East Kentucky Broadcasting

East Kentucky Broadcasting was an American radio broadcasting company associated with Pikeville, Kentucky, and the wider Eastern Kentucky region. Its corporate history began with the incorporation of a new Pikeville radio station on December 23, 1948. That station, WPKE, made its first broadcast on July 31, 1949, operating initially with 250 watts. WPKE became the foundation of a broadcasting business that later assembled a substantial regional station portfolio. In the company’s early years, Jack Hatcher acquired the interests of the original shareholders and became WPKE’s sole owner. The station also played a role in the early development of local popular-music broadcasting: its business manager, Burton Robinson, hired Walter E. May, then 16 years old, as a rock-and-roll disc jockey. After Hatcher’s death, ownership passed to investors from Morehead, Kentucky. May subsequently acquired a one-third interest and became general manager of East Kentucky Broadcasting. Under his management, WPKE’s transmission power increased from 250 watts to 1,000 watts. The ownership structure changed again in 1965, when two Pikeville businessmen acquired the other two-thirds of WPKE through an arrangement organized by May. May later bought shares from both men, giving him a 50 percent interest. The remaining half was divided equally among five other investors: Henry Stratton, Hobert Clay Johnson, C.D. Roberts, Herman G. Dotson, and T.T. Colley. In 1966, the company expanded beyond its original AM operation by adding WPKE-FM, which later became WDHR. Between 1966 and 1980, East Kentucky Broadcasting owned or operated stations in a number of communities across the region, including Lexington, Hindman, Louisa, Nicholasville, Virgie, Prestonsburg, Coal Run, Jellico, Williamson, and Pikeville. The company’s station network served local communities through radio programming, news, and advertising rather than through a nationally distributed consumer brand. Stations associated with the company included WPKE, WDHR, WZLK, WLSI, WXCC, and related facilities and translators. Walter E. May remained an important public and corporate figure in Pikeville. On July 16, 1969, he provided live radio coverage from Cape Canaveral of the launch associated with the Apollo 11 mission. From 1990 onward, he also served as mayor of Pikeville and president of the board of Pikeville Medical Center while continuing his connection with the broadcasting company. East Kentucky Broadcasting raised more than $50,000 for the hospital over the years. After May’s death on November 1, 2018, day-to-day operations were described as being handled by corporate vice presidents Christy May Adkins and Walt May II. The company’s broadcasting era ended when it sold its entire portfolio of nine stations and five translators to Mountain Top Media LLC, effective May 29, 2019, for $2.85 million. Because the station portfolio was sold, East Kentucky Broadcasting is best treated as a former regional broadcasting company rather than an active station group.

East Kentucky Broadcasting developed from WPKE, a Pikeville, Kentucky, radio station whose articles of incorporation were drafted on December 23, 1948. WPKE began broadcasting on July 31, 1949, with an initial power of 250 watts. The station’s early ownership included O.T. Hinton, Mitchell Preston, Alvis P. Keene, Dr. O.W. Thompson, Clyde Childers, Edward Venters, and Jack Hatcher. Hatcher eventually bought out the other shareholders and became the station’s sole owner. WPKE’s early programming history included the hiring of Walter E. May as a rock-and-roll disc jockey when May was 16. After Hatcher’s death in 1960, controlling stock was sold to three men from Morehead, Kentucky. May later acquired one-third of the company and became general manager. He expanded WPKE’s transmission power to 1,000 watts, strengthening its local reach. In 1965, two Pikeville businessmen purchased the remaining two-thirds of WPKE in an arrangement organized by May. May later increased his stake to 50 percent, with the balance held in equal shares by Henry Stratton, Hobert Clay Johnson, C.D. Roberts, Herman G. Dotson, and T.T. Colley. The company expanded into FM broadcasting in 1966 by adding WPKE-FM. That station later adopted the WDHR call sign. East Kentucky Broadcasting subsequently built a broader regional presence. Between 1966 and 1980, its station holdings extended to communities including Lexington, Hindman, Louisa, Nicholasville, Virgie, Prestonsburg, Coal Run, Jellico, and Williamson, as well as Pikeville. This expansion made the company a regional radio network serving Eastern Kentucky and nearby markets. May combined broadcasting leadership with public and civic responsibilities. He provided live coverage from Cape Canaveral of the July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launch. Beginning in 1990, he served as mayor of Pikeville and chaired the board of Pikeville Medical Center while remaining associated with East Kentucky Broadcasting. The company’s fundraising activities generated more than $50,000 for the medical center. May died on November 1, 2018. At that stage, corporate vice presidents Christy May Adkins and Walt May II were responsible for daily operations. The company subsequently exited station ownership. Effective May 29, 2019, Mountain Top Media LLC acquired East Kentucky Broadcasting’s complete portfolio of nine stations and five translators for $2.85 million. The sale marks the end of the company’s documented role as an operating regional station group.

