en WBKE (AM)

WBKE
Simulcasting WMMN Fairmont
Fairmont, West Virginia; United States;
Broadcast area	Fairmont, West Virginia; Grafton, West Virginia;
Frequency	1490 kHz
Branding	The Torch
Programming
Format	Conservative talk
Affiliations	Genesis Communications Network; Townhall News; Westwood One; Pittsburgh Steelers; Pittsburgh Penguins; West Virginia Mountaineers;
Ownership
Owner	Laurel Highland Total Communications, Inc.; (LHTC Media of West Virginia, Inc.);
Sister stations	WZST, WMMN, WRLF, WHTI, WGYE
History
First air date	1948 (as WTCS)
Former call signs	WTCS (1948–2018)
Call sign meaning	"Blake" (former branding)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	20461
Class	C
Power	1,000 watts unlimited
Translator(s)	98.3 W252EF (Morgantown)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live
Website	www.wvthetorch.com

WBKE (1490 kHz, "The Torch") is a conservative talk formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Fairmont, West Virginia, serving the Fairmont/Grafton area. WBKE is owned and operated by Laurel Highland Total Communications, Inc., through licensee LHTC Media of West Virginia, Inc.

History

As WTCS, the station previously aired Laura Ingraham, The Dana Show, Michael Savage, Mark Levin, Joe Pags, and Red Eye Radio.^[2]

On August 6, 2018, WBKE changed its format from news/talk to country, branded as "98.3 Blake FM" in reflection of its simulcast on FM translator W252EF (98.3 MHz) in Morgantown, West Virginia.^[3]

On June 25, 2019, the station switched to classic hits, as "Buzz 98.3".^[4] On January 6, 2025, WBKE dropped the classic its format for a simulcast of conservative talk-formatted WMMN (920 AM), branded as "The Torch".^[5]