New Soft-Rock Station Launches for State College, Lock Haven Areas

Magnum Broadcasting launched Friday a new radio station, Y106.9, a soft-rock outlet that reaches the State College, Lock Haven and Renovo areas.

Appearing at 106.9 FM, the new station occupies a frequency that had carried a QWiK Rock simulcast. (QWiK Rock, also owned by Magnum, has its primary frequency at 105.9 FM.)

‘Our market research showed a glaring need for an adult soft-rock station, and we’re responding to the area,’ Magnum General Manager Diana Stapleford said in a company news release. ‘The new Y106.9 will prove to be a good audience compliment to the already-successful 105.9 QWiK Rock.’

Magnum also operates WBLF (970 AM) and WPHB (1260 AM) in Centre County. Its news release suggests that the ‘adult-music audience (here) has been abandoned by (the) cancellation of music formats from WISH Radio and 3WZ,’ two other local stations.

In recent months, 3WZ (95.3 FM) has switched to an spoken-coverage format, with news, sports and commentary. WISH has become a modern-rock station known as The Eagle.

‘Y106.9 will showcase great music, a family-friendly safe listening zone and many more promises to be revealed on 106.9,’ Stapleford said in the release.

The station will return national radio host Delilah’s nighttime show to the Centre County area, it notes.