WBBL adds FM, WKLQ goes only online

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - In a move embracing present-day realities and the future, WKLQ Radio will become an online-only station while WBBL will take over WKLQ's radio position at 107.3 FM, becoming the largest sports signal in the market.

WBBL (AM 1340 The Ball) will simulcast its signal on 107.3. The Ball currently carries the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions, the Detroit Red Wings, the West Michigan Whitecaps and MSU football and basketball. Sister station WLAV will continue to air most Tigers games this season.

Putting sports on a 50,000 watt signal "is a large investment. It will give us more power to reach more people with a unique opportunity to bring great talk and great teams with an even more expanded spot for local sports," said Citadel regional president Matt Hanlon in a press release.

WKLQ will continue to feature active rock, only completely online. Hanlon said, “More than 70 percent of the current WKLQ listeners use the Web site weekly,” said Matt Hanlon, regional president, Citadel Broadcasting Company. “This new technology and direct connection all the time is designed to get closer to the needs of this audience; it is where they want us to be.”