WDKE (FM)

WDKE
Broadcast areaIron Range
Frequency96.1 MHz
Branding96.1 Duke FM
Programming
FormatClassic country
Ownership
Owner
WEVE-FM, WMFG, WMFG-FM, WNMT, WTBX, WUSZ
History
First air date
July 1, 1995 (1995-07-01)[1] (as KGPZ)
Former call signs
KGPZ (1995–2017)
Call sign meaning
DuKE FM
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID36688
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT176 meters (577 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
47°19′31″N 93°16′18″W / 47.32528°N 93.27167°W / 47.32528; -93.27167
Translator(s)98.3 MHz - W252AN (Hibbing)
Links
Public license information
Website961dukefm.com

WDKE (96.1 FM; "Duke FM") is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format.[3] Licensed to Coleraine, Minnesota, United States, the station serves the Iron Range area. Established in 1995 as KGPZ, the station is owned by Midwest Communications.[4]

In April 2012, KGPZ changed to "Z96 North Country", adding more New Country hits and no longer broadcasting Citadel Media's "Real Country" network. The station now directly competed with WUSZ (99.9 FM).

On January 1, 2017, as a result of a sale between Red Rock Radio and Midwest Communications (Midwest acquired KGPZ in the sale), 96.1 adjusted their format to classic country, as "96.1 Duke FM"; the sale essentially turned KGPZ from a rival to WUSZ into a flanker for it.[5] On January 30, 2017, KGPZ changed their call letters to WDKE, to go with the "Duke FM" branding.

  1. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-233. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WDKE". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Winter 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
  4. ^ "WDKE Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
  5. ^ Red Rock Sales Lead to Multiple Flips in Northern Minnesota