For over 30 years WBLS (107.5 FM) and WRKS (98.7 FM Kiss) have been competing over New York City’s air waves for the number one position in adult urban contemporary music. Now starting Monday all of the battling will come to an end as the two will merge as one.The deal becomes a huge advantage for sports powerhouse ESPN which will now take over the FM dial on 98.7, leaving 1050 AM.
This move now provides Disney (parent company of ESPN) with an opportunity to shift the power of NYC radio and become a major power house. For years CBS radio (WFAN 660 AM) has been the go to station for sports talk in the area. Now with a clearer audio sound Disney can come to the fore front of this.
Emmis Communications is now left with only WHQT (Hot 97.1 FM) as its radio station in the area. This station has survived the test of time and has still maintained since the emergence of Clear Channels WWPR (Power 105.1 FM) in 2002. Prior to 2002, Hot 97 was the only urban station in the area.
Now with WBLS becoming the only station in the area playing adult urban music, the door is now wide open for another station to change formats and challenge WBLS for the number one spot!