WKSE

WKSE

Niagara Falls, New York
Broadcast area	Buffalo, New York
Frequency	98.5 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	Kiss 98.5
Programming
Format	Top 40/CHR
Subchannels	HD2: Sports radio (WGR simulcast) HD3: Talk radio (WBEN simulcast)
Ownership
Owner	Entercom (Entercom License, LLC)
Sister stations	WBEN, WGR, WWKB, WTSS, WWWS, WLKK
History
First air date	1947 (1947)
Former call signs	WHLD-FM (1947–1980) WIZR (1980–1984) WRXT (1984–1985)
Call sign meaning	KiSE as in Kiss
Technical information
Facility ID	34384
Class	B
ERP	46,000 watts
HAAT	128 meters (420 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	43.005°N 78.993°W / 43.005; -78.993
Links
Webcast	Listen live (via Audacy)
Website	kiss985.radio.com

WKSE (98.5 FM, branded as KISS 98.5) is a Top 40 (CHR) station serving the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region of Western New York. The station's transmitter is located on Grand Island, New York. It has a sizable market in the Greater Toronto Area, but unlike the WBLK of old, does little marketing and promotion outside Western New York, but now has to compete with two CHR/Top 40 stations, (after the format change of CKIS-FM) in the Greater Toronto Area; therefore, this will lower the number of listeners there. It is currently owned by Entercom Communications, with studios located on Corporate Parkway in Amherst, New York.

WKSE signed on as WHLD-FM in 1947. It changed its call sign to WZIR in 1980, WRXT in 1984, and the current call sign in early 1985. It currently runs a Top 40 format, which has been in place since September 1984. Much of its playlist overlaps that of sister station Star 102.5 at times The 102.5 frequency was a CHR competitor of WKSE in the late 1980s and early 1990s as WMJQ "Majic 102". WKSE competes with longtime rival, 2Day FM 105.1 (formerly 2Day FM 105.1/101.1), which has a very similar format, However CJED switched formats on March 1, 2018. Currently, the ratings for WKSE is higher than 105.1 2Day FM in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region, according to Nielsen Audio.

WKSE sold its broadcast tower to Vertical Bridge in March 2019; WKSE will continue to use the tower under a leasing arrangement.

In 2006 Kiss 98.5 began streaming its programming over the internet.

Programming

Most of WKSE's program lineup originates locally, with the exception of Ryan Seacrest's programs On Air and American Top 40, as well as Open House Party. Janet Snyder has been the station's morning show co-host since 1989, with her co-host Nicholas Pickolas joining in 1994.

External links

• Official Kiss 98.5 Website
• Facility details for Facility ID WKSE ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database