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WBKV (102.5 FM) is a radio station in Buffalo, New York. It is owned by Educational Media Foundation and is a part of its K-Love network.

Key Information

The license currently on 102.5 has been operating since 1946, with predecessors dating to 1932; it is grandfathered as a “superpower” station, with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 110,000 watts, more than double the FCC limit, but comparable to Buffalo's other legacy FM licenses WBUF and WDCX. The transmitter site is on Center Street in Colden, New York, on the WIVB-TV Tower.[2]

From August 1974 to June 2023, the station operated as a contemporary music station, the last 23 years of the format branded as Star 102.5, using the call sign WTSS. In that month, the station was sold to Educational Media Foundation, which installed its flagship K-Love network and WBKV call sign (previously heard on 89.9 FM, now WBWA) on the signal.

History

[edit]

W8XH and W8XA

[edit]
Main article: W8XH

The owner of AM station WBEN, WBEN, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Buffalo Evening News) as of October 13, 1931,[3] had experimented with higher-frequency broadcasts for over a decade prior to launch of the station that would become WBKV. Beginning in 1932, just two years after the News had launched its AM station, it received a license for W8XH, which began as a portable remote broadcasting license in the upper shortwave and low-VHF bands.[4][5][6] In 1934, W8XH was upgraded to provide regular scheduled broadcasts to the general public, the first station in its band to do so. Like the standard broadcast band stations of the time, W8XH transmitted using amplitude modulation (AM); it was the first Apex station to operate on a regular schedule.[7] That station converted to facsimile broadcasting as W8XA in 1939[8] before shutting down in December 1940.[9]

WBEN-FM

[edit]
1951 station advertisement.[10]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a construction permit to WBEN, Inc. for a new FM station on 43.3 MHz on the original 42-50 MHz FM broadcast band on January 9, 1946 with the call sign WBEN-FM, for an application dated August 10, 1944. The FCC reassigned the station to 92.1 MHz in August 1946[11] after it created the current FM broadcast band on June 27, 1945.[12] The station made its FM broadcast debut on November 11, 1946.[13]

The station was subsequently reassigned by the FCC to 106.5 MHz in 1947,[11] and mostly simulcast its AM counterpart.[14] The FCC granted the station its first license on January 7, 1953, followed by a reassignment to 102.5 MHz in July 1958.[11] It ceased simulcasting WBEN a few years later, with the exception of the Clint Buehlman morning show, which it carried until 1973. WBEN-FM aired a mixture of live and automated music, mostly easy listening and block music programming, such as organ music.

As FM listening grew, the station became "Rock 102" on August 1, 1974,[15] using the syndicated TM "Stereo Rock" automated format then described as mainstream rock (which WBEN-FM management described as contemporary hit radio without bubblegum pop or prog rock),[15] and dropping the morning show simulcast with WBEN. This same TM format and its prerecorded announcer were heard on other stations in Upstate New York during this period, including WGFM (now WRVE) in Schenectady/Albany, WYUT (now WXUR) in Herkimer (Utica-Rome), WKFM (now WBBS) in Fulton/Syracuse, WNOZ (now WIII) in Cortland/Ithaca and WPXY in Rochester.

WBEN-AM-FM were sold to Algonquin Broadcasting effective March 1, 1978.[3][11] Beginning in 1984, Rock 102's mornings were hosted live by Roger Christian, who had been with the station since 1976 and in Buffalo radio since 1964. (This Roger Christian, whose real name is Emerson Stevens, is not to be confused with the Buffalo-born disc jockey also known as Roger Christian, who was known as "Mike Melody" in Buffalo. Stevens may have chosen the name in honor of the real Roger Christian, who went on to a prolific career in radio and songwriting.) Christian remained with the station, lastly as midday host, until Entercom eliminated his position in September 2019.[16] Rob Lucas joined the station in 1986 and remained there, most of that time as morning host, for the next 37 years until its 2023 sale and format change.[17]

WMJQ

[edit]

