Product Code Database
WBHK (98.7 FM broadcasting "98.7 Kiss-FM") is a commercial radio radio station owned by SummitMedia and airing an urban adult contemporary radio format. It is licensed to Warrior, Alabama, and serves Greater Birmingham. In AM drive time, it carries the nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley. (Smiley is a graduate of the University of Alabama.) WBHK shares studios with six in the Cahaba neighborhood in far southeast Birmingham.
WBHK is a Class C1 FM station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 39,000 . The transmitter and tower are on Golden Crest Drive atop Red Mountain. Radio-Locator.com/WBHK The signal can be heard across most of North Alabama and Central Alabama. In 2005, WBHK began broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.
In 1994, the station became known as "98 Lite", and changed to a soft adult contemporary format. In 1995, WLBI began adding smooth jazz programming and eventually morphed into a fulltime smooth jazz station. It continued to broadcast as "98 Lite".
With the format change, the ratings increased. In 2002, the transmitter was upgraded and moved up to Red Mountain after many years of broadcasting from a shorter tower. It was acquired by Atlanta-based Cox Radio in the early 2000s.
On July 20, 2012, Cox Radio announced the sale of WBHK and 22 other stations to Summit Media LLC for $66.25 million. The sale was consummated on May 3, 2013. Under Summit ownership, the station continues its Urban AC format and high ratings.
|
|
