The Monarch Broadcasting is proud to announce it has converted to simulcast on its KWHW 1450 AM and 93.5 FM stations as of midnight, Tuesday, May 31.

Those who listen to the normal 1450 AM station will notice very little change except they'll get news from the America's Radio News Network (ARNN). ARNN is not talk radio but news radio which draws from all the networks to offer a balanced, comprehensive profile of in-depth real-time news stories. This new program will run on both stations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Co-anchors for this new program are Chris Salcedo and Lori Lundin.

David Harrison, manager of KWHW said the simulcast will offer the same community-centered programming people are used to on the AM station. Now it will also be there on 93.5 FM for those who are in office buildings and typically can't receive the longer AM frequency. The shorter FM radio waves are easier to receive and not as easily affected by weather or fluctuations in the ionsphere, Harrison explained. "People tune in for a specific content. KWHW is a community station...This simulcast will give them more of what they want," Harrison said. Information and community events will be available at whichever frequency they desire. He said listeners can catch Dick Fontana's new afternoon show from 2 to 5 p.m., followed by Mary Esparza's news show at 5 p.m. Various features are broadcast at 6 p.m. and Lia can be heard at 7 p.m.

KWHW AM and FM will carry the Altus Bulldogs, OU, and OSU. Harrison said to keep tuned to Monarch Broadcasting regarding some thundering big news.

What about 93.5 The Bone? Harrison said "The Bone was one of the best rock stations in the area. It's back in the bone yard for now," he said. Stay tuned for some more positive changes in that regard soon.

This transition to simulcast might bring back memories of the station's changes over the years. KWHW began broadcasting in 1947, when it was half-owned by the Altus Times-Democrat. Frank Wimberly was president and station general manager, according to Wikipedia. In the mid-1970's the AM station was country-western, MOR (Middle of the road) and rock at night. The sister station, 93.5 (KRKZ) joined the family in 1974 as "Beautiful Music", and it switched to rock in 1977. Eddie Wilcoxen, the current Oklahoma State Poet Laureate, became music director for the stations in 1979. In 1984, the stations were sold to Altus Radio, Inc. They transitioned again at the end of 2003 when they were purchased by Monarch Broadcasting.