In 1987, the station shifted to a fully live format with the call sign WMJQ.[18] As "Majic 102", the station competed heavily with WKSE for Buffalo's Top 40 audience in the late 1980s and early 1990s before shifting to a hot adult contemporary format on September 6, 1991, branded at the time as "Q102."[19][20]

WTSS

[edit]
The station's logo as Star 102.5, used throughout its 23-year run with the brand

The "Star 102.5" moniker and call sign WTSS were adopted in 2000, shortly after Entercom (later Audacy, Inc.) purchased the station in 1999 from the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which was exiting radio to focus on its television holdings. It varied its presentation depending on the formats of other stations. For much of the mid-to-late 2000s, WTSS' playlist included music as early as the 1970s in an effort to serve listeners when Buffalo did not have an oldies station. It changed to Hot Adult Contemporary after longtime oldies/classic hits outlet WHTT-FM returned to the oldies format. In 2006, WTSS began streaming its programming on the Internet. WTSS was nominated for Hot AC Station of the Year by Radio & Records Magazine in 2006 and 2007. WTSS became Buffalo's only hot AC radio station following CFLZ-FM's flip from hot AC to adult hits in August 2011.

Buffalo's Christmas Station

[edit]

From 2001 through its last holiday season of Audacy ownership in 2022, Star switched to the moniker "Buffalo's Christmas Station" and played all Christmas music. When it began this practice, it typically began the all-Christmas format in late November and ended it promptly at midnight on December 26. It slowly began progressing the launch date earlier and earlier in the 2010s until reaching November 1 in 2019, a date that WTSS settled upon each year afterward through the remainder of Audacy's ownership, making it one of the earliest adopters of the format in the United States each year; from 2018 onward, it continued its all-Christmas format for several days after the holiday, tapering off until New Year's Day.[21] WTSS was temporarily delisted from Mediabase's Hot AC panel when the station went all-Christmas.[22] To compensate for the extended period of Christmas music, the station adjusted the playlist over the course of the season, with Christmas novelty songs being held back until later in the season to avoid listener fatigue.[23]

WTSS was noted for its success with the Christmas format (regularly defeating its rival WJYE by wide margins), which Lucas credited to a program strategy that involved a wider playlist (up to 250 songs at the end of the Star run, compared to 150 used in most all-Christmas formats), willingness to play a more up-tempo mix of songs, aggressive promotion of new Christmas hits, local artists, and carefully spacing out recurrent rotation to eliminate over-repetition of titles and/or artists. Lucas authored a booklet guide describing his strategy at WTSS, The Art of Scheduling Christmas Music, after the format ended.[24]

WBKV

[edit]

Audacy filed to sell WTSS, along with WLFP in Germantown/Memphis, Tennessee, to the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) for $15.5 million in April 2023;[25] the two stations, along with KQPS in Palm Desert, California, had been transferred into a subsidiary, Audacy Atlas, for assets designated for sale earlier in the year.[26] In June 2023, EMF filed to move the WBKV call sign, which EMF had been using on the 89.9 frequency in Buffalo, to 102.5 with intent of also installing WBKV's affiliation with K-Love on the 102.5 signal, with 89.9 being repurposed as Air1 station WBWA.[27] Ahead of the sale's completion, WTSS began airing promos directing "Star" listeners to sister station WKSE.[27] EMF chose WTSS as the signal it wanted to purchase because of its strong coverage of Southern Ontario, effectively turning the station explicitly into a border blaster.[28]

WTSS announced on June 8 that it would sign off the 'Star' format on June 9 at 10:00 a.m., with morning host Rob Lucas, who had declined an offer to stay with Audacy's cluster, performing the ceremonial farewell. Afternoon host Sue O'Neill shifted to sister station WKSE.[29] The final song on "Star 102.5" was "Iris" by the Buffalo-native duo Goo Goo Dolls.[28]

