WBKZ (105.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Christian worship format branded as Air1. WBKZ is licensed to Havelock, North Carolina. The station was sold in 2010 by NM Licensing LLC.[2] The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation.

WBKZ
Frequency105.1 MHz
BrandingAir1
Programming
FormatWorship music
AffiliationsAir1
Ownership
OwnerEducational Media Foundation
History
Former call signs
  • WKVO-FM (1971–1978)
  • WMSQ (1978–1996)
  • WANG (1996–1999)
  • WANG-FM (1999–2005)
  • WKOO (2005)
  • WSSM (2005–2008)
  • WRQR (2008)
  • WSSM (2008–2010)
  • WLVG (2010–2018)
  • WHAR (2018–2024)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID47106
ClassC3
ERP18,500 watts
HAAT117 meters
Transmitter coordinates
34°45′07″N 76°52′57″W / 34.75194°N 76.88250°W / 34.75194; -76.88250
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websiteair1.com

History

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This station was previously WKVO-FM until 1978, then WMSQ Q105 through the early 1990s, until they switched to Country music in 1996 with the call sign WANG-FM. Later, WANG-FM switched to adult standards. The station switched briefly to Westwood One oldies; on April 17, 2005, the call sign changed to WKOO (Kool 105.1").[3] On June 13, 2005, the station changed to the Westwood One "Sam FM" adult hits format[4] and the WSSM call sign.

In October 2006, WSSM returned to Dial-Global's Adult Standards format "America's Best Music".

In late April 2008, WSSM returned to the SAM "Simply About Music" adult hits format.

On May 27, 2010, WSSM ceased operation as it changed formats when sold by NextMedia Group under new ownership and changed its call sign to WLVG.

Call sign history

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The station was assigned the call sign WKVO-FM in 1971, and was sold to MusicRadio, Inc. (a Maryland group) who changed the call sign to WMSQ in 1978. The station was a very valuable asset to the town of Havelock, N.C. and the nearby Marine Air Station at Cherry Point during several hurricanes in the 1980s. Havelock's business "golden age" peaked during the station's successful years from 1979 to 1990, partly due to the community involvement of station management and personalities. Arbitron ratings consistently saw the small station competing with much more powerful FM stations in nearby New Bern and Washington. On August 15, 1996, the station changed its call sign to WANG; on January 22, 1999 to WANG-FM; on April 11, 2005 to WKOO; on June 21, 2005 to WSSM; on March 10, 2008 to WRQR, then back to WSSM. On May 27, 2010, the call sign was changed to WLVG.[5]

On April 16, 2018, the station changed its call sign to WHAR.

On March 28, 2024, the station changed its call sign to WBKZ.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WBKZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "WBKZ Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ "New Bern/Morehead City, NC". VarietyHits.com. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  4. ^ "News archive: June 2005". VarietyHits.com. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  5. ^ "WBKZ Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
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