FM Technical Profile: WRKH

Station Name:

96.1 the Rocket

Frequency:

96.1

Format:

Classic Rock

Transmitter Location:

[map] On the WKRG-DT tower and co-located with several FMs: WMXC, WABD and WHIL.

Power (ERP):

77 kW

Antenna:

Omnidirectional

Antenna HAAT:

1755 feet

Other Information:

60 dBu protected contour map, from the FCC.

HD-2: News/Talk

// WNTM-AM

:PS-Rocket The Home of Classic Rock [artist / song title] Time-unknown Text-Rocket [song title/artist] The Home of Classic Rock PTY-Classic Rock PI-KAZN-FM

More Information:

[FCC]

[RECnet]

[Radio-Locator]

[Wikipedia]

Owner:

Clear Channel

History:

Was Mobile's first independent FM. WLPR were the calls, which stood for Living Presence Radio -- a term to describe the stereophonic sound. Went on the air in 1964. Likely started off from a short tower off Schaub Avenue in west Mobile, off Airport Boulevard. Later moved to the First National Bank building downtown, with a small antenna atop the building and studios on the 12^th floor. Stayed with those calls and the beautiful music format until 1987, when new owners re-named the station WAVH, The Wave. The format was vocal based easy listening. Within two years the station went to the oldies format. In the mid 90's the station changed to WMYC -- Mobile's Young Country -- as a strategic move against a sister station's competitor. At this point the WAVH calls and oldies format went to 106.5 FM. Once the competitor was bought out, 96.1 underwent more changes, this time to WRKH calls with a classic rock format.

 

The start of September saw a change on the station's HD multicast channel.  They've dumped CHR "Hot Spot" programming for a simulcast of WNTM-AM, Clear Channel's Mobile-based news/talker.  This gives the station a substantial boost in coverage over the AM, especially at night.  The HD multicast fell silent in January 2012, but returned in March of that year, then fell silent again in August, only to return sometime in January 2013.

 

Although this station is listed as a full class C, it does not actually have the maximum facilities.  Clear Channel had a permit to raise the power to 100 kW at an even greater antenna height, but that permit was dismissed in March 2012.  It is believed they dropped the boost so WBBN in Taylorsville, Mississippi, could improve its coverage area.