Even though I'm not a big country fan, I have always been impressed with WNKT Cat Country 107.5 out of Chucktown. A lot of that is due to being able to receive a Charleston station like a local 24/7, lol. I've seen a lot of the talk on here when Hugo (I was 6 when it swept through, I live an 1 and a half from Charleston, and was out of power for a long time) tore up the facilities and they had to go off air. What are some of your personal stories and memories about this station? They throw a heck of a signal and have a lot of history. I'm interested in hearing more about it. Especially right before and after Hugo what was aired on 107.5? I do remember in the mid 90's listening to them when they were Id'ing as Bubba 107.5 country.
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Station Picks: WNKT 107.5 Charleston
- Thread starter D-Oradio
- Start date
Hi Neil,
When Hugo came through, the station was WKQB (Q107) with a CHR format. I remember listening to them taking phone calls from throughout the Lowcountry as the storm passed. When the eye of Hugo came though, the station shut down and the staff was evacuated from the station due to safety concerns (at one point, the winds had knocked down either a tree or a light pole in the parking lot and narrowly missed hitting one of the staffers). The next day, the station returned to the air taking calls from residents as well as giving out necessary information. One interesting programming note: The station temporary ditched the format for Hard Rock while Hugo came ashore. I'd though about rolling tape, but was actually at that point frightened since the storm was originally projected to hit Columbia head on from the south, but at the last minute, changed course and hit to the east.
Anyway, Q107 was a good station, but was a casualty in the post-Hugo radio market. In early 1991, the station was forced to shut down because of financial difficulties and the 107.5 frequency simulcasted 100.5 (at that time, it was soft AC Sunny 100.5 WSUY) for a few weeks until the group that would put Bubba 107.5 WBUB on the air took control.
I'll let someone else fill in the gaps with Bubba's history. I remember them debuting with a Gold-based Country format and doing well in the first few years, but wasn't able to fully beat out WEZL in the long run. Also, I remember Bubba The Love Sponge had threatened the station with a lawsuit at one point over the "trademark infringement" of his on-air name.
Robyn
When Hugo came through, the station was WKQB (Q107) with a CHR format. I remember listening to them taking phone calls from throughout the Lowcountry as the storm passed. When the eye of Hugo came though, the station shut down and the staff was evacuated from the station due to safety concerns (at one point, the winds had knocked down either a tree or a light pole in the parking lot and narrowly missed hitting one of the staffers). The next day, the station returned to the air taking calls from residents as well as giving out necessary information. One interesting programming note: The station temporary ditched the format for Hard Rock while Hugo came ashore. I'd though about rolling tape, but was actually at that point frightened since the storm was originally projected to hit Columbia head on from the south, but at the last minute, changed course and hit to the east.
Anyway, Q107 was a good station, but was a casualty in the post-Hugo radio market. In early 1991, the station was forced to shut down because of financial difficulties and the 107.5 frequency simulcasted 100.5 (at that time, it was soft AC Sunny 100.5 WSUY) for a few weeks until the group that would put Bubba 107.5 WBUB on the air took control.
I'll let someone else fill in the gaps with Bubba's history. I remember them debuting with a Gold-based Country format and doing well in the first few years, but wasn't able to fully beat out WEZL in the long run. Also, I remember Bubba The Love Sponge had threatened the station with a lawsuit at one point over the "trademark infringement" of his on-air name.
Robyn
WOW Robyn that is interesting about KQB... When Hugo came through Kershaw CO I had just made it home from Spartanburg Methodist College when things started to really get going... I was watching live feeds from CNN at the time and I remember Jim Gandy then at channel 10 giving WX reports and getting all of us in the NE midlands ready for what would be a night of hell... The band was very strange that night and I could not even pull in Q 107 heck for that matter WPUB when they were still on 94.3. I get things were just churned up pretty bad... When we lost power it was at 3:18 AM and oddly enough WNOK was playing rock you like a huricane by the scorps... Once we lost power it would be two weeks before it came back on... As for KQB it self it was a very good CHR that had a in your face attitude with the ole' Doc, Hozer, and the rest... I was back in college when KQB went dark, but one of my friends who went to SMC with me was telling me all about it... As for Bubba I remember them giving Bubba 106.3 a C&D for using the bubba name thus 106.3 changing to Dixie 106.3... Remember that one 
. Well let me run trying to get this New PC figured out, but I am having a blast with it... See Ya CC1
. Well let me run trying to get this New PC figured out, but I am having a blast with it... See Ya CC1
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11south
Guest
107.5 is licensed to St. George. A guy named Paul Neuhoff and some investors bought WKQB and WQIZ in the early 80's and moved the transmitter closer to Charleston. The office was near the airport in North Charleston. We ran CHR at the time. WSSX was "king". WKQB was never extremely successful in ratings or revenue, and the company that owned it was under-capitalized. In the mid 80's paychecks bounced alot, but they always made them good.
