City Junction City, Kansas Frequency 97.5 (MHz) | Branding "Power Hits 97.5" First air date 1965 | |
Broadcast area Junction City-Manhattan-Fort Riley Slogan "Your #1 Hit Music Station"
"All The Hits" | ||
KJCK-FM (97.5 FM, "Power Hits 97.5") is a Top 40 (CHR) music formatted radio station owned by Eagle Communications, along with sister stations KJCK and KQLA. The station is broadcast from Junction City, Kansas, broadcasting on 97.5 MHz with an ERP of 100,000 watts. The station serves the Junction City-Manhattan-Fort Riley area, as well as some portions of Northern and Central Kansas.
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KJCK-FM is one of the most powerful stations in Kansas, due to its ERP. KJCK is also one of the oldest stations in Kansas. KJCK-FM is currently the most listened to radio station in the market.
History
KJCK-FM first went on the air in July 1965 as a simulcast of KJCK. This simulcast continued until the mid-1970s, when the formats split. The FM side continued with a Top 40 format, while the AM eventually flipped to country.
The station was known as "Power 94.5" through the 1990s and aired a Rhythmic contemporary format competing against (now sister station) KQLA. After that station was acquired by Power 94.5's owners (Platinum Broadcasting) in 1997, the station moved to its current Contemporary hit radio format, while KQLA moved to a satellite-fed Hot Adult Contemporary format. The station kept leaning rhythmic during this time. In 2000, the moniker was changed to "The Big Kat 94.5". A year later, the station gained a competitor when KACZ signed on the air with the same Top 40 format, albeit with a more adult-oriented direction.
The station moved from 94.5 to 97.5 in September 2002 due to moving the 97.3 frequency to Kansas City, which cost several other stations across Kansas to change frequencies (Topeka country music station WIBW-FM currently occupies the 94.5 frequency), but retained the "The Big Kat" moniker after the move.
On April 1, 2005, the station changed its name to "Power Hits 97-5", which was partially intended as an April Fool's Day joke. The music direction was changed, as it started day-parting by playing more adult-friendly content (which capitalized on current mainstream pop, punk-rock and modern rock tracks (even leaning towards modern adult contemporary at times), as well as 1990s tracks) during the day, while relegating harder-edged content (such as Hip hop and R&B tracks) after 6 PM. This was done to compete against KACZ, who also had an adult-leaning Top 40 format. A new morning show, Stooks In The Morning, debuted in May 2005. This show targeted people in the 18-34 demographic and was well respected across the area as it discussed edgy content and being very listener interactive.
In August 2007, the station started leaning rhythmic again, as most of the adult-friendly content was removed. This was done due to a new program director being hired, as former PD and morning show host Matt Stooks quit in June. As of 2009, the station shifted towards a more mainstream direction.
On October 6, 2011, Platinum Broadcasting announced it was ceasing operations, and that the station, along with its sister stations, will be sold to Hays, Kansas-based Eagle Communications, pending FCC approval. The sale was approved on December 15, 2011.
Transmitter fire
On March 25, 2007, at 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 "best-of" show. Everyone else took the day off. That Thursday afternoon/evening, the station went back to its original coverage area. 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 30 (he returned in August 2008, but left by September 2009).
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, the station put in a new transmitter which includes the most up to date technology.
Competition
Currently, Power Hits only has two competitors, KACZ, and Salina-based "92.7 The Zoo" KZUH. That station began airing a satellite-fed format from Dial Global's Hits Now! in August 2010; they have since moved to a more local presentation, although this reverted to a full-time Hits Now! feed in Fall 2012.
Other competitors include KZCH in Wichita, Kansas, KEKS in Emporia, Kansas, and KMXV and KCHZ in Kansas City, which can be heard in different parts of Power Hits' coverage area due to their signals.
Former competitors include KSAL-FM from Salina, which changed its Top 40-leaning Hot AC format to Classic Hits on May 2, 2005.
Programming
Currently, Power Hits airs the Power Morning Show with Robert & Kylee. The show airs from 5 am to 9 am. Cyndee Campbell does the midday shift from 9 am to 2 pm. Afternoons are hosted by Rodney from 2 pm to 6 pm. The Power Hour Mix w/ DJ Kirby is on from 5 to 6 pm. Nights are hosted by Cameron. The station is automated from 11 PM to 5 AM, while the syndicated "Weekend Throwdown with Jagger" airs Fridays 6 pm to 10 pm. On weekends, the station airs Saturday Night Online Live w/ Romeo Saturdays from 6 pm to 11 pm. Club Kane airs Sunday nights from 6pm to 9pm, and Dawson McAllister Live Sunday nights from 10 pm to Midnight.
Former DJs
The Prince of Darkness (James Phelps) Overnights (1979-1986) (KAB award 1983-1984 2# Non-Metro DJ Personality) The High Shama (James Phelps ) Afternoons-Program Director (1986 -1990)