WRKW
Encyclopedia
WRKW is a commercially licensed radio station
, licensed to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
. The station is owned by Forever Broadcasting of Johnstown and maintains studios and offices at 109 Plaza Drive in Johnstown. WRKW operates at the federally assigned frequency of 99.1 megahertz with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. There is a relation with WRKY in Altoona, Pennsylvania
in that they are part of Forever Broadcasting.
Years later, as Johnstown's economy prospered, the station moved to 1240 Scalp Avenue in Richland Township, where it became more of a regional station serving West Central Pennsylvania.
Throughout its existence, WIYQ went through a series of different formats, from middle-of-the-road to a brief period of hard rock in the mid-1980's. What WIYQ particularly became well known for was a local polka show broadcast every Sunday afternoon.
"Jo-Jo's Polka Swing" debuted in 1973, and remained a staple of WIYQ's programming for twenty years, becoming one of the most successful programs on the station, with listeners calling in from as far away as Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs. Joe Vesnesky, a Glendale High School History Teacher by trade who also did sports play-by-play for another area station, hosted the show, gaining an especially strong following because of his mastery of the native Polish language and the powerful signal of WIYQ, which reached 27 counties in three states.
Air personality "Country Ron" took over the morning show at WIYQ in 1974 and soon developed a huge following among the areas Country Music fans and hosted several live broadcasts from the nearby Cambria County Fairgrounds. Ron Kauffman graduated from Glendale High School and had been a student of Joe Vesnesky. Ron once introduced Kitty Wells, the 'Queen of Country Music' to the stage at a local high school.
.
WIYQ then became known as WQKK, or "Quick Rock", operating as a satellite of rocker WQWK in State College. The station was purchased by TMZ as part of a strategic move to increase its presence in Johnstown and Altoona. WQWK's weaker signal at 97.1 did not have the ability to reach Johnstown at all, while barely touching Altoona. The much-stronger 99.1 signal helped WQWK penetrate these areas. WQKK and WGLU would later swap frequencies, with WQKK moving to the much weaker 92.1 signal, while WGLU took over 99.1, branding itself "Power 99.1".
airing weeknights at 9pm), and "Mandatory Metallica" at 11pm.
Radio Network, carrying pre-game and post-game coverage along with the games themselves.
The Steeler games are primarily run by legendary board-op, John Walko, of Windber. John has been running sporting events in the Johnstown area for parts of three decades. Also to note, John did mornings on WIYQ.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, licensed to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Ebensburg is a borough located in, and is the seat of, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, west of Altoona and surrounded by Cambria Township. It is situated in the Alleghenies about 2025 feet above sea level. Ebensburg is located in a rich bituminous coal region. In the past, saw mills, tanneries,...
. The station is owned by Forever Broadcasting of Johnstown and maintains studios and offices at 109 Plaza Drive in Johnstown. WRKW operates at the federally assigned frequency of 99.1 megahertz with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. There is a relation with WRKY in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
in that they are part of Forever Broadcasting.
The beginning
For much of its existence, WRKW was known as WIYQ, first signing on the air as WEND-FM on July 15, 1962 from studios on Center Street in downtown Ebensburg, its licensed community. The station, along with its like-named AM sister station was founded by Cary H. Simpson, who also founded the Allegheny Mountain Network based in Tyrone just 11 years before. This station originally broadcast on the frequency of 103.9 FM, but moved to 99.1 in 1966, which brought a power increase to 10,000 watts.Years later, as Johnstown's economy prospered, the station moved to 1240 Scalp Avenue in Richland Township, where it became more of a regional station serving West Central Pennsylvania.
Throughout its existence, WIYQ went through a series of different formats, from middle-of-the-road to a brief period of hard rock in the mid-1980's. What WIYQ particularly became well known for was a local polka show broadcast every Sunday afternoon.
"Jo-Jo's Polka Swing" debuted in 1973, and remained a staple of WIYQ's programming for twenty years, becoming one of the most successful programs on the station, with listeners calling in from as far away as Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs. Joe Vesnesky, a Glendale High School History Teacher by trade who also did sports play-by-play for another area station, hosted the show, gaining an especially strong following because of his mastery of the native Polish language and the powerful signal of WIYQ, which reached 27 counties in three states.
Air personality "Country Ron" took over the morning show at WIYQ in 1974 and soon developed a huge following among the areas Country Music fans and hosted several live broadcasts from the nearby Cambria County Fairgrounds. Ron Kauffman graduated from Glendale High School and had been a student of Joe Vesnesky. Ron once introduced Kitty Wells, the 'Queen of Country Music' to the stage at a local high school.
The End of an Era
After 31 years, the station's history as WIYQ came to sad end as the station was sold to TMZ Broadcasting of State College for $440,000. Gone were the popular oldies music and Jo-Jo's Polka Swing, which would resurface years later at a 5,000 watt AM radio station in PhilipsburgPhilipsburg, Pennsylvania
There are three places named Philipsburg in the state of Pennsylvania:*Philipsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania*Philipsburg, Fayette County, Pennsylvania*Philipsburg, Washington County, PennsylvaniaAlso, Phillipsburg in the state of Pennsylvania:...
.
WIYQ then became known as WQKK, or "Quick Rock", operating as a satellite of rocker WQWK in State College. The station was purchased by TMZ as part of a strategic move to increase its presence in Johnstown and Altoona. WQWK's weaker signal at 97.1 did not have the ability to reach Johnstown at all, while barely touching Altoona. The much-stronger 99.1 signal helped WQWK penetrate these areas. WQKK and WGLU would later swap frequencies, with WQKK moving to the much weaker 92.1 signal, while WGLU took over 99.1, branding itself "Power 99.1".
92.1 The Rock
After the move to 92.1, WQKK rebranded itself "The Rock", and played a mix of classic and new rock. WQKK aired specialty shows on weeknights such as "The '80s at 8", "Led Before Bed" (a three-song segment of Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
airing weeknights at 9pm), and "Mandatory Metallica" at 11pm.
WRKW Today
In 2005 both WQKK and WGLU were purchased by Forever Broadcasting (who along with a subsidiary company own most of the commercial radio stations in the Johnstown market) then reverted back to their original frequencies so the CHR station could serve the populated areas, and 99.1 could reach a wider portion of the market and took its current call sign of WRKW from 92.1, and a new name, Rocky 99. At the same time the primarily rock based station then began a shift within its format, mostly playing 'classic' rock songs over 30 years old, while still occasionally playing newer rock, similar to the former 92.1 The Rock.Sports on Rocky99
WRKW is a part of the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
Radio Network, carrying pre-game and post-game coverage along with the games themselves.
The Steeler games are primarily run by legendary board-op, John Walko, of Windber. John has been running sporting events in the Johnstown area for parts of three decades. Also to note, John did mornings on WIYQ.