WKIF

Infobox Radio station
name = WKIF


city = Kankakee, Illinois
area =
branding =
slogan = "CNN Radio for the Kankakee Valley"
airdate = 1986-01-21 (as WMHG)
frequency = 92.7 MHz
format = All News
power =
erp = 3,000 watts
haat = 100.0 meters
class = A
facility_id = 62360
coordinates = coord|41|7|22.00|N| 87|53|35.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning = from previous format as "KISS-FM"
former_callsigns = WMHG (1986-1986)
WLRT (1986-1998)
WBRO (1998-1998)
owner = Wkif, Inc.
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website =
affiliations = CNN Radio

WKIF (92.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a All News format. Licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, USA. The station features programming from CNN Headline News with Local Traffic and Weather. WKIF also broadcasts Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Football and other sporting events. WKIF is owned by Newsweb Corporation. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WKIF |title=WKIF Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ]

History

The station went on the air in January 1986 under the call letters of WMHG with a country format. The callsign was changed to WLRT the same year.

In early 1998, Big City Radio Group took over WCBR and WLRT in Kankakee (also on 92.7), shortly after acquiring WLRT, the call letters were changed to WBRO. The two stations stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles sister station "Y 107", which had a modern rock format.

In November 1998, WCBR and WBRO launched their new official format, CHR as "92.7 KISS FM." with the first song being "Kiss" by Prince. This would be Chicago's first true CHR station in many years and proved to be quite successful, even with the two stations' weak signals. In early 1999, the calls were changed to WKIE and WKIF. In summer 1999 Big City purchased a third station, WDEK 92.5 in Dekalb, IL, which had a locally programmed CHR format at the time and began simulcasting it with WKIE and WKIF as a trimulcast. Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 KISS FM"

On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel flipped it's full-signal WUBT from rhythmic oldies to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5". At that time, they issued a cease and desist order to Big City Radio insisting they stop using the "Kiss FM" moniker. "92 KISS-FM" continued until January 26 2001 when the three signals became "Energy 92-7&5", with a format consisting entirely of dance music. The airstaff and voiceover talent Sean Caldwell remained intact.

Energy gained lots of attention via the internet and gained a relatively devoted following in the Chicago area and worldwide via its webcast. Considering their niche format and signal limitations, Energy was competitive in the ratings and in revenues.

In late 2002, Big City Radio, which had overextended itself in obtaining radio stations, declared bankruptcy and began liquidating its properties. WKIE, WKIF and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting System and WXXY/WYXX (which had a Mexican music format) to the Hispanic Broadcasting Company. On January 5, 2003, Energy became "Onda 92".

Onda 92 was never successful in the ratings, and SBS had their own financial problems, so in June 2004 the company sold WKIE, WKIF and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation. At midnight on November 22, 2004, WKIE and WDEK went to simulcast WRZA and became "Nine FM", while WKIF was broken off the trimulcast and became CNN Headline News for the Kankakee, Illinois area.

References