WPKE-FM

{{for|the AM radio station in Pikeville, Kentucky, United States|WPKE (AM)}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WPKE-FM

| logo =

| logo_size =

| city = Coal Run, Kentucky

| area = Pikeville, Kentucky

| branding = Rock 103.1

| frequency = 103.1 MHz

| repeater =

| airdate = {{start date|1974|9|1}} (as WECL)

| format = Classic rock

| erp = 1,200 watts

| haat = {{convert|226|m|ft|sp=us}}

| class = A

| facility_id = 32973

| coordinates =

| callsign_meaning = Pikeville{{cite web|url=http://www.oldradio.com/archives/nelson/origins.call-list.html |title=Call Letter Origins |work=Radio History on the Web }}

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WECL (1974–1990)|WRAU (1990–1993)}}

| affiliations = {{ubl|Compass Media Networks|Kentucky Sports Radio|Premiere Networks}}

| owner = Lynn Parrish

| licensee = Mountain Top Media LLC

| sister_stations = WPKE, WDHR, WZLK, WXCC, WLSI, WEKB, WPRT, WBTH

| webcast = [https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/WPKE/ Listen Live]

| website = [https://www.wpke.com wpke.com]

| licensing_authority= FCC

}}

WPKE-FM (103.1 MHz) is a classic rock–formatted radio station licensed to Coal Run, Kentucky, United States, and serving Pikeville. The station is currently owned by Mountain Top Media as part of a conglomerate with seven other stations; Cindy May Johnson is Managing Member. The Mountain Top group's studios are located along Peach Orchard Drive above Pikeville, with its transmitter located across the Levisa Fork. The station features programming from Compass Media Networks, Premiere Radio Networks, and Kentucky Sports Radio.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WPKE-FM |title=WPKE-FM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}

History

File:WPKE-FM logo.jpg

The station went on the air in 1974 as WECL, owned by Allen Epling. The station would later be sold to Gary Justice and become WRAU on June 1, 1990. In 1993, local radio owner Walter May acquired WRAU. He changed the call letters to WPKE-FM on December 27, adopting an adult contemporary music format.{{cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=32973&Callsign=WPKE |title=WPKE Call Sign History |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}{{cite book|last=Nash|first=Francis M.|date=1995|title=Towers over Kentucky: A History of Radio and TV in the Bluegrass State|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Towers-Over-Kentucky-Nash-1995.pdf|location=Lexington, KY|publisher=Host Communications|pages=223–4|isbn=1-879688-93-X}}

File:Rock Logo w black background.png

In 2008, the station aired basketball games from the Continental Basketball Association's East Kentucky Miners.{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/47876/minor-league-miners-ink-radio-deal-with-wpke-f?ref=search|title=Minor League Miners Ink Radio Deal With WPKE-F|publisher=All-Access.com|date=24 October 2008|access-date=12 May 2023}} The station operated as Mix 103.1 in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://radiotime.com/station/s_21972/The_Mix_1031.aspx|title=WPKE-FM - The Mix 103.1 Pikeville, KY|publisher=radiotime.com|accessdate=2009-11-24}} In 2019, WPKE-FM and its sister stations were sold to Lynn Parrish's Mountain Top Media for $2.85 million.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/175759/station-sales-week-of-3-29/|title=Station Sales Week of 3/29|last=Venta|first=Lance|publisher=Radio Insight|date=29 March 2019|access-date=12 May 2023}}

Programming

WPKE-FM airs a variety of syndicated programming. On weekday mornings, it broadcasts The John Boy & Billy Big Show from Premiere Networks, followed by Kentucky Sports Radio from WLAP (630 AM) in Lexington, Kentucky.{{cite web|url=https://wpke.com/the-big-show-with-john-boy-and-billy/|title=The Big Show with John Boy & Billy|publisher=Mountain Top Media|access-date=12 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://wpke.com/kentucky-sports-radio/|title=Kentucky Sports Radio|publisher=Mountain Top Media|access-date=12 May 2023}}

References

External links

{{FM station data|32973|WPKE-FM}}

PKE-FM

Category:Pike County, Kentucky

Category:Classic rock radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1974

Category:1974 establishments in Kentucky