Following the format sign-off, WTSS began simulcasting WKSE temporarily until the completion of the sale to EMF. Meanwhile, Townsquare Media-owned rival WMSX immediately rebranded as "The New Star 96.1", purporting itself to be the successor of WTSS despite differing ownership. It changed its call sign to WTSS later that same month but dropped the Star brand in October.[30] The Star 102.5 online feed resumed operating through the Audacy app and on WLKK-HD2, Audacy's rimshot signal in Wethersfield, New York, carrying an automated and unhosted playlist with all of the former WTSS bumpers on June 17.[31] WKSE's decision to absorb most of the 'Star' playlist also prompted Cumulus Media to flip WBBF, at the time carrying a network-originated classic hip hop format, to top 40 to fill the format void in July.[32]

On June 16, at 2 p.m., the sale of WTSS to EMF was officially completed, and the station went off the air to transition the station to EMF's control, returning several hours later with K-Love network programming. The station changed its call sign to WBKV the same day.

Broadcast signal/Canadian listenership

[edit]
WBKV coverage map from the FCC.

WBKV is a grandfathered “superpower” station. The station’s effective radiated power (ERP) exceeds the maximum limit allowed for a Class B FM station, and is also far above the maximum allowable ERP for its antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) according to current FCC rules.[33][34] WBKV is one of the strongest FM signals in the Northeastern United States at 110,000 watts effective radiated power (ERP), at a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 355 meters (1,165 ft).

WBKV and WDCX-FM have the strongest FM signals in Western New York, both broadcasting with 110,000 watts, although WBKV has a much taller tower. Sharing the tower of former sister station WBEN-TV (now WIVB), the station's transmitter is located on a high ridge in the Allegheny Plateau, 20 miles southeast of Buffalo, near Colden, New York. WBKV can be heard in the Rochester metropolitan area, although some adjacent channel interference is picked up from WVOR (102.3 MHz) and WLGZ-FM (102.7 MHz). WBKV's signal also extends across the Pennsylvania state line, around Allegheny State Park, as well as parts of Erie County, Pennsylvania, although adjacent channel interference exists at 102.3 MHz from classic rock station WQHZ in and west of the city of Erie, also where co-channel interference with WZOO in Ashtabula, Ohio (also at 102.5 MHz), begins.[35]

WBKV can also be heard in parts of the Greater Toronto Area, where the signal crosses Lake Ontario. At times during the station's history, before the FM band became more crowded (and especially during its run as "Rock 102"), it performed as a top-10 rated station in Toronto. Other Buffalo area radio stations with strong signals and in formats not available in Canada at the time, such as WGR, WKSE, and WBLK, were also highly rated in Toronto.

HD Radio and translator

[edit]

In 2006, WBKV began offering an HD2 channel called "The Delta", which featured Delta blues music. As of May 11, 2015, the HD2 channel is a simulcast of co-owned alternative rock (now country) station WLKK.[36][37][38] The HD2 channel fed an FM translator in Buffalo, W284AP on 104.7 MHz. WLKK's transmitter is in Wethersfield, New York, a rural town in Wyoming County, making reception difficult in some parts of Buffalo, so the HD2 channel and translator were alternatives for WLKK listeners.

An HD3 channel had broadcast Family Life Network, a Christian radio network, primarily to serve as an originating station for FLN's translators (Townsquare Media station WBUF now serves that purpose).[39] In October 2019, the HD3 channel switched to Channel Q, an Entercom service for LGBTQ listeners, featuring talk shows on weekdays and dance music nights and weekends.[40]

EMF does not usually run HD Radio subchannels outside of areas with challenged signals to feed translator networks, and wound down both HD services when they took control on June 16, 2023. WLKK's simulcast shifted to WKSE-HD2, with W284AP also shifting to simulcast the same HD Radio subchannel.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WBKV

