KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) WKBK is expanding its reach across the Monadnock Region and into southern Vermont, taking over three frequencies that have been home to the EZ Favorites music format.Beginning Friday, Aug. 14, WKBK programming will be heard not only on its longtime 1290 AM and 94.1 FM signals, but also on 107.5 FM in Keene and 100.3 FM in Brattleboro, Vermont.

EZ Favorites programming and its online stream are being discontinued as part of the change.

Randy Cable, general manager of Monadnock Media Group, said the expanded coverage is an important opportunity for WKBK and its listeners, particularly because of the demand the station has seen for stronger FM coverage.

“WKBK has been an extremely important and historic radio station for this region,” Cable said. “We’ve had the opportunity to expand its FM footprint using these frequencies, and we’re very excited to finally give listeners something they’ve been asking us for for a long time.”

Cable said he is particularly pleased that Good Morning with Dan Mitchell will now be available on additional FM frequencies in Keene and for the first time on the 100.3 FM signal serving Brattleboro.

“That’s especially exciting to me — having Danny’s show on more dial positions in Keene and now in Brattleboro,” Cable said.

A Bigger Reach For Local News

The change gives WKBK a significantly broader FM presence at a time when local radio and digital news are increasingly working together.

WKBK is part of Monadnock Media Group, which also operates My Keene Now, the company’s local digital news platform. The two operations work together to provide local reporting, interviews and community information across radio and digital platforms.

My Keene Now regularly publishes stories based on WKBK interviews, including conversations with local officials, business owners, community leaders and newsmakers. Recent examples include Keene Mayor Jay Kahn’s regular appearances on “Good Morning with Dan Mitchell,” interviews with City Councilors and local officials, and community discussions that are subsequently available as podcasts on My Keene Now.

The website also provides access to WKBK programming and podcasts, allowing listeners to hear interviews and programs after they have aired.

That combination of radio and digital journalism has become a central part of Monadnock Media Group’s operation. The company describes itself as a multimedia organization combining radio, local news and digital marketing services, with a broadcasting history in the region dating to 1927.

WKBK’s local news operation also has a long history of covering major events in the Monadnock Region. My Keene Now recently revisited WKBK’s extensive live coverage of the devastating 2005 floods, when the station remained on the air for hours as the disaster unfolded across the region.

What Happens to EZ Favorites?

EZ Favorites had been available on 107.5 FM in Keene and 100.3 FM in Brattleboro, as well as on the HD2 signals of WKNE and WKVT. The format featured soft and easy favorites and had been part of the Monadnock Media Group station lineup for several years.

Those signals will now be dedicated to WKBK.

Listeners who enjoyed EZ Favorites will no longer be able to request songs from that format or access its stream because the format has ended.

The change is part of a broader signal strategy designed to put WKBK programming on more frequencies where the company sees strong listener demand.

WINK Country Classics Remains on the Air

Another programming change accompanying the WKBK expansion affects WINK Country Classics — but only its online presence.

WINK Country Classics will remain on the air at 103.1 FM. The change does not eliminate the station’s over-the-air broadcast.

The online WINK Country Classics stream, however, is being discontinued. The station will no longer stream online or carry commercials through the stream, although station promos will continue.

For listeners who hear WINK Country Classics over the air, there is no change to the broadcast signal or programming.

More Ways to Hear WKBK

With the expansion, listeners in the region will have additional options for tuning into WKBK:

• 1290 AM
• 94.1 FM
• 107.5 FM in Keene
• 100.3 FM in Brattleboro

The additional frequencies are particularly significant for WKBK’s morning programming, local news and interviews.

“Good Morning with Dan Mitchell” features WKBK news and sports, weather, local guests and listener interaction, while other WKBK programs provide additional opportunities for community discussion and local conversation. My Keene Now extends that programming through stories, podcasts and recorded interviews available online.

The station’s national news programming also recently changed. In May, WKBK moved from CBS News Radio to ABC News Radio, adding new national news coverage and weekend programming while maintaining its local news and community focus.

For Monadnock Media Group, the latest change represents both a technical expansion and a continued investment in WKBK’s role as a local news and talk station.

And for listeners, it means more places on the dial to find a familiar voice — particularly in Keene and now across the Connecticut River in Brattleboro.