I'll give it to Neuhoff and Steve Judy, they tried their damndest to make it work. Part of the problem with CHR is; it needs a good beach presence. 107.5 is a tough putt on a walkman or boombox at Sullivan's Island. In theory, it has one of the best signals in the Charleston metro as it all goes over land vs. stations with half of their signal dumping into the Atlantic.
I miss Charleston living. I don't miss Charleston radio..too many signals for that size of market. Has been that way for years.
I'll give it to Neuhoff and Steve Judy, they tried their damndest to make it work. Part of the problem with CHR is; it needs a good beach presence. 107.5 is a tough putt on a walkman or boombox at Sullivan's Island. In theory, it has one of the best signals in the Charleston metro as it all goes over land vs. stations with half of their signal dumping into the Atlantic.
I miss Charleston living. I don't miss Charleston radio..too many signals for that size of market. Has been that way for years.
As I recall, the station was called WDWQ and then WQPB. It was top 40 in those days. And it was listed as having "quadstereo" in the 70s.
1
11south
Guest
Call Sign History
Current Call Sign: WNKT
Facility ID Number: 38900
Call Sign Begin Date
WNKT 03/05/1998
WKQB
WDWQ 02/13/1980
Current Call Sign: WNKT
Facility ID Number: 38900
Call Sign Begin Date
WNKT 03/05/1998
WKQB
WDWQ 02/13/1980
I guess I'm qualified to comment on this thread as I was afternoon drive from the first day Bubba signed on in Sept. '91 until I was let go in the early spring of '98 and the station was changed to CatCountry the very next day.
When I came on, the owners were Buddy Barton and Ron Hoover ("Hoover the Mover"). When Hoover, a terriffic guy, sold out his half, things began to go awry, Barton bought a second station and mystifyingly made IT country as well which just siphoned Bubba's ratings.
Barton then sold the station to Bill Dudley, who has no interest in actually running a radio station, just aquiring and re-selling. He actually re-hired Steve Judy to be GM around this time. Judy had a demoralizing effect on the airstaff as he pretty much told everyone to prepare to be working somewhere else.
Dudley sold the station to some corporation (Kixx?) that very quickly sold it to Citadel. My departure was right around this time. Citadel couldn't wait to change the station's name. Being non-country music people themselves, they were embarrassed by the "Bubba" name. Of course, our listeners were just fine with it. I notice that 9 years later, they still keep a listing for Bubba 107.5 in the phone book.
Besides afternoon drive, I also did a Saturday request show and from the far flung area that the calls came from, you really felt the enormous range of the station's signal. It was a great feeling.
We never could overtake WEZL though.
When I came on, the owners were Buddy Barton and Ron Hoover ("Hoover the Mover"). When Hoover, a terriffic guy, sold out his half, things began to go awry, Barton bought a second station and mystifyingly made IT country as well which just siphoned Bubba's ratings.
Barton then sold the station to Bill Dudley, who has no interest in actually running a radio station, just aquiring and re-selling. He actually re-hired Steve Judy to be GM around this time. Judy had a demoralizing effect on the airstaff as he pretty much told everyone to prepare to be working somewhere else.
Dudley sold the station to some corporation (Kixx?) that very quickly sold it to Citadel. My departure was right around this time. Citadel couldn't wait to change the station's name. Being non-country music people themselves, they were embarrassed by the "Bubba" name. Of course, our listeners were just fine with it. I notice that 9 years later, they still keep a listing for Bubba 107.5 in the phone book.
Besides afternoon drive, I also did a Saturday request show and from the far flung area that the calls came from, you really felt the enormous range of the station's signal. It was a great feeling.
We never could overtake WEZL though.
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