WHHT (103.7 FM) is a country music–formatted radio station licensed to Cave City, Kentucky, United States, and serving the Bowling Green area. The station is owned by Commonwealth Broadcasting through licensee Newberry Broadcasting, Inc.[2]
The station studios, which are shared with Fox Sports Radio affiliate WCDS (1230 AM) are located on the Public Square in downtown Glasgow. WHHT's transmitter is located near Haywood, Kentucky.
History
Early years at 106.7 MHz (1988–1991)
The station signed on the air for the first time on July 5, 1988, at 106.7 MHz, as a Top-40 contemporary music station, with the on-air identity as "Hottest Hits".[3] The station's studios were located on Happy Valley Road in Glasgow, Kentucky. Steve Newberry was General Manager and part owner of the station, whose first air staff included Duke Ryan, Scott Jackson, Bobby Rambo, Jonathan "Tunes" Taylor, and Jim "The Captain" Kirk, the latter of which was later known as Scotty Matthews on sister station WKNK-FM (99.1 MHz licensed to Edmonton, now WHSX). WHHT was an immediate ratings success, allowing Newberry to expand his radio ownership holdings. He is now among the premier small-market radio station owners in the U.S.,[citation needed] and is an active member of the board of the National Association of Broadcasters, having testified before the U.S. Congress on the issue of royalties and performance rights.
Move to 103.7 MHz (1991–1998)
In August 1991, WHHT's frequency was changed to 103.7[3] under the FCC's orders, to facilitate a signal power increase by Smiths Grove–licensed WBLG-FM (107.1 MHz, now WUHU), based in nearby Bowling Green.[4]
In 1997, WHHT, along with WOVO, WXPC, WCDS, and four other stations in Kentucky, were acquired by a new business venture named Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, formed by Steve Newberry and former Kentucky governor Brereton C. Jones.[5] The following year, WHHT and its adult contemporary format replaced WXPC on 106.7 MHz, which had returned to the air from Horse Cave under a new license in 1994. The 103.7 facility then switched to a classic rock format under the call sign of WPTQ.
Three-way frequency swap
On October 22, 2012, WPTQ and sister stations WHHT and WOVO were involved in a three-station format shift that included a trade of frequencies and FCC licenses. WHHT, now a country music station, moved back to 103.7 MHz. WPTQ, which was previously occupying the 103.7 FM frequency, moved to 105.3 FM, while WOVO and its adult contemporary format moved to the newly-upgraded 106.3 FM facility in Horse Cave.[6]
Recent history
On February 20, 2015, the station made the transition to becoming another Nash Icon station, that is not owned and operated by Cumulus Media. For a time, the station also kept its "Howdy" branding, and was branded as "103.7 Nash Icon Howdy FM".[7]
On August 6, 2020, WHHT dropped the Nash Icon branding, and became known as "Nash 103.7".
On April 18, 2024, WHHT rebranded simply as "103.7 WHHT".
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WHHT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WHHT Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ a b Nash, Francis M. (1995). Towers Over Kentucky: A History of Radio and TV in the Bluegrass State (PDF). HOST Communications. p. 148. ISBN 9781879688933 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "FM radio stations making changes". Park City Daily News. August 4, 1991. p. 3A – via Google Books.
- ^ "Former governor buys radio stations". Park City Daily News. January 19, 1997. p. 11A. Retrieved June 9, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Stations On The Move In Glasgow, KY". RadioInsight. October 22, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ "Nash Icon Brand Spreads Through Kentucky". RadioInsight. February 20, 2015.
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID 48704 (WHHT) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WHHT in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 143295 (W239BT) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- W239BT at FCCdata.org