Great Eastern Radio will flip 101.9 WKKN Westminster, VT/Keene, NH and 100.7 WTHK Wilmington, VT from Country to AAA “The Peak” on Monday, March 16.
The two stations currently simulcast sister “Kixx 100.5” WXXK Lebanon, NH, which will continue with its current Country format. The station describes its new format as “playing album cuts and rarities side by side with familiar hits from U2, Police, VanMorrison, R.E.M, & Cold Play, with a side of contemporary and Indie mix including the Black Keys, Ray Lamontagne, Spoon and Modest Mouse.”
‘John O’ Oliphant will host mornings and Tonia afternoons.
On Monday, March 16, The Peak will launch on 101.9FM covering the Keene/Brattleboro listening area, and 100.7FM in the Bennington, Vermont valley.
The Peak will dive deep into artist catalogues, playing album cuts and rarities side by side with familiar hits from U2, Police, Van Morrison, R.E.M, & Cold Play, with a side of contemporary and Indie mix including the Black Keys, Ray Lamontagne, Spoon and Modest Mouse.
Staff from locally-owned Great Eastern Radio hit the streets for several weeks speaking to businesses and residents to uncover an easy to read need of what has been missing in the Monadnock and Mt. Snow region. Feedback included: “a good music station,” “something with less commercials,” “would love to be part of a program to talk about my fundraising,” “my restaurant uses local organic products, most people are not aware of this,” “I’m looking for something to bring in a different audience other than the usual media I advertise with.”
Morning Drive host John Oliphant, aka John O, will be on air midday, joined by Tonia in the afternoon. Both will engage, entertain and deliver their own slice of The Peak’s delicious mix of musical discovery, while informing the public about important community efforts and providing updates on locally owned Main Street businesses.
Tune in, enjoy and discover a new way to market your business, bring more visitors to your festivals and specialty events, and relax at work, in your car, and everywhere your smart phone or tablet can carry The Peak.
Joseph_Gallant 
jcurtis1027 
raccoonradio 
Given the plans of WTHK-100.7 and WKKN -101.9 to simulcast a locally-programmed AAA format, I think the only way it can be profitable would be to add a couple more transmitters, so the programming can be made available to more people, so the station can charge enough for advertising to at least cover the stations’ operating costs.
It’s an interesting idea, and I hope they can “make it”. There does seem to be room for such a format in Southern Vermont; I just hope it’s big enough to be a success.
But according to Radio-Locator.com, WXXK-100.5 in Lebanon, New Hampshire, has an in-market country-music competitor. Were it to flip to a simulcast of “The Peak”, then the three stations would have a much better chance of being successful since they could reach more listeners and thus, charge enough money for ad spots to make a profit.
Great Eastern Radio is running a AAA already in Hanover (a translator rebroadcasting WHDQ-HD2). Keene and Hanover are two locations I think AAA can do well in. Puttting AAA on the big signal of 100.5 would be a mistake. WXXK has had a competitor (WXLF/WZLF) for several years and both have survived and done well. Vermont does have Northeast Broadcasting’s The Point stations however they do not reach Keene or Brattleboro but does reach into WRJ and Lebanon.
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Can’t find a site for the Peak and nothing on facebook yet; radio-locator links to old site and it sounds like Bobby Bones is on but the stream is prob from the 100.5 in W Lebanon that’s still country (am not in area now_
Bob,
There’s a link to the new “Peak” station website in our post: http://thepeakradio.com/
Thanks!