As the clock struck midnight Monday night, WNKU's broadcast signal blasted out of a new home. Two new homes, actually: 105.9 FM (based in Middletown) and 104.1 FM (based in Portsmouth). It was a pretty heady climax to the year-long celebration of WNKU's 25th anniversary.
At midnight the stations' country music format ended and the sound of David Dye's voice came on to open the syndicated World Cafe public radio program, repeated from earlier this evening and featuring a live performance by The Old 97s.—-
Acquiring the two new frequencies finally solves WNKU’s battle with weak signal problems in parts of Northern Kentucky, downtown Cincinnati and the northern suburbs, all of which will be served by the clear signal at 105.9. The 104.1 signal stretches the station's reach all the way east to Huntington, W.Va.
Read more about WNKU's acquisition of the two new signals here.
Mike Breen talks in Spill It about the impact an expanded WNKU signal has on the area music scene, while Sunday's Enquirer had an article by John Kiesewetter speculating that the increased reach could also benefit the MidPoint Music Festival, which WNKU sponsors.
[Photo above: WNKU Station Manager Chuck Miller gives the thumbs up Jan. 31 at the station's broadcast center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University as he and station staff count down the hours to midnight's signal switchover. Photo by Sam Spencer.]