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WBKV (102.5 FM) is a non-commercial station licensed to , , owned and operated by the as an affiliate of the radio network. The station broadcasts and faith-based programming, including songs by artists such as , aimed at encouraging listeners in their daily lives. The station transmits with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 110,000 watts from a 355-meter tower located in South Wales, New York, providing wide coverage across , including the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area, and extending into , . It operates under FCC facility ID 34382 as a class B FM station and is authorized for digital broadcasting. WBKV maintains a public file compliant with FCC requirements, emphasizing its nonprofit status and community-focused mission. In April 2023, sold the station—then known as and operating as "Star 102.5" with an adult contemporary format—to the for $15.5 million as part of a two-station deal that also included WLFP in . The sale facilitated EMF's relocation of the format from its previous home on 89.9 FM (then WBKV, a class B1 station with a weaker signal limited mostly to Buffalo's ) to the more powerful 102.5 FM frequency. signed off its secular programming on June 9, 2023. Following a brief period of stunting, the station launched the format on June 16, 2023, adopting the WBKV call letters effective that date; concurrently, the 89.9 frequency adopted the call letters WBWA and launched EMF's worship music network. This transition marked a significant shift in Buffalo's radio landscape, replacing a legacy commercial station with national nonprofit Christian programming.

History

Experimental origins (W8XH and W8XA)

The experimental station W8XH was established by the Buffalo Evening News, owner of radio station WBEN, and signed on March 18, 1934, from a transmitter atop the Hotel Statler in downtown Buffalo, New York. Initially authorized by the Federal Radio Commission as an "experimental audio station" operating in the ultra-shortwave band, it conducted tests transmitting voice and music programming, primarily simulcasting content from WBEN's AM signal to evaluate high-fidelity audio quality on higher frequencies. These early broadcasts marked W8XH as the first Apex band station to target the general public, using line-of-sight propagation to reach listeners within approximately 25-30 miles. By late , W8XH transitioned to regular scheduled public broadcasts, with upgrades including a frequency shift from an initial 43 MHz to 41.5 MHz and an increase to 100 watts of power, allowing for broader coverage and more consistent high-fidelity reception with reduced interference compared to standard AM. The station's programming emphasized music and spoken-word content to demonstrate the potential of ultra-high frequency (UHF) transmission, attracting a dedicated audience equipped with special receivers. In the late , operations began incorporating experimental facsimile transmissions alongside audio, sending printed materials such as newspaper editions and comics to home receivers within 20-25 miles. In April 1939, focus shifted exclusively to experimentation under the new W8XA, operating at 43.7 MHz with 100 watts and reusing much of W8XH's original to broadcast visual content like news pages, photographs, and representative items such as weather maps. These tests explored radio printing technology but proved limited by the need for specialized receiving devices and the era's technological constraints. W8XA ceased operations in December 1940, as the Apex band lacked commercial viability amid evolving standards, paving the way for the station's resources to support FM development.

WBEN-FM establishment and early years

WBEN-FM signed on the air on November 11, 1946, as the first commercial FM station in , licensed to WBEN Inc., the publishing arm of the Buffalo Evening News. Operating initially on 92.1 MHz following the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 1945 reallocation of the FM band from 42–50 MHz to 88–108 MHz, the station primarily the programming of its AM counterpart, WBEN (930 kHz), to promote FM adoption in a market dominated by AM radio. This launch built on WBEN's experimental FM roots with stations W8XH and W8XA in , transitioning to regular commercial broadcasting amid post-World War II growth in technology. The station underwent several frequency shifts in its early years due to ongoing FCC reallocations aimed at optimizing the FM spectrum. Shortly after sign-on, it relocated to 106.5 MHz in 1947 to accommodate expanded channel spacing and reduce interference. By 1958, further adjustments moved it to its current position at 102.5 MHz, accompanied by a significant power upgrade to 110,000 watts ()—exceeding the standard 50,000-watt limit for Class B stations and earning it grandfathered "" status under FCC rules. This enhanced signal, broadcast from a tower near Colden, New York, extended coverage across and into , solidifying WBEN-FM's role as a regional powerhouse. In the and , WBEN-FM evolved from full simulcasting to a distinct format, emphasizing light orchestral arrangements, standards, and classical selections to appeal to an adult audience seeking refined listening. Announcers like Dick Rifenburg, fluent in multiple languages, hosted specialized classical programs that highlighted the station's cultural programming amid FM's growing popularity for high-fidelity music. This approach maintained format stability under WBEN Inc. ownership, focusing on non-commercial-style content until market shifts in later decades. The era of WBEN ownership concluded in 1978 when WBEN Inc. sold both WBEN-AM and WBEN-FM to Algonquin Broadcasting Corp., marking the end of direct ties to the Buffalo Evening News after over three decades. The transaction reflected broader industry trends of divestitures by newspaper-owned stations amid regulatory scrutiny and economic pressures.

