Emmis Conservative Talk “FM NewsTalk 97.1” KFTK-FM Florissant/St. Louis MO has added two additional signals to improve its coverage in downtown and East St. Louis.
The station is now simulcasting on Entertainment Media Trust’s 1490 WQQX East St. Louis (call change to KFTK pending) and new translator 98.7 K254CR St. Louis. Emmis had acquired what is now K254CR from Cornerstone Community Radio earlier this year for $35,000 and moved it in the AM Translator Waiver Period from Atlanta IL to rebroadcast 1490. The addition of 1490/98.7 to KFTK-FM’s 97.1 signal will help the station which transmits from the western suburbs of St. Louis near O’Fallon to fill-in coverage holes on the near Illinois side of the market and in downtown.
WQQX had most recently been running Fox Sports Radio programming as “1490 The Champ“.
Emmis Communications’ KFTK-FM will make St. Louis radio history by adding two new frequencies to expand the coverage of its main 97.1 dial position. The additions will increase the reach of KFTK-FM to the extended St. Louis metropolitan region.
Emmis Senior VP & Market Manager John Beck said, “Demand for our programming has increased tremendously. We are doing something revolutionary that makes it easier for everyone in the St. Louis Metro to listen to FM NewsTalk 97.1 wherever they go.”
Beginning Thursday, September 15th, KFTK-FM programming will be heard as usual on FM 97.1 and additionally on AM 1490 and a newly acquired translator on 98.7 FM.
Program Director, Jeff Allen said, “FM NewsTalk 97.1 is often the #1 talk station in St. Louis and for years we have been getting requests to expand the reach of our traditional radio signal. This move does that. You will now be able to hear our programming from the far west edge of the metro, well into Illinois, down past south St. Louis and a strong signal downtown. Just choose the dial position that comes in best on the radio where you are.”
In addition to these terrestrial radio destinations, listening access will continue with online streaming at http://www.971talk.com, the 97.1 app, the NextRadio app and other mobile radio apps.
Beachguy 
This will help a lot with their signal problems. It also explains why Emmis wanted to lease 1490- so they could put a translator on it to reach the downtown areas. Interesting approach.