KKHQ-FM

{{for|the Oelwein, Iowa radio station that held the call sign KKHQ-FM at 92.3 FM from 2003 to 2020|KOEL-FM}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = KKHQ-FM

| logo =

| logo_size = 150px

| city = Cedar Falls, Iowa

| area = Waterloo-Cedar Falls

| branding = Q98-5

| frequency = 98.5 MHz

| airdate = January 7, 1994 (as KKCV)

| format = Top 40 (CHR)

| erp = 15,000 watts

| haat = {{convert|129|meters}}

| class = C3

| facility_id = 66780

| coordinates =

| callsign_meaning = The Q in KKHQ is used for the "Q98.5" branding

| former_callsigns = KKCV (1993–2003), KOEL (2003)
KOEL-FM (2003–2020)

| affiliations = Compass Media Networks
Premiere Networks

| owner = Townsquare Media

| licensee = Townsquare License, LLC

| sister_stations = KCRR, KOEL, KOEL-FM

| webcast = [https://q985.fm/listen-live/ Listen Live]

| website = [https://q985.fm q985.fm]

| licensing_authority= FCC

}}

KKHQ-FM (98.5 MHz), branded as Q98-5, is a radio station serving Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and surrounding cities with a Top 40/CHR format. This station is owned by Townsquare Media.

History

KKCV signed on the air on January 7, 1994, and aired a country format branded as "The Hog."Amy Davis, "The wild, wild waves," The Courier, February 20, 1994. The station would later rebrand as "K98.5."Emily Graham, "Radio Group holds two top slots," The Courier, February 16, 2003. On September 22, 2003, the country formats of KKCV and KOEL-FM were merged on the 98.5 FM frequency, along with the KOEL-FM call letters, as the latter flipped to Top 40/CHR format as "Q92.3."{{cite web | url=https://northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0903.html | title=Broadcasting News-September 2003 }}

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including the then-KOEL-FM, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global are both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management.{{cite news|title=Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/121835/official-cumulus-buys-dial-global-spins-some-stati|access-date=August 30, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=August 30, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/84851/are-these-the-markets-in-the-cumulustownsquaredial-global-deal/|access-date=August 30, 2013|newspaper=RadioInsight|date=August 30, 2013}} The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013; KOEL-FM was one of three stations (along with KCRR and KKHQ-FM) that were placed in a divestiture trust for eventual resale within two years.{{cite news|title=Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/124346/cumulus-townsquare-peak-deal-closes|access-date=November 16, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=November 15, 2013}} In December 2016, the Federal Communications Commission approved Townsquare's request to reacquire the stations from the divestiture trust.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/160697/connoisseur-media-sells-wichita-pair-to-rocking-m-|title = Connoisseur Media Sells Wichita Pair to Rocking M Media}}

On December 9, 2020, KOEL-FM and KKHQ-FM swapped frequencies, bringing the KOEL-FM call letters and the country format back to 92.3 FM after 17 years. In return, KKHQ-FM's Top 40/CHR format moved to 98.5 and rebranded as "Q98.5".{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/202456/townsquare-swaps-formats-in-waterloo/|title = Townsquare Swaps Formats in Waterloo}}

References

External links

[http://www.q985.fm Q98.5 - Official website]

{{coord|42.442|N|92.397|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}

Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States

Category:Cedar Falls, Iowa

Category:Radio stations established in 1994

KHQ-FM

Category:Townsquare Media radio stations

Category:1994 establishments in Iowa