WYKV

Infobox Radio station
name = WYKV


city = Ravena, New York
area = Capital District
branding =
slogan =
airdate = November 1991
frequency = 94.5 MHz
format = Contemporary Christian music
power = 3 kW
erp = 3 kW
class = A
callsign_meaning = We're Your K-LoVe
former_callsigns = WRAV-FM (1991-93) WEMX (1993-96) WABY-FM (1996-99) WKLI (1999-2001) WRCZ (2001-06) WBOE (2006-07)
owner = EMF Broadcasting
webcast =
website = [http://www.klove.com/ www.klove.com]
affiliations =

WYKV is a Christian rock radio station licensed to Ravena, New York and serving the Capital District and upper Hudson Valley of New York. The station is owned by EMF Broadcasting and broadcasts at 3 kilowatts ERP from a location in Selkirk, New York. It broadcasts EMF's K-LOVE format.

History

The 94.5 frequency signed on as WRAV-FM in November 1991 with a Jones "Adult Choice" satellite-fed Adult Contemporary format which tried to target Albany's southern suburbs. WRAV struggled from the outset with no less than three rivals in Albany and, soon after signing on, a rival in Catskill as well. As a result, the station struggled financially and was sold in November 1993 after nearly going dark; the new owners switched programming services to the ABC/SMN "Hot AC" format and relaunched the station as WEMX "(Mix 94.5)". Though WEMX was better off financially, it still struggled in terms of ratings and revenue.

In June 1995, WKLI/WABY(1400) owner Paul Bendat bought WEMX and that August (after five weeks of syndicated talk shows and Hot adult contemporary music) changed the station's format to a simulcast of the pop standards format heard on WABY. Initially, the station had various prior commitments on weekends to clear and was forced to sign off overnights due to a programming service conflict between WABY and WCKL in Catskill. In May 1996, the station was granted a call letter change to WABY-FM. From the outset, the simulcast was wildly successful with ratings often being among the Top 5 stations (12+) in the Albany market. WKLI had always supported the WABY stations and although revenue at WABY improved, a misconception of the value of its audience due to poor sales staff never allowed it to reach its potential. A decline at WKLI coupled with the lure of money led to Bendat's days being numbered.

In February 1999, Paul Bendat sold his stations to Tele-Media, Inc. which that Spring replaced pop standards with satellite-fed soft gold, from the ABC/SMN "Memories" network, outside drivetimes (and flipped the AM side to news programming by day in April 1999). This set the station up for a wholesale flip to soft adult contemporary which came on December 26, 1999 with the reincarnation of the "K-Lite" format formerly of 100.9 FM with the WKLI calls moving to 94.5 with the station converting back to all-local programming after a Christmas music stunt in late-1999. Given its signal impairments and fierce competition from WYJB, WKLI's ratings fell to levels not seen in years and revenue barely improved vs. the standards format though the station had some success with Delilah After Dark in the evening hours.

Tele-Media left the Albany market in August 2001 with WKLI and WABY being sold to Syracuse, New York-based Galaxy Communications. The sale resulted in a format flip for WKLI to "Classic rock that Really Rocks" becoming WRCZ "(94 Rock)" with former WPYX-FM morning host Bob Mason in mornings.

On January 4 2006, WRCZ began to simulcast on sister station WEGQ (which had been classic country music) with a new slogan "The Bone". In addition to its Mainstream rock format, "The Bone" was home to "Nights with Alice Cooper", and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup motorsports. J. R. Gach, a holdover from WRCZ, was the morning personality until August 2006.

In February 2007, Galaxy exited the Albany market, the station having been bought by EMF Broadcasting and now broadcasting their Christian radio format, K-LOVE. [ [http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=566884&category=BUSINESS&newsdate=2/27/2007] Times Union article accessed February 28, 2006]

WBOE officially became WYKV on July 6, 2007.

References

External links