WRKW

Infobox Radio Station
name = WRKW

| city = Ebensburg, Pennsylvania | area = Johnstown, Pennsylvania
branding = "Rocky 99"
slogan = "The Laurel Highlands' Rock Station"
airdate = July 15, 1962 (as WIYQ)
frequency = 99.1 (mHz)
format = Current and classic rock
erp = 50,000 Watts
class = B
owner = Forever Broadcasting of Johnstown, LLC
website = http://www.rocky99.com
callsign_meaning =

WRKW (99.1 FM) is a commercially-licensed radio station, licensed to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Forever Broadcasting of Johnstown and maintains studios and offices at 109 Plaza Drive in Johnstown. WRKW operates at the federally-assigned frequency of 99.1 megahertz with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. There is a relation with WRKY in Altoona, Pennsylvania in that they are part of Forever Broadcasting.

History

The beginning

For much of its existence, WRKW was known as WIYQ, first signing on the air July 15, 1962 from studios on Center Street in downtown Ebensburg, its licensed community. The station was founded by Cary H. Simpson, who also founded the Allegheny Mountain Network based in Tyrone just 11 years before. Years later, as Johnstown's economy prospered, the station moved to 1240 Scalp Avenue in Richland Township, where it became more of a regional station serving West Central Pennsylvania.

Throughout its existence, WIYQ went through a series of different formats, from middle-of-the-road to a brief period of hard rock in the mid-1980's. What WIYQ particularly became well-known for was a local polka show broadcast every Sunday afternoon.

"Jo-Jo's Polka Swing" debuted in 1973, and remained a staple of WIYQ's programming for twenty years, becoming one of the most successful programs on the station, with listeners calling in from as far away as Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs. Joe Vesnesky, a Glendale High School History Teacher by trade who also did sports play-by-play for another area station, hosted the show, gaining an especially strong following because of his mastery of the native Polish language and the powerful signal of WIYQ, which reached 27 counties in three states.

The End of an Era

After 31 years, the station's history as WIYQ came to sad end as the station was sold to TMZ Broadcasting of State College for $440,000. Gone were the popular oldies music and Jo-Jo's Polka Swing, which would resurface years later at a 5,000 watt AM radio station in Philipsburg.

WIYQ then became known as WQKK, or "Quick Rock", operating as a satellite of rocker WQWK in State College. The station was purchased by TMZ as part of a strategic move to increase its presence in Johnstown and Altoona. WQWK's weaker signal at 97.1 did not have the ability to reach Johnstown at all, while barely touching Altoona. The much-stronger 99.1 signal helped WQWK penetrate these areas. WQKK and WGLU would later swap frequencies, with WQKK moving to the much weaker 92.1 signal, while WGLU took over 99.1, branding itself "Power 99.1".

92.1 The Rock

After the move to 92.1, WQKK rebranded itself "The Rock", and played a mix of classic and new rock. WQKK aired specialty shows on weeknights such as "The '80s at 8", "Led Before Bed" (a three-song segment of Led Zeppelin airing weeknights at 9pm), and "Mandatory Metallica" at 11pm.

WRKW Today

In 2005 both WQKK and WGLU were purchased by Forever Broadcasting (who along with a subsidiary company own most of the commercial radio stations in the Johnstown market) then reverted back to their original frequencies so the CHR station could serve the populated areas, and 99.1 could reach a wider portion of the market and took its current call sign of WRKW from 92.1, and a new name, Rocky 99. At the same time the primarily rock based station then began a shift within its format, mostly playing 'classic' rock songs over 30 years old, while still occasionally playing newer rock, similar to the former 92.1 The Rock.

ports on Rocky99

WRKW is a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network, carrying pre-game and post-game coverage along with the games themselves.

External links

* [http://www.rocky99.com WRKW official website]
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