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KKHQ-FM (98.5 MHz), branded as Q98-5, is a radio station serving Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and surrounding cities with a Top 40/CHR format. This station is owned by Townsquare Media.

History

KKCV signed on the air on January 7, 1994, and aired a country format branded as "The Hog." The station would later rebrand as "K98.5." On September 22, 2003, the country formats of KKCV and KOEL-FM were merged on the 98.5 FM frequency, along with the KOEL-FM call letters, as the latter flipped to Top 40/CHR format as "Q92.3."

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including the then-KOEL-FM, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global are both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management. The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013; KOEL-FM was one of three stations (along with KCRR and KKHQ-FM) that were placed in a divestiture trust for eventual resale within two years. In December 2016, the Federal Communications Commission approved Townsquare's request to reacquire the stations from the divestiture trust.

On December 9, 2020, KOEL-FM and KKHQ-FM swapped frequencies, bringing the KOEL-FM call letters and the country format back to 92.3 FM after 17 years. In return, KKHQ-FM's Top 40/CHR format moved to 98.5 and rebranded as "Q98.5".

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for KKHQ-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. Amy Davis, "The wild, wild waves," The Courier, February 20, 1994.
3. Emily Graham, "Radio Group holds two top slots," The Courier, February 16, 2003.
4. "Broadcasting News-September 2003".
5. "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
6. "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
7. "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
8. "Connoisseur Media Sells Wichita Pair to Rocking M Media".
9. "Townsquare Swaps Formats in Waterloo".

External links

• Q98.5 - Official website
• Facility details for Facility ID 66780 (KKHQ-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KKHQ-FM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

42°26′31″N 92°23′49″W / 42.442°N 92.397°W / 42.442; -92.397

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