WRKT
 | |
| Broadcast area | Erie, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.9 MHz |
| Branding | Rocket 105 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Active rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WFNN, WJET, WRTS, WEBG, WTWF, WXBB | |
| History | |
First air date | March 29, 1970 |
Former call signs | WHYP-FM (1970–1989) |
Former frequencies | 100.9 MHz (1970–2017) |
Call sign meaning | "W"e're "Roc"K"e"T"! |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 55063 |
| Class | B1 |
| ERP | 4,500 watts |
| HAAT | 160.5 meters (527 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | rocketerie |
WRKT (104.9 FM, "Rocket 105") is an active rock radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by iHeartMedia. WRKT's studios are located in the Boston Store building in downtown Erie while its transmitter is located near NE Sherman Road and Miller Road in Chautauqua County, New York. It plays both old, new, and next rock songs plus an array of sports.
History
The station signed on in 1970 as WHYP-FM. Owned by James D. Brownyard, it was a simulcast of then sister station WHYP (now WZTE) 1530's Country Music format.[2] WHYP and WHYP-FM were sold to Rambaldo Communications in 1989. On June 22, 1989 at 12:00 p.m., WHYP-FM became WRKT as Rocket 101 at 100.9 MHz, for 28 years before moving up the dial to 104.9 MHz and rebranding as Rocket 105 at 12:00 p.m. on October 20, 2017. The final song as "Rocket 101" was "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, while the first song as "Rocket 105" was "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)" by AC/DC.[3] The 100.9 frequency was to be reallocated to Westfield, New York, and sold at auction. Rick Rambaldo, owner of WEHP, won the bid, but was late in getting his down payment sent to the FCC, leading to rejection of his bid. The frequency again went up for auction in April 2020 (later delayed to July 2021). Rambaldo held an agreement to restore the oldies format that had previously been on WZTE until 2017 had he won the auction.[4] Rambaldo sold WEHP in 2019, but re-entered the 2021 auction, winning the bidding for the 100.9 license.[5] In 2022, Family Life Network claimed that it had acquired the frequency and relocated the 100.9 MHz allocation back to North East as WCGE.[6]
On March 27, 2019, Connoisseur Media announced that it would transfer WRKT, along with its sister stations in Erie, to iHeartMedia in exchange for WFRE and WFMD in the Frederick, Maryland, market from the Aloha Station Trust.[7] The sale closed on May 20, 2019. Since this time, the only remaining local air personalities on the station are Mojo McKay and Allan Carpenter. The remainder of Rocket 105's programming originates from the iHeartMedia Premium Choice lineup.
Notable past and present on-air personalities include Kris Earl Phillips, the original Program Director and architect of the "Rocket" format, Steve Bohen, Paul Spinley, Kevin August, Dave Sharp, Amy St. John, Ronnie "Ron Klinester" Kline, Mark O'Brien, Nat Massing, Mojo McKay, Allan "AC" Carpenter, Woody, with Chris Rodler, and "Static 'Stat' Boy".
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WRKT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Broadcasting Station License Record". Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Rocket 101 Becomes Rocket 105". Format Change Archive. October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ Bruce, David (May 22, 2017). "FCC decision snarls Erie radio owner's bid for second station". Erie Times-News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Venta, Lance (August 5, 2021). "FCC Auction 109 Comes to an End; iHeartMedia Wins 107.9 Sacramento". RadioInsight.
- ^ "Stations". Family Life.
- ^ Venta, Lance (March 27, 2019). "iHeartMedia & Connoisseur Media Swap Frederick & Erie". RadioInsight.
External links
- WRKT official website
- WRKT in the FCC FM station database
- WRKT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- FCC History Cards For WRKT (FM)