WKEA-FM
 | |
| City | Scottsboro, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Branding | K-98 |
| Slogan | "Tri-State's New Hit Country" |
| Frequency | 98.3 MHz |
| Translator(s) | W289BV 105.7 FM |
| First air date | November 3, 1965 |
| Format | Country |
| ERP | 11,000 watts |
| HAAT | 150 meters (492 feet) |
| Class | C3 |
| Facility ID | 33781 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 34°32′0.00″N 85°55′20.00″W / 34.5333333°N 85.9222222°W |
| Former callsigns | WCNA (1965-1981) |
| Affiliations | Jones Radio Network, Fox News Radio |
| Owner | KEA Radio, Inc. |
| Sister stations | WMXN-FM |
| Website | http://www.wkeafm.com http://www.lake1057.com |
WKEA-FM (98.3 FM, "K98") is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Scottsboro, Alabama, United States. The station is owned by KEA Radio, Inc.
WKEA-FM broadcasts a country music format including programming from Jones Radio Network and Fox News Radio.[1]
History
Radio station WCNA-FM was founded in 1965 by Dr. Ralph Sheppard, a local dentist and owner of the Jackson County Advertiser, a weekly newspaper.[2] The first FM radio station in Jackson County, Alabama, WCNA-FM began broadcasting a country music format on November 3, 1965. In 1971, Sheppard transferred the license to a company named Mellow Sound Broadcasting.[3] The city of Scottsboro later honored Sheppard by declaring April 30, 2008, as "Dr. Ralph Sheppard Day" in honor of his many contributions to the community.[2]
In July 1981, Mellow Sound Broadcasting, Inc., made a deal to sell this station to KEA Radio, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 28, 1981.[4] The new owners had the FCC assign new call letters WKEA-FM on October 1, 1981.[5]
In late August 2013 the station debuted a translator on 105.7 MHz, relaying WKEA. (W289BV) In a curious move, despite being a simulcast, the translator has its own branding, as "Lake 105.7". (Taken from Alabama Broadcast Media Page)
References
- ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Archived from the original on March 1, 2010.
- 1 2 Brown, Chasity (April 28, 2008). "City to honor Dr. Sheppard". The Daily Sentinel.
Sheppard went on later to start Jackson County's first FM radio station, WCNA FM, which ran on a country music format.
- ↑ "The Facilities of Radio". 1972 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1972. p. B-8.
- ↑ "Application Search Details (BALH-19810724FG)". FCC Media Bureau.
- ↑ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
The station was originally planned as an easy listening music station and the call letters WCNA-FM stood for, "We Cover North Alabama with Fine Music. One of the stations early DJ's, Doug Hodges, convinced the owner to change to a country format.