KJCK-FM

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KJCK-FM (97.5 FM, "Power Hits 97.5") is a Top 40 music formatted radio station owned by Platinum Broadcasting, along with sister stations KJCK "1420 KJCK The Talk of JC" and KQLA "Q 103.5". The station is broadcast from Junction City, Kansas, broadcasting on 97.5 MHz with an ERP of 100,000 kW. The station serves the Junction City-Manhattan-Fort Riley area, as well as some portions of Northeast, North-Central and Central Kansas, and can be heard as far away as Hutchinson, Kansas and even can be heard as way far away as Toronto, Kansas. It is believed to be that the station may be the most powerful station in Kansas. KJCK is also one of the oldest stations in Kansas. With the new transmitter that was installed in early January, Power Hits 97.5 can be heard from Topeka to Salina and from El Dorado to Nebraska, increasing their signal a little more. KJCK-FM

[edit] History

KJCK-FM first went on the air in July 1965 as a simulcast of KJCK-AM. This simulcast continued until the mid 1970s, when the formats split. KJCK has been known as Power Hits since April 1, 2005. Before that, the station has been known as The Big Kat 97.5 and was at one time on 94.5 FM. The Big Kat moniker has been used since 2000. Before that, the station was known as Power 94.5 through the 90's. The station moved from 94.5 to 97.5 sometime in 2003. On April 1, 2005, the station made the name change as an April Fools joke. It turned out the next day, though, that the name change really took place.

[edit] Transmitter fire

On March 25, 2007 around 11 pm, KJCK went off the air due to a fire in the transmitter. The transmitter went back on a few hours later, however, the coverage area was reduced down to at least a 6 mile radius. Manhattan residents and some residents in Fort Riley were not able to pick up the station. Stooks In The Morning did a web-only show for part of the week, while on 97.5, it was a clip show. Everyone else took the day off. On Thursday afternoon/evening, the station went back to its original coverage area. Some listeners think that the transmitter committed suicide, sacrificing itself so Northeast Kansas wouldn't have to listen to another day of Stooks in the Morning. Also some criticized that the days they were off the air were Justin Carson's last days before moving to KZCH in Wichita the following week. Justin's last day was on Friday, March 30th (he has now since been on afternoons at KZSN in Wichita).

During the early morning hours of Saturday, May 19, 2007 the secondhand transformer which replaced the original transformer that had caused the fire ceased to function correctly. KJCK-FM again operated at extremely low power until the following Monday afternoon when a new transformer was installed. On January 11, 2008, KJCK FM Power Hits 97.5 put in a new transmitter which includes the most up to date technology.

[edit] Competition

Currently, Power Hits only has one competitor, KACZ "Z 96.3". The Z plays little rap and has a more modern rock lean. The last competitor, KSAL from Salina, changed its Top 40 format to Classic Hits in 2004. The next Top 40 stations, KZCH from Wichita, KCHZ from Kansas City (Rhythmic Top 40) and KMXV (also from KC) are too far away to be heard in the area.

[edit] Programming

Currently, Power Hits airs the Power Morning Show with Robert and Jeri Anne. The show airs from 6 am to 9 am. Jeri Anne stays on the air from 9 am to 10 am. Rodney does the midday shift from 10 am to 2 pm. Matt McBain does afternoons from 2 pm to 6 pm. The Power Mix is on from 5 to about 5:25 pm. Jenn does the nightly shift from 6 pm to 11 pm. Romeo's Playhouse airs in overnights from 11 pm to 5 am. Before Robert and Jeri Anne go on-air, the station airs the dance/remix-type show: "The Power Wake Up Call" (the slogan "Waking you up and get you going") from 5 am to 6 am. The station airs Open House Party Saturday nights from 6 pm to 4 am, and Sunday nights from 6 pm to 10 pm and again from Midnight to 5 am, Fox All Access Sunday mornings from 6 am to 8 am, and Dawson McAllister Live Sunday nights from 10 pm to Midnight.

[edit] Current Schedule

Monday-Friday:

• 5am-6am: Power Wake Up Call
• 6am-9am: Power Morning Show w/ Robert and Jeri Anne
• 9am-10am: Jeri Anne
• 10am-2pm: Rodney
• 2pm-6pm: Matt McBain
• 6pm-11pm: Jenn
• 11pm-5am: Romeo's Playhouse

Saturday:

• 5am-10am: Matt McBain
• 10am-6pm: Various DJs
• 6pm-Midnight: Open House Party w/ John Garabedian

Sunday:

• Midnight-4am: Open House Party w/ John Garabedian (continuation from night before)
• 4am-6am: Rodney or Jenn
• 6am-8am: Fox All Access w/ Chris Leary
• 8am-10am: Rodney or Jenn
• 10am-6pm: Various DJs
• 6pm-10pm: Open House Party w/ Kannon
• 10pm-Midnight: Dawson McAllister Live
• Midnight-4am: Open House Party w/ Kannon
• 4am-5am: Commercial-free and jock-free music

[edit] Former DJs

• Matthew Steele-Overnights (1994-1995)
• Wende Horton-Middays (199?-2003)
• JT-Nights (199?-2003)
• Chad Allen-Mornings with Rodney (199?-2003) (Now at KYEZ, Salina, KS)
• Bradley J-Afternoons (1994-2003), Mornings (2003-2005), Afternoons (2005) (Now working mornings at sister station KQLA)
• Chris Casey- Stooks Co-Host (2005-2006) (Now working in the movie business)
• Justin Carson-Stooks Co-Host (2005), Nights (2005-2007) (Now Afternoons on KZSN in Wichita, KS)
• Chuck Armstrong-Temporary Night Jock (2007) (Currently working at KSDB, Manhattan)
• Matt Stooks-Mornings (2005-2007) (Currently living in his parents' basement)
• Cindy Sue-Weekends (late 2007-March 2008) (Fired)
• Morgan-Weekends/Intern (late 2007-April 2008)

[edit] Trivia

• Rodney, the midday DJ, is still on the air at the same station since 1998.

[edit] Sister stations

• KJCK "1420 KJCK The Talk of JC"
• KQLA "Q 103.5"

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Stooks In The Morning Website (this was the Power Hits' first morning show before Stooks left in June 2007).

• Query the FCC's FM station database for KJCK
• Radio Locator information on KJCK
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for KJCK

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