WMJQ and adult contemporary shifts

In 1974, under the ownership of the Buffalo Evening News, WBEN-FM rebranded as "Rock 102" and shifted to an automated Top 40 rock format using TM's Stereo Rock programming, a move that positioned it as a competitor to other AOR stations in the region before the 1978 sale. The station was sold to Algonquin Broadcasting in 1978 for an undisclosed amount, marking the end of its affiliation with the newspaper and allowing for continued format experimentation under new management led by Larry Levite. In 1987, Algonquin changed the call letters to WMJQ and launched the "Majic 102" branding with a soft adult contemporary format, featuring mellow pop and light rock tracks aimed at a broad adult audience, including artists like and to foster a relaxed listening experience. By the late , WMJQ had achieved peak listenership, capturing a significant share of the Buffalo market's 25-54 demographic through its accessible playlist, though this success waned in the early due to format fatigue amid increasing competition from stricter top 40 outlets. In 1991, the station evolved to hot adult contemporary as "Q102," targeting younger adults with a more energetic mix of current pop and rock hits, such as U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" alongside Madonna's "Who's That Girl," to refresh its appeal and regain momentum. Ownership transitioned again in 1994 when Algonquin sold WMJQ and its AM sister to Keymarket Communications for nearly $10 million, enabling further investments in programming under the new Georgia-based group. Keymarket was acquired by Broadcasting in 1995, and the combined entity was purchased by in 1996, shifting focus toward operational efficiencies while maintaining the hot AC direction. The WMJQ era concluded in 1999 when Sinclair sold the station to Entercom Communications as part of a larger divestiture of its radio assets worth $821.5 million, paving the way for a new branding and format adjustment.

WTSS adult hits era

In August 2000, following Entercom's acquisition of the station from , the callsign changed to and the branding to "Star 102.5," adopting an format that featured a variety of popular songs spanning the through the 2000s. The station's programming emphasized a jockless variety approach, with automated music rotation interspersed by local inserts for weather and traffic updates to maintain relevance in the Buffalo market. This shift built briefly on the adult contemporary roots established during the prior WMJQ era in the . Entercom's purchase of Sinclair's cluster, including the 102.5 FM frequency, was announced in July 1999 for $821.5 million and completed in December 1999, with operational changes taking effect in 2000 under the new ownership. The company underwent a corporate rebranding to in March 2021, reflecting its expansion into digital audio platforms, though WTSS continued its core format uninterrupted. filed for Chapter 11 in January 2024 amid financial difficulties, emerging in September 2024; the WTSS sale was part of pre- asset sales to reduce debt. A hallmark of the era was the annual switch to "Buffalo's Christmas Station" beginning in 2001, initiated the day after as a response to the national mood following the , playing all- music continuously until December 25. The holiday programming included artist spotlights, such as extended features on Mariah Carey's holiday catalog, contributing to heightened listener engagement during the season. During the 2010s, "Star 102.5" achieved consistent ratings success, maintaining a top-5 position in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls market. By the early , however, the station faced challenges from broader industry trends, including declining advertising revenue at parent company , which reported a 6.7% drop in overall net revenues to $1.17 billion in 2023 amid macroeconomic pressures.

