KDKA on 100.1…

It seems there may have been a “deal” in the wings as it relates to WAMO’s shift back to putting 660’s programming on 107.3 on November 2. That date, of course, marks the 100th anniversary of KDKA’s first broadcast under its commercial license.

Now it seems that KDKA will be heard on the FM dial once again – even if it’s just the low-power 100.1 W261AX. Most would argue that it seems a waste of the low-grade FM signal given that 1020 AM is a 50kW signal. But there’s more to this than meets the eye.

Observers have heard that Radio Power, who owns WAMO, have sought to put both of their FM translators on the KDKA-FM tower on Mt. Washington. Since both translators would essentially cover the same area, WAMO would not be able to use both for translating one signal. The use of 100.1 by KDKA would no doubt be part of the agreement for giving the signals home on the tower. Since summer of 2019, 100.1 has been carrying WAMO-based programming from WBZZ-HD3 while 107.3 has been carrying WAMO’s AM signal with “The Beat” Hip-Hop format. WBZZ (100.7 New Kensington) is sister to KDKA-AM/FM.

So, November 2 you will be able to hear KDKA-AM (1020) on a 99 watt FM signal at 100.1 beginning at 5:00 a.m. (Not like the days when it was partly simulcast on 92.9 – the original KDKA-FM – at 43,000 watts.)