WKST-FM

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**WKST**

City of license	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast area	Western Pennsylvania
Branding	"96.1 KISS"
First air date	1960
Frequency	96.1 MHZ
Format	Rhythmic-leaning Top 40
ERP	44,000 watts
Class	B
Callsign meaning	KISS (The T subsitutes for the second S)
Owner	Clear Channel Communications
Website	96.1 KISS' website

WKST-FM (96.1 Kiss), is a rhythmic-leaning top 40 outlet based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts at 96.1 MHz, with an ERP of 44 kW. Its transmitter is located in Baldwin.

1 The "Freak Show"
2 On Air Personalities
3 History
4 WKST HD2
5 Kisslines
6 External links

[edit] The "Freak Show"

The Freak Show with Mikey and Big Bob was originally an evening show that originated from Detroit's WDRQ, and later Philadelphia's Q102, with the same named show and originally led by Tic Tak. When the air personalities first relocated to Pittsburgh, the show's personalities initially made mistakes such as using "Philly" jargon(per an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette). Today, Tic Tak is no longer a part of the show, and the Morning Freak Show caters to a young adult female crowd.

(Source: http://www.961kiss.com/pages/morningfreakshow.html)

[edit] On Air Personalities

Morning Freak Show
Shay Shay
Dylan
Bonics
Beaver
DJ Goofy Whitekid
Fraggle
Laura K
Rech
Scottro
Tall Cathy
Jorge

[edit] History

The station originally signed on as WTAE-FM, co-owned with WTAE AM and TV, and had a MOR format until 1976, when it simulcast WTAE (AM) during the day and played disco at night, known as "Disco 96." As disco began to wane in popularity, the station flipped to a rock-leaning top 40 format as WXKX (96KX or "96 Kicks"). 96KX thrived for the next five years and has been the frequency's most highly-rated format to date. In 1983, faced with new competition from WBZZ (B-94), the station changed format and call letters, and became WHTX, better known as "Hit Radio 96". This station evolved, in the latter part of the decade, into a gold-based adult contemporary format under the name of "Gold 96".

In 1991 it switched calls to WVTY ("Variety 96") and format to an adult top 40 approach, which in turn would lead to a modern hits format and new calls WDRV ("The River") in 1996. After it was sold in 1997 WDRV returned to adult top 40, this time as WPHH ("Mix 96.1"). On September 30, 2000, they switched to the current format and became the current WKST-FM, "96.1 Kiss".

[edit] WKST HD2

On April 25, 2006, Clear Channel announced that WKST's HD2 subchannel will carry a format focusing on Dance hits. The HD2 signed on July 17, 2006, broadcasting the Club Phusion format.