• 2019

  Station portfolio sold

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  Mountain Top Media LLC acquired the company’s nine stations and five translators effective May 29.

• 2018

  Death of Walter E. May

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  May died on November 1 after a long career as a company leader and Pikeville civic figure.

• 1969

  Apollo 11 launch coverage

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  Walter E. May provided live coverage from Cape Canaveral of the Apollo 11 launch on July 16.

• 1966

  Company adds an FM station

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  East Kentucky Broadcasting added WPKE-FM, which later became WDHR.

• 1965

  Walter E. May reaches a 50 percent interest

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  After a series of share purchases, May became a half-owner while five other businessmen held the remaining stock equally.

• 1960

  Ownership changes after Jack Hatcher's death

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  Following Hatcher’s death, controlling stock was sold to three investors from Morehead, Kentucky.

• 1949

  WPKE begins broadcasting

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  WPKE transmitted its first broadcast on July 31 with 250 watts of power.

• 1948

  WPKE incorporation documents drafted

  [1]East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  Articles of incorporation were drafted for a new radio station in Pikeville, Kentucky, establishing the foundation of the later broadcasting company.

A locally focused regional radio operator serving communities in Eastern Kentucky and nearby parts of West Virginia and Tennessee through a portfolio of AM and FM stations.

• AM radio station · 1949

  WPKE

  WPKE was the Pikeville AM station from which East Kentucky Broadcasting developed. It began broadcasting in 1949 at 250 watts and later increased its transmission power to 1,000 watts under Walter E. May’s management. The station served as a core local broadcasting outlet and as the foundation for the company’s subsequent regional expansion.

• FM radio station · 1966

  WPKE-FM / WDHR

  The company entered FM broadcasting in 1966 when it added WPKE-FM. The station later adopted the WDHR call sign and became one of the identifiable FM properties associated with the East Kentucky Broadcasting portfolio.

• Radio station network

  Regional station portfolio

  At its height, the company’s holdings included radio facilities serving Pikeville and other communities in Eastern Kentucky, with additional operations or holdings in nearby parts of West Virginia and Tennessee. Stations named in references include WZLK, WLSI, and WXCC, alongside WPKE and WDHR.

• 2019

  Sell the entire station portfolioM&A

  Background

  After the death of Walter E. May in 2018, the company remained associated with corporate vice presidents Christy May Adkins and Walt May II.

  Action taken

  East Kentucky Broadcasting sold nine stations and five translators to Mountain Top Media LLC for $2.85 million, effective May 29.

  Aftermath

  The transaction ended East Kentucky Broadcasting’s documented ownership of the regional radio portfolio.

  Transaction value. $2.85 million (Effective May 29, 2019)

  Source

• 1966

  Expand from AM into FM broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  The company’s original operating base was WPKE, an AM station in Pikeville.

  Action taken

  East Kentucky Broadcasting added WPKE-FM, later renamed WDHR.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the company’s local broadcasting platform and supported its later development as a regional station group.

  Source

1. 1East Kentucky Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org