EMF acquisition and K-Love transition

In April 2023, Audacy announced the sale of its Buffalo adult hits station WTSS (102.5 FM), branded as Star 102.5, to the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) for $15.5 million as part of a broader asset divestiture to address financial pressures. The deal, which included another station in Memphis, received FCC approval and closed on June 16, 2023, marking EMF's expansion into commercial signals for its nonprofit Christian radio networks. WTSS concluded its programming on June 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., with morning host Rob Lucas—veteran of nearly 40 years at the station—presenting a historical montage and signing off with "Iris" by the . The frequency then entered a brief of WKSE (98.5 FM, Kiss 98.5) to facilitate the transition. On June 10, 2023, the station flipped to EMF's contemporary Christian format, shifting from local to a syndicated playlist of Christian pop and rock artists such as and , with limited local insertions. The call letters changed to WBKV on June 16, 2023, relocating them from EMF's weaker 89.9 MHz signal, which was reassigned to the worship music network to optimize coverage. The change elicited widespread disappointment among Buffalo listeners accustomed to the station's , including its annual all-Christmas , which was discontinued; social media saw campaigns lamenting the loss of a staple after more than two decades. This transition concluded 77 years of secular on the frequency, originally launched as in 1946, and fully incorporated the signal into EMF's national network, serving as its flagship outlet in . As of November 2025, WBKV operates steadily under the banner, delivering the network's positive, encouraging content without further modifications and reaching a broad audience across the Buffalo region and .

Technical facilities

Transmitter site and signal power

The transmitter for WBKV is situated at 8242 Center Street in Colden, New York, co-located atop the tower, a 321.9-meter (1,056-foot) that has hosted the station's antenna since 1958. WBKV broadcasts with an (ERP) of 110,000 watts in both horizontal and vertical polarizations, a level enabled by its grandfathered "superpower" status under pre-1964 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules that permitted higher outputs before stricter Class B limits of 50,000 watts were imposed. This elevated power, combined with the station's (HAAT) of 355 meters (1,165 feet), supports robust signal propagation across the region. As a Class B facility, WBKV employs a circularly polarized eight-bay antenna to achieve its non-directional . Although authorized for , WBKV currently broadcasts in analog only, consistent with K-Love's network practices as of 2025. Under FCC Facility ID 34382, WBKV's license was most recently granted on June 29, 2023, and remains valid through June 1, 2030.

Coverage area and Canadian listenership

WBKV's primary market encompasses the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area and much of Western New York, serving a population concentrated along the U.S. side of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. With an effective radiated power of 110,000 watts broadcast from a 355-meter tower, the signal reliably covers this core region while extending eastward approximately 100 kilometers to Rochester, New York, and southwestward to Erie, Pennsylvania, providing secondary reception in those areas. The station's geographic position, just 30 kilometers south of the international border, facilitates substantial signal propagation across into . Reception is strong in the and Hamilton, with the contour reaching up to 100 kilometers northward into the , where the flat terrain over water minimizes . This cross-border reach has been a key factor in the Educational Media Foundation's acquisition of the 102.5 MHz frequency, aimed at expanding K-Love's audience beyond the U.S. market. Interference remains minimal due to favorable , with no major co-channel stations within 500 kilometers; the nearest competitor on 102.5 FM is CIDR-FM in , over 300 kilometers distant. Occasional multipath distortion may occur in urban from skyscraper reflections, but the signal maintains consistent audibility both daytime and nighttime, supported by the station's class B status and elevated antenna. As a U.S.-licensed broadcaster, WBKV complies with regulations on signal power and interference, and its over-the-air reception in adheres to general cross-border agreements without requiring (CRTC) approval or local rebroadcasters. The absence of dedicated Canadian facilities underscores the station's reliance on direct signal spillover for international exposure. By 2025, enhancements to 's digital platforms, including app-based streaming and on-demand audio, have further boosted accessibility for Canadian audiences, allowing seamless listening beyond traditional broadcast contours via global internet distribution.

