert L. McCracken). Andrews sold his share to the other two partners in 1991. WBZY was then sold to Jacor in April 1999
http://newradiostar.com/NEWS/newsaprilmay1999.htm
for $800,000, and Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel Communications
shortly thereafter. Clear Channel, which also owned WKST, switched the call signs in November 1999. The calls of WKST-FM were changed to WJST on October 10, 2000, and WKST-FM call sign was moved to Pittsburgh were it could be used with Clear Channel's KISS-FM
brand. In April 2004, Clear Channel announced the sale of WKST along with WBZY and WJST (FM) to Forever Broadcasting for $2.85 million
http://www.business-journal.com/archives/20040412RadioStationsinNewCastlePaSold.asp. On September 20, 2004, the WJST call sign was moved to 1280 AM, and WJST-FM became WKPL (FM).
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
, USA broadcasting at 1200 kHz with a news/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format. It is currently owned by Forever Broadcasting, LLC of Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
which also owns 12 other radio stations in Pennsylvania including WJST
WJST
WJST is a radio station broadcasting a sports radio format as a Fox Sports Radio affiliate. Licensed to New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA, it serves the Pittsburgh area...
(AM) in New Castle and WWGY
WWGY
WWGY, branded as Froggy 95, is a country music formatted radio station in Grove City, Pennsylvania. It is not a simulcast affiliation with Froggy 100.3 in Meadville, Pennsylvania, but the two stations are owned by Forever Broadcasting, LLC. WWGY is a station in the Pittsburgh Steelers radio...
(FM) in Grove City
Grove City, Pennsylvania
Grove City is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, approximately north of Pittsburgh. It is the home of Grove City College, a private conservative Christian liberal arts college; General Electric; Instron; USIS; George G. Howe Co.; and a number of small businesses. It is also the home to...
. WKST is home to New Castle High School basketball and football broadcasts. The station currently has one local talk show, which is hosted by longtime employee and Youngstown, Ohio resident Ken Hlebovy. News coverage is provided by New Castle resident Wade Sutton.
History
WKST has been broadcasting in New Castle for over 70 years, but prior to November 5, 1999 it was at 1280 kHz. WKST signed on the air in 1938. In the 1940s it was a Mutual affiliate. In 1942 Alan FreedAlan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
landed his first broadcasting job at WKST, before moving on to Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
where he is purported to have coined the term "rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
." By the 1970s WKST was owned by Faye and Herb Scott, formerly based in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...
, and held in the name of Great Scott Broadcasting. Great Scott purchased FM station WFEM in Ellwood City
Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
Ellwood City is a borough in Beaver and Lawrence counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Ellwood City is 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles south by southeast of New Castle...
, and it became WKST-FM on January 1, 1988. In the late 1990s, after the death of the Scotts, Great Scott decided to concentrate on its radio holdings in Delaware, and it sold WKST and WKST-FM to Jacor for $2.5 million dollars in December 1998.
Prior to November 5, 1999, the 1200 kHz frequency was occupied by WBZY. WBZY began broadcasting in 1968. In December 1986 WBZY was sold by Lawrence County Broadcasting Corp. to a partnership called WBZY Radio Sam (the "Sam" representing the surname initials of partners Samuel M. Shirey, William G. Andrews and Robert L. McCracken). Andrews sold his share to the other two partners in 1991. WBZY was then sold to Jacor in April 1999
http://newradiostar.com/NEWS/newsaprilmay1999.htm
for $800,000, and Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
shortly thereafter. Clear Channel, which also owned WKST, switched the call signs in November 1999. The calls of WKST-FM were changed to WJST on October 10, 2000, and WKST-FM call sign was moved to Pittsburgh were it could be used with Clear Channel's KISS-FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
brand. In April 2004, Clear Channel announced the sale of WKST along with WBZY and WJST (FM) to Forever Broadcasting for $2.85 million
http://www.business-journal.com/archives/20040412RadioStationsinNewCastlePaSold.asp. On September 20, 2004, the WJST call sign was moved to 1280 AM, and WJST-FM became WKPL (FM).
Weekdays
- 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: Ken Hlebovy and news from Wade Sutton
- 9:00 a.m. to noon: Glenn BeckGlenn BeckGlenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
(from Premiere Radio NetworksPremiere Radio NetworksPremiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
) - noon to 3:00 p.m.: Mike GallagherMike GallagherMike Gallagheris an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Mike Gallagher Show, a nationally-syndicated radio program that airs throughout the United States on Salem Radio Network and is also a FOX News Channel Contributor and guest host...
(from Salem Radio NetworkSalem Radio NetworkSalem Radio Network is a United States-based radio network that specializes in syndicated Christian talk, music, and secular news/talk programming...
) - 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Sean HannitySean HannitySean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
(from ABC Radio)