WBUL-FM

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Coordinates: 38°02′06″N 84°27′00″W / 38.035°N 84.450°W / 38.035; -84.450
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

WBUL-FM
iHeartMedia, Inc.
  • (iHM Licenses, LLC)
    • WKQQ, WLAP, WLKT, WMXL, WWTF
    History
    First air date
    		July 15, 1969 (1969-07-15)
    Former call signs
    • WLEX-FM (1968–1972)
    • WLEX (1972–1974)
    • WKQQ (1974–1998)
    Call sign meaning
    		"Bull"
    Technical information
    Facility ID70192
    ClassC1
    ERP100,000 watts
    HAAT171 meters (561 ft)
    Translator(s)HD2: 98.5 W253BK (Winchester)
    Links
    WebcastListen Live
    Listen Live (HD2)
    Websitewbul.iheart.com
    981thebullicons.iheart.com (HD2)

    WBUL-FM (98.1

    iHeartMedia, Inc. currently owns the station. WBUL-FM was the third station to begin broadcasting HD Radio in Lexington after WUKY and WKQQ.[1]

    former logo

    The station serves as the FM flagship of the UK Sports Network, airing Kentucky Wildcats football and men's basketball to make up for shortfalls in coverage by AM flagship and sister station WLAP.

    History

    WLEX-FM and WKQQ

    On April 19, 1966, the Federal Communications Commission issued a construction permit to WLEX-TV, Inc., to build a new FM radio station in Lexington. WLEX-FM began broadcasting July 15, 1969,[2] as a stereo rock music station reliant on automated taped programming. After five years of operation, the television station opted to sell the FM outlet owing to persistent equipment issues. It was purchased by Village Communications, which simultaneously acquired WBLG (1300 AM), and was relaunched with a new rock format as WKQQ on December 1, 1974.[3][4]: 153–154, 295  In 1979, Village sold off WBLG—which had been less successful for the company than WKQQ[5]—to raise capital for cable television ventures, and the station upgraded in power from 50,000 to 100,000 watts.[6] At this time, the station began a run of success in the Lexington market. It posted double-digit ratings shares in every year from 1978 to 1995, including number one ratings in 1979 and 1981.[7] For most of this time, from 1983 to 1996, Dave "Kruser" Klusenhaus hosted mornings.[8]

    As radio ownership rules were deregulated in the 1990s, Village began expanding its holdings in Lexington area by buying Georgetown's WTKT (103.3 FM) and WBBE (1580 AM).[9] The three Village stations were then sold in 1996 to Jacor Communications of Cincinnati.[10]

    WBUL

    In 1998, Jacor effectuated a format swap between two of its stations. WKQQ's call sign and programming moved to the former WWYC at 100.1 MHz. In exchange, WWYC's country format moved to 98.1 as part of a substantial relaunch, which local Jacor management noted could not occur without the frequency change. The station stunted by playing only Garth Brooks songs and became country-formatted WBUL.[11]

    References

    1. ^ http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=100 Archived November 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine HD Radio Station Guide for Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
    2. ^ "WLEX(FM)" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. 1973. p. B-81. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via World Radio History.
    3. ^ Reed, David (December 1, 1974). "Local Stations Have Little Pull With Network". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. TV Time 1, 8. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
    4. ISBN 978-1-879688-93-3. Archived
      (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via World Radio History.
    5. ^ Reed, David (January 8, 1979). "Rumors That Barry Will Go to Channel 18 Are Unfounded". The Lexington Herald. p. C-9. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
    6. ^ Bowden, Darlene (March 15, 1979). "WBLG bought by Ohio firm". The Lexington Leader. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
    7. ^ Duncan, James H. Jr. (2004). "Lexington" (PDF). An American Radio Trilogy: The Markets. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via World Radio History.
    8. ^ "Firings rock morning crew at Double Q: Syndicated show to replace 'Kruser'". Lexington Herald-Leader. January 20, 1996. p. Today 3, 15. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
    9. ^ "WKQQ parent buying 2 more stations". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 19, 1994. p. C9. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
    10. ^ Wagar, Kit (November 30, 1996). "Local buys add to Jacor radio empire". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A11. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
    11. ^ Svokos, Heather (January 10, 1998). "WKQQ moves up dial, makes way for Garth". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. Home & Garden 2. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

    External links

    38°02′06″N 84°27′00″W / 38.035°N 84.450°W / 38.035; -84.450

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