Programming and operations

Current format and branding

WBKV broadcasts a (CCM) format as an affiliate of the network, owned by the (EMF). The station features a playlist of uplifting songs from prominent CCM artists, including , , and For King & Country, emphasizing positive and faith-inspired content designed to encourage listeners. This format has been in place since the station's transition to programming in June 2023 following EMF's acquisition of the 102.5 frequency. The station is branded as "K-Love 102.5" and adopts the network's national slogan, "Positive, Encouraging ," which underscores its mission to provide inspirational music and brief devotional segments throughout the day. Programming follows 's syndicated schedule, which includes 24/7 live-hosted shows featuring national DJs including Carlos & Amy in mornings (5-10 a.m. CT), Scott in middays (10 a.m.-1 p.m. CT), Lauree in afternoons (1-6 p.m. CT), Christina in evenings, and Kelli in late nights/overnights, along with weekend personalities. Special weekend programming incorporates artist spotlights and themed playlists, but there are no local DJs or extended talk segments, maintaining a fully automated and consistent national feed with minimal on-air interruptions for announcements. Community engagement is limited to K-Love's broader national initiatives, with occasional mentions of local Buffalo-area events such as Christian concerts or the network's "Meet Every Listener" tour stops, like the July 2025 appearance at The Well Buffalo. The station does not produce original local content but supports EMF's outreach efforts, including request lines and donor drives tied to the network's nonprofit mission. In the Buffalo-Niagara Falls market, WBKV's ratings have stabilized around a 1.8 to 2.0 share among adults 12+ as of mid-2025, reflecting a decline from the previous format's higher peaks but showing steady appeal within the Christian demographic. As of November 2025, WBKV remains fully integrated into EMF's network of over 1,000 signals across the , with no announced changes to its format or operations. The station continues to prioritize K-Love's core programming model, focusing on music and encouragement without plans for additional local elements.

Historical HD Radio subchannels

WBKV implemented technology in 2006, utilizing (IBOC) digital transmission to deliver multicast subchannels alongside its primary analog signal on 102.5 FM, with coverage matching the main channel's reach across and into . The station's HD2 subchannel launched in 2006 with a music format, as part of Entercom's broader rollout of specialized HD side channels on multiple stations. By 2015, the HD2 subchannel shifted to simulcasting the format of WLKK (107.7 FM), supporting extended coverage via a 250-watt translator at 104.7 MHz (W284AP) in Buffalo to reach urban listeners. Around 2010, WBKV activated its HD3 subchannel to carry programming from the Family Life Network, a religious talk and service originating content for affiliated translators in the region. In October 2019, under (formerly Entercom), the HD3 transitioned to Viacom's , an LGBTQ+-targeted network featuring talk, news, and tailored for the community, expanding the format to Buffalo among 32 markets nationwide. During Audacy's ownership, the HD subchannels served primarily promotional purposes to demonstrate multicasting capabilities, though HD Radio adoption in the Buffalo market remained low at under 5% listener penetration, consistent with national trends for the technology. Following Educational Media Foundation's acquisition of the station in June 2023 and its conversion to the contemporary Christian format under the WBKV callsign, both HD2 and HD3 subchannels were discontinued, reverting operations to analog-only to streamline costs and focus on the primary signal. This marked the end of a brief experiment in expansion for the frequency, with no plans for reactivation announced as of 2025.

