WKSG (98.3

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

) is an FM

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broadcasting and licensed to

Garrison, Kentucky Garrison is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Lewis County, Kentucky, United States. Its population was 731 as of the 2020 census. Garrison has a post office with ZIP code 41141, which opened on February 26, 1886. The ...

, United States; the station is currently owned by Strong Tower Christian Media. and serves

Portsmouth, OH Portsmouth is a city in Scioto County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Located in southern Ohio south of Chillicothe, it lies on the north bank of the Ohio River, across from Kentucky and just east of the mouth of the Scioto River. Th ...

and the OH-KY-WV Tri-State area. The station's transmitter tower is located in Greenup County near the community of

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and the Lewis County line.

History

Originally licensed in 1998 as WOKE and branded as ''Joy FM'' playing southern gospel music, the station subsequently shifted to

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...

branded as ''Ignite FM'', before flipping to a secular

contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (CHR, also known as contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top ...

format branded as ''Pulse 98.3''. In 2018, the station was sold to Fowler Media Partners. WPAY-FM logo 2018

In March 2018, the station stunted as "

Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

98.3" for a week, promising to "Make Radio Great Again". This emulated a similar stunt by related station WVWF, with a playlist of songs referencing money, patriotism, and

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. On March 8, 2018, WOKE flipped to a "

Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

Superstars" format and changed its call sign to WPAY-FM. The call sign was acquired from the local

K-Love K-Love (stylized as K-LOVE) is an American Christian radio network. Owned by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF), a non-profit Christian ministry, it primarily broadcasts contemporary Christian music. As of June 2019, the network's progr ...

station now known as

WPYK WPYK (104.1 FM) is a radio station licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio. The station became notable when it stayed on air during the floods in Portsmouth in 1937, giving up-to-the-minute news and announcements to those separated and weary from the floo ...

, which operated as a country station under the WPAY-FM call sign from 1966 until 2011 and again briefly identifying as WPAY-FM in 2017–2018 after assuming the K-Love format. Sean King of WOKE became the morning host on the new WPAY-FM. The station changed its call sign to WFHT on July 23, 2021, and to WZGR on October 25, 2021. On November 29, 2021, WZGR changed its format from classic country to southern gospel, branded as "Grace-FM 98.3". On January 17, 2022, WZGR changed its format from southern gospel to hot adult contemporary, branded as "98.3 Hot-FM" and changed its call sign back to WFHT on January 26, then changed them again to WITO on March 6. The WITO call sign was then swapped with the former WIRO in

Ironton, Ohio Ironton is a city in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 10,571 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located in southern Ohio, southernmost Ohio along the Ohio River, it is northwest of Huntingt ...

, on May 10. Fowler Media Partners announced the sale of WIRO, which by then had shifted to contemporary hit radio, to Strong Tower Christian Media of

Xenia, Ohio Xenia ( ) is a city in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Located in southwestern Ohio, it is east of Dayton, Ohio, Dayton and is part of the Greater Dayton, Dayton metropolitan area as well as the Miami Valley region. As o ...

, with the intention of returning the station to a southern gospel format using an LMA even before the completion of the sale, late in 2022. The station changed its call sign to WKSG on October 20, 2022; on November 23, the station began stunting with Christmas music as "98.3 The Rock" as Strong Tower began operation of the station by

local marketing agreement In North American broadcasting, a local marketing agreement (LMA), or local management agreement, is a contract in which one corporation, company agrees to operate a radio station, radio or television station owned by another party. In essence, it ...

. The sale was consummated on November 30, 2022. On December 26, 2022, the station launched a full time Southern Gospel Hits format.Strong Tower Christian Media Launches 98.3 The Rock
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References

External links

* * {{Religious Radio Stations in Kentucky Radio stations established in 1998 1998 establishments in Kentucky Southern Gospel radio stations in the United States KSG