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WPAY (AM)
Encyclopedia
WNKE (formerly WPAY-FM) is a radio station
licensed to New Boston, Ohio
. Its original call letters were a carryover from its former sister station WPAY (1400 AM; licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio
), which signed on in 1933 as a country yodeling and country music station, from which the call letters were derived (Pay Any Yodeler). The station became notable when it stayed on air during the floods in Portsmouth in 1937, giving up-to-the-minute news and announcements to those separated and weary from the floods. In the 1960s, WPAY started to play country music on its FM while the AM was reassigned to have a news/talk format. The AM signed off the air on June 3, 2011 after 80 years. WNKE is currently a public radio station owned by Northern Kentucky University
offering an adult album alternative
format, simulcasting WNKU
.
WNKE has one of the most powerful radio antenna
s in Southern Ohio and had one of the tallest radio towers, standing over 200 meters high overlooking the Ohio River
in Kentucky
. Due to the station having an ERP
of 100,000 watts, its signal can be heard as far away as Columbus, Ohio
, Beckley, West Virginia
, and Cincinnati, Ohio
. The old tower collapsed from the weight of the ice during an ice storm on February 19, 2003 and put the station off the air for a couple of days. The fall of this tower not only put out WPAY radio, but all of Scioto county public safety communication services. All services were restored by nightfall, February 21. Just recently, a new tower just to the southwest of Portsmouth and the location of their old tower has been built. It is 356 meters tall, or 453 meters above average terrain and features an ERI brand 12 bay directional antenna.
, began simulcasting the signal of Northern Kentucky University
-owned WNKU
. At that time, WPAY-FM switched from a country format to an adult album alternative
(AAA) format. While this management and format change was initially completed under a management operating agreement, NKU assumed ownership of both stations once approval was received from the Federal Communications Commission
. WPAY's AM station was not included in the sale, and continued to broadcast conservative talk programming until closing down at 2 p.m. on June 3, 2011, due to the station's entire staff being terminated as a result of the sale of WPAY-FM. The sale was approved by the FCC on June 20, 2011 and the station officially changed their call letters to WNKE on that date.
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...
licensed to New Boston, Ohio
New Boston, Ohio
New Boston is a village in Scioto County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,340 at the 2000 census. Apart from its southern boundary on the Ohio River, New Boston is entirely surrounded by the city of Portsmouth. It was platted on February 17, 1891, by James Skelton,...
. Its original call letters were a carryover from its former sister station WPAY (1400 AM; licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
), which signed on in 1933 as a country yodeling and country music station, from which the call letters were derived (Pay Any Yodeler). The station became notable when it stayed on air during the floods in Portsmouth in 1937, giving up-to-the-minute news and announcements to those separated and weary from the floods. In the 1960s, WPAY started to play country music on its FM while the AM was reassigned to have a news/talk format. The AM signed off the air on June 3, 2011 after 80 years. WNKE is currently a public radio station owned by Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University
|type = Public|president= Dr. James C. Votruba|city = Highland Heights|state = KY|country = U.S.|endowment = $68 million|students = 15,405|undergrad = 13,206|postgrad = 2,199|faculty = 1,159...
offering an adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
format, simulcasting WNKU
WNKU
WNKU is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Album Alternative format. Licensed in Highland Heights, Kentucky, USA, it serves the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. The station is currently owned by Northern Kentucky University...
.
WNKE has one of the most powerful radio antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
s in Southern Ohio and had one of the tallest radio towers, standing over 200 meters high overlooking the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Due to the station having an ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 100,000 watts, its signal can be heard as far away as Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
, and Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. The old tower collapsed from the weight of the ice during an ice storm on February 19, 2003 and put the station off the air for a couple of days. The fall of this tower not only put out WPAY radio, but all of Scioto county public safety communication services. All services were restored by nightfall, February 21. Just recently, a new tower just to the southwest of Portsmouth and the location of their old tower has been built. It is 356 meters tall, or 453 meters above average terrain and features an ERI brand 12 bay directional antenna.
Switch to Public Radio
Beginning on February 1, 2011; WPAY, along with its sister station WPFB-FM 105.9 in Middletown, OhioMiddletown, Ohio
Middletown is an All-America City located in Butler and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Formerly in Lemon, Turtlecreek, and Franklin townships, Middletown was incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly on February 11, 1833, and became a city in 1886...
, began simulcasting the signal of Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University
|type = Public|president= Dr. James C. Votruba|city = Highland Heights|state = KY|country = U.S.|endowment = $68 million|students = 15,405|undergrad = 13,206|postgrad = 2,199|faculty = 1,159...
-owned WNKU
WNKU
WNKU is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Album Alternative format. Licensed in Highland Heights, Kentucky, USA, it serves the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. The station is currently owned by Northern Kentucky University...
. At that time, WPAY-FM switched from a country format to an adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
(AAA) format. While this management and format change was initially completed under a management operating agreement, NKU assumed ownership of both stations once approval was received from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
. WPAY's AM station was not included in the sale, and continued to broadcast conservative talk programming until closing down at 2 p.m. on June 3, 2011, due to the station's entire staff being terminated as a result of the sale of WPAY-FM. The sale was approved by the FCC on June 20, 2011 and the station officially changed their call letters to WNKE on that date.