After testing its signal on and off for the past week, Alpha Media officially launched Rock “Rock 99.7” W259CL/93.5 WARQ-HD2 Columbia SC this afternoon.
Original Report 12/22: The launch of Alpha Media Rock “Rock 99.7” W259CL/93.5 WARQ-HD2 Columbia SC is imminent.
While the translator has been heard testing, the new format has begun streaming online with a mix of Alternative and Active Rock music from the 90s through now. The new format will flank sister “Fox 102.3” WMFX St. Andrews, which became the only Rock or Classic Rock station in the market when Alpha flipped “Rock 93.5” WARQ to Hot AC in 2014.
W259CL will operate with 250w/152m from directly across from the South Carolina State House in downtown Columbia.
Alpha Media, Columbia announced the addition of Rock 99.7. The Contemporary Rock station hit the air waves yesterday, December 27th. For the first time in several years, listeners in Columbia will hear artists such as Green Day, Kings of Leon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182, and the Foo Fighters on their radio.
Alpha Media Executive VP of Programming, Scott Mahalick commented on the announcement, “Alpha continues to grow and invest in Columbia with our latest addition of a Contemporary Rock station. Rock 99.7 will be a great companion to our Classic Rock station Fox 102.3 WMFX.”
Alpha Media, Columbia SVP/Market Manager Mike Hartel added, “This is really about providing the local community with options, and up until today there was not an option to hear some incredible rock music from the last 20 years on the radio. Our town has been very vocal about wanting a Contemporary Rock option back, and we are thrilled to be able to accommodate that request. We really couldn’t wait to get started!”
“We live in a very vibrant and educated town, and it was kind of silly that Contemporary Rock didn’t have a place on the dial. Rock 99.7 will now fill a very sizeable 20-year void. We are going to have a ton of fun with this thing,” remarked Hunter Meyer, Rock 99.7 Program Director.