References

  1. https://www.klove.com/music/station-finder/stations/WBKV
  2. https://radio-locator.com/info/WBKV-FM
  3. https://tunein.com/radio/K-LOVE-1025-s28682/
  4. https://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProFacLookup.php?tabSearchType=Lice&sLicensee=EDUCATIONAL%2BMEDIA%2BFOUNDATION
  5. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/250830/audacy-sells-wlfp-memphis-wtss-buffalo-to-educational-media-foundation/
  6. https://www.fybush.com/nerw-20230410/
  7. https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/article_fc35aae8-d7a0-11ed-bd5c-bf9e73a7e0eb.html
  8. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/252870/star-102-5-buffalo-to-sign-off-friday/
  9. https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/a-detroit-apex-station-in-1936
  10. https://hackaday.com/2018/07/31/retrotechtacular-apex-radio-the-forgotten-hifi/
  11. https://www.oldradio.com/archives/dial/1939fm.htm
  12. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Logbooks/Tung-Sol-Dial-Locations-1941-.pdf
  13. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Today/40s/Radio-Today-1940-03.pdf
  14. https://www.herald-courier.com/articles/memorial-service-set-for-webb-noted-wny-broadcaster-5/
  15. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-FM-Magazine/FM-1946-11.pdf
  16. http://blog.buffalostories.com/more-listeners-start-tuning-to-fm/
  17. http://blog.buffalostories.com/around-buffalos-radio-tv-dials-in-the-50s/
  18. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1980/BB-1980-08-09.pdf
  19. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/180400/roger-christian-exits-star-102-5-buffalo-after-43-years/
  20. https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2017/04/27/former-wben-radio-owner-larry-levite-dies.html
  21. https://buffalonews.com/news/article_3de1000e-e9d4-5036-ab6a-9d91d48befeb.html
  22. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-12-fi-57761-story.html
  23. https://buffalonews.com/news/article_972e3462-9ee4-52ed-8726-9a759914ecd8.html
  24. https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/1999/12/17/entercom-completes-purchase-of-sinclair/29617063007/
  25. https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/28/business/company-news-entercom-to-buy-43-sinclair-radio-stations.html
  26. https://www.audacy.com/mystar1025
  27. https://audacyinc.com/press/entercom-rebrands-changes-name-to-audacy/
  28. https://www.audacy.com/wben/news/local/star-102-5-flips-the-switch-to-all-christmas
  29. https://www.wgrz.com/article/entertainment/buffalo-radio-station-star-1025-signs-off/71-7571bf07-18db-49a0-ad98-e0f32c3a3698
  30. https://www.reddit.com/r/Buffalo/comments/143m29u/whats_going_on_with_985_and_1025/
  31. https://www.insideradio.com/free/citing-macroeconomic-conditions-audacy-reports-7-revenue-decline-in-2023/article_dd694730-eacf-11ee-b7b3-a7e8fd605e99.html
  32. https://www.insideradio.com/free/deal-digest-emf-is-once-again-involved-in-one-of-radio-s-big-ticket-sales/article_06f58980-d9cc-11ed-9bee-9b0a02d93d0b.html
  33. https://www.fybush.com/nerw-20230612/
  34. https://www.insideradio.com/free/a-star-fades-in-buffalo-while-another-launches/article_c077840a-070b-11ee-839d-6b018c294f3b.html
  35. https://radioinsight.com/blogs/260100/scheduling-christmas-music-from-a-different-perspective/
  36. https://www.rabbitears.info/tower.php?request=site&asrn=1006689
  37. https://www.fybush.com/site-20230224/
  38. https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/2586/index.do
  39. https://www.klove.com/music/ways-to-listen
  40. https://www.klove.com/about-us/mission
  41. https://tvradioschedules.fandom.com/wiki/K-LOVE_Program_Schedule
  42. https://www.klove.com/faith/closer-look/current-events/fresh-faces-different-drive-times-check-out-the-new-k-love-on-air-lineup-10218
  43. https://radioink.com/2025/04/28/k-love-expands-to-24-7-live-hosting-as-scott-kelli-ends/
  44. https://www.klove.com/events/id/00ea865a-727b-41d5-9b7d-7bde90bf66bb
  45. https://www.insideradio.com/free/salem-sells-seven-stations-to-emf-repays-all-159-4-million-of-long-term-debt/article_e244d0e0-c741-11ef-9559-57d1bbc7d6cf.html
  46. https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb037
  47. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/01/the-fish-salem-ccm-sale-emf-klove-purchase/
  48. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2007/RR-2007-04-13.pdf
  49. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/88591/fcc-applications-58/
  50. https://www.fybush.com/nerw-20230227/
  51. https://audacyinc.com/press/entercom-lgbtq-talk-radio-network-channel-q-expands-again-to-four-additional-markets/
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