Slogan TalkRadio Class B Frequency 1290 kHz Owner Long Communications, LLC Branding 1290 WHKY | First air date June 10, 1940 Callsign meaning W HicKorY, NC City of license Hickory Area Centralina, Minas Gerais Sister stations WHKY-TV | |
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Broadcast area Charlotte metropolitan area ERP 50,000 watts day
1,000 watts night Format Talk radio, All-news radio | ||
WHKY is a 50,000 watt day and 1,000 watt night radio station in Hickory, North Carolina, broadcasting at 1290 kHz.
Since 1987 WHKY has had a talk radio format. The current program line-up includes nationally known shows Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and ESPN Radio. WHKY produces a two-hour weekday morning Talk Show called First Talk hosted by Hal Row and SportsTalk with Jason Savage on Thursday nights.
WHKY is also affiliated with Motor Racing Network, Performance Racing Network and the Indy Radio Network providing NASCAR racing coverage, as well as select Indy Car Series events when in season. Also, on Fridays when in season, WHKY airs Hickory High School football and girls and boys varsity basketball.
Weekdays, WHKY has local news at 15 and 45 past the hour from 6:45 to 8:45am, 12 noon, 3, 5 and 6:30pm. Local sports is provided at 7:45 and 8:45am and 3 and 5pm. News at the top of each hour is provided by the Fox News Radio. WHKY is also affiliated with the North Carolina News Network.
The station is co-owned with WHKY-TV, and an audio simulcast can be heard over WHKY-TV's main channel through the Second Audio Program function on most television sets.
History
During World War II, getting equipment was difficult, but Ed Long put together the WHKY transmitter with the help of a mule and plow. The station signed on in 1940, broadcasting from the Hotel Hickory. In the 1950s, it moved to the Elliott-Carnegie Library.
Tom Long, Ed Long's son, supervised the station's daytime signal boost from 5,000 to 50,000 watts in 2003, as well as the construction of a new building. Jeff Long, representing the third generation of Longs, was station manager.
WHKY aired Paul Harvey prior to his death in 2009.