WKSE

WKSE (98.5 FM, branded as KISS 98.5) is a Top 40 (CHR) station serving the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region of Western New York. The station's transmitter is located on Grand Island, New York. It has a sizable market in the Greater Toronto Area, but unlike the WBLK of old, does little marketing and promotion outside Western New York, but now has to compete with two CHR/Top 40 stations, (after the format change of CKIS) in the Greater Toronto Area; therefore, this will lower the number of listeners there. It is currently owned by Entercom Communications, with studios located on Corporate Parkway in Amherst, New York.

WKSE
CityNiagara Falls, New York
Broadcast areaBuffalo, New York
BrandingKiss 98.5
SloganThe #1 Hit Music Station!
Frequency98.5 MHz (HD Radio)
First air date1947 (1947) (as WHLD-FM)
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
HD2: Sports (WGR simulcast)
HD3: News/talk (WBEN simulcast)
ERP46,000 watts
HAAT128 meters (420 ft)
ClassB
Facility ID34384
Transmitter coordinates43.005°N 78.993°W / 43.005; -78.993
Call sign meaningKiSE as in Kiss
Former call signsWHLD-FM (1947–1980)
WIZR (1980–1984)
WRXT (1984–1985)
OwnerEntercom
(Entercom License, LLC)
Sister stationsWBEN, WGR, WWKB, WTSS, WWWS, WLKK
WebcastListen Live
Websitekiss985.com

WKSE signed on as WHLD-FM in 1947. It changed its call sign to WZIR in 1980, WRXT in 1984, and the current call sign in 1985. It currently runs a Top 40 format, which has been in place since September 1984. Much of its playlist overlaps that of sister station Star 102.5 at times The 102.5 frequency was a CHR competitor of WKSE in the late 1980s and early 1990s as WMJQ "Majic 102". WKSE competes with longtime rival, 2Day FM 105.1 (formerly 2Day FM 105.1/101.1), which has a very similar format, However CJED switched formats on March 1, 2018. Currently, the ratings for WKSE is higher than 105.1 2Day FM in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region, according to Nielsen Audio.

WKSE sold its broadcast tower to Vertical Bridge in March 2019; WKSE will continue to use the tower under a leasing arrangement.[1]

In 2006 Kiss 98.5 began streaming its programming over the internet.

Programming

Most of WKSE's program lineup originates locally, with the exception of Ryan Seacrest's programs On Air and American Top 40, as well as Open House Party. Janet Snyder has been the station's morning show co-host since 1989, with her co-host Nicholas Pickolas joining in 1994.

References
  1. https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2019/03/07/real-estate-notes-wkse-fm-tower-sells-for-1-47.html


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