WHWK

Radio station in Binghamton, New York
  • Binghamton, New York
Broadcast areaSouthern TierFrequency98.1 MHzBranding98.1 The HawkProgrammingFormatCountryAffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Westwood OneOwnershipOwner
  • Townsquare Media
  • (Townsquare License, LLC)
Sister stations
WAAL, WNBF, WWYLHistory
First air date
January 1956 (1956-01)
Former call signs
WNBF-FM (1956–1972)
WQYT (1972–1983)
Call sign meaning
"Hawk"Technical informationFacility ID72373ClassBERP6,700 wattsHAAT395 meters (1,296 ft)LinksWebcastListen LiveWebsite981thehawk.com

WHWK (98.1 FM "The Hawk") is a commercial radio station in Binghamton, New York. It carries a country music radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media. Local disc jockeys are heard during the day on weekdays. Two syndicated shows are heard after 7 p.m.: Taste of Country Nights from Compass Media Networks, hosted by Evan Paul, and The Third Shift from Westwood One heard overnights. Current local staff include Glenn Pitcher, Traci Taylor, Jess Dallas and Buddy Logan.[1] It is regularly the highest ranking station in the Nielson ratings in the Binghamton radio market.

WHWK has an effective radiated power of 6,700 watts. The transmitter is off Ingraham Hill Road in Binghamton, amid the towers for other FM and TV stations in the region.[2]

History

In January 1956, the station first signed on as WNBF-FM.[3] It was co-owned with WNBF (1290 AM) and WNBF-TV (channel 12), which had operated a previous WNBF-FM on various frequencies (among them 100.5) from 1940 to 1952. The owner was Triangle Publications, which also put out the weekly magazine TV Guide. At first, WNBF-FM simulcast the programming on the AM station.

In the 1960s, WNBF-FM switched to its own beautiful music format. It played quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumental cover versions of popular songs, as well as Broadway and Hollywood show tunes.

In 1972, as part of Triangle's dismantling, Stoner Broadcasting, based in Des Moines, bought WNBF-AM-FM. At the same time, Gateway Communications, the publisher of The Record of Bergen County, New Jersey, bought WNBF-TV (now WBNG-TV).[4] Also in 1972, WNBF-FM changed its call sign to WQYT, representing its "quiet" format. In the 1980s, the easy listening music audience was aging while advertisers mostly seek young and middle aged adults. Management decided to make a change.

In January 1984, 98.1 switched to a country music format, calling itself "98.1 The Hawk". It switched its call letters to WHWK. Citadel Broadcasting acquired WHWK and its AM counterpart, WNBF.[5]

References

  1. ^ 981TheHawk.com/DJs
  2. ^ WHWK-FM 98.1 MHz, Binghamton, New York, retrieved 2020-11-23
  3. ^ Information from the Broadcasting Yearbook 1957 page 181
  4. ^ "End of an era" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 6, 1972. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-375

External links

  • Official website
  • 98.1 The Hawk Official Facebook Page
  • 98.1 The Hawk Official Twitter
  • WHWK in the FCC FM station database
  • WHWK in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
  • v
  • t
  • e
Radio stations in the Binghamton, New York, metropolitan area and Montrose, Pennsylvania (eastern Twin Tiers)
By AM frequencyBy FM frequency
LPFM
Translators
NOAA Weather Radio
frequencyDigital radio
by frequency & subchannelBy call signDefunct stations
Radio stations in the Twin Tiers
Binghamton
Elmira-Corning
Olean–Bradford
Other nearby regions
Albany-Schenectady-Troy
Ithaca
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Syracuse
Utica-Rome
See also
List of radio stations in New York
List of radio stations in Pennsylvania
  • v
  • t
  • e
(formerly Regent Communications, and including former Gap Broadcasting Group and Double O Radio)
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Defunct
Live events
Websites
Radio networks
  • **License held by a divestiture trust; sale pending.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Country radio stations in the state of New York
Stations
See also
adult contemporary
classic hits
college
country
news/talk
NPR
oldies
religious
rock
sports
top 40
urban
other radio stations in New York

42°03′40″N 75°56′42″W / 42.061°N 75.945°W / 42.061; -75.945


Stub icon 1 Stub icon 2

This article about a radio station in New York is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e