Full Breakdown
WKRP Call Letters Return to Cincinnati Radio After Five Decades
5/5/2026, 12:55:05 PM
WKRP Call Letters Return to Cincinnati
On Monday, May 4, 2026, the three-station network The Oasis rebranded as WKRP, adopting the call letters popularized by the 1978-82 CBS sitcom. The stations—97.7 FM (Mason, OH), 94.5 FM (Englewood, OH) and 106.7 FM (Williamstown, KY)—now simulcast across Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky. A six-hour loop of the series’ theme song preceded the switch.
Historical Roots of the WKRP Brand
The sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” aired 1978-82, portraying a fictional AM station. No Cincinnati broadcaster had used the WKRP call sign. The letters were held by low-power FM WKRP-LP in Raleigh, NC, since 2014. Oak City Media, the nonprofit licensee, auctioned them in April 2026; FCC rules allow a full-power FM station to share the call sign with the LPFM holder.
Key Players Behind the Rebrand
Jeff Ziesmann, owner of Grant County Broadcasters, led the acquisition; partner Randy Michaels, former Jacor/Clear Channel CEO, co-curated the music library. Former series star Gary Sandy recorded promotional liners. Actor Richard Sanders, who played Les Nessman, commented on the revival. D.J. McIntire, WKRP-LP general manager, oversaw the nonprofit’s auction.
Reach, Audience, and Music Library
The WKRP simulcast covers roughly 150 miles along I-75: New Bremen–Monroe, Ohio on 94.5 FM; Sidney–Independence, Kentucky on 97.7 FM; Reading–Georgetown, Kentucky on 106.7 FM. Ziesmann reports 135,000-145,000 weekly listeners; another source cites 140,000. The unchanged Oasis format draws from an 1,800-song library of 1960s-1980s hits, featuring the Beatles, Temptations, Elvis, Queen and Fleetwood Mac. Local DJs Dave Mason, Ernie “The Fat Man” Brown and John “BMAN” Beaulieu stay on air.
Official Statements & Responses
Ziesmann said the change is a “rebranding, not a format replacement,” stressing that music, personalities and local programming remain unchanged. He added the WKRP call letters give instant recognition and should draw listeners familiar with the sitcom. McIntire noted the auction proceeds will aid low-power stations. Sanders expressed hope that the fictional news director Les Nessman could return to the airwaves. The station’s messaging frames WKRP as a tribute, not a parody.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Listener numbers differ: Ziesmann cites 135,000-145,000 weekly listeners, while another source reports 140,000. Descriptions of the transaction vary, calling it a donation, purchase or auction win, leaving exact terms unclear. No source disclosed the amount paid for the call-sign rights.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our phones have been mobbed this morning, as I’m sure you can imagine,” — Jeff Ziesmann, Owner, Grant County Broadcasters
- “We play essentially the same music that they played on WKRP. It made more sense for us to do this than any other station in town,” — Jeff Ziesmann, Owner, Grant County Broadcasters
- “This is a rebranding. It's not a format replacement,” — Jeff Ziesmann, Owner, Grant County Broadcasters
- “I think we can all hope that WKRP will return to the airwaves with more music and Les Nessman.” — Richard Sanders, Actor (Les Nessman)
