WVTK (92.1 FM) is a radio station that transmits a signal from a broadcast tower located in Port Henry, New York, which is near to Middlebury, Vermont. WVTK has an 18,000 watt effective radiated power signal, most of which radiates a very potent north / south signal into Vermont's Champlain Valley. The signal can be heard clearly in Middlebury, Bristol, Brandon, and Vergennes, Port Henry, Ticonderoga, Burlington and Rutland. WVTK's business offices and broadcast studios are located in the Historic Marble Works Complex in Middlebury, Vermont.
WVTK has been through many format and ownership changes during its 25 years of being on the air. The station is currently owned by Ken and Lori Barlow, who have owned the station since July 2008. The station was once oldies for a several years under the call sign of WMNM as "Oldies 92", and returned to oldies once again under the call sign of WLCQ ("Q92"). On May 1, 2007, an oldies format based on the 1960s, early 1970s, and very late 1950s returned to 92.1 as "The True Oldies Channel", a syndicated radio programming stream from ABC Radio Networks. The format change lasted for only about 16 months, as the new owners of WVTK (Vox Radio Group) flipped the station in early September 2008 to an adult contemporary (AC) music format, with more of a local emphasis on Addison County.
Throughout the years, the station has had numerous call signs including WHRC-FM, WKLZ, WHWB-FM, WMNM, WXNT, WLCQ and WJVT. The WHWB-FM and WLKZ call signs were also used in Rutland on the 94.5 frequency prior to going dark in 1993 before the 94.5 frequency was reborn as WJEN "Cat Country". The WHWB-FM call sign was originally used on 98.1 FM in Rutland, VT prior to 1984 when WHWB-FM was a 50,000 watt station with an antenna height about 300 feet below average terrain on the West Proctor Road in Rutland Town, site of where the current WDVT transmits from. The 92.1 frequency started out as a 3,000 watt facility, and was upgraded to the current 18,000 watts with additional height being added to the Port Henry tower in the early 1990s. Formats on the 92.1 frequency have included: religion, country, CHR (from 2003-2008 under 92-1 Kiss FM), adult contemporary, rock, smooth jazz (twice), and once as a part time simulcast of New/Talk WSYB in Rutland. WVTK has also held an oldies format at three different times in its history. Clear Channel spun off WVTK to the new WVTK Radio, LLC in 2008, as it was not part of Clear Channel divesting its Burlington, Vermont stations to Vox Radio, current owners of WEAV, WEZF, WXZO & WCPV.
The full-service based adult contemporary format and positioning as "Addison, Rutland and Essex County's Radio Station" has caught on well within Addison and Rutland Counties in Vermont and Essex County, New York. 92-1 WVTK also serves as the voice of Panther Hockey and Football, as well providing coverage for local area high school football,hockey and basketball coverage.
WVTK's current air staff includes, Bruce Zeman and his dog, Hobbes, who host "The Wake-Up Crew With Bruce and Hobbes," mid-day host Jamie Dennis, and PM Drive host, Ken Gilbert. Zeman's dog, Hobbes, a rescued dachshund, was added as a co-host to the "Wake-Up Crew," in May, 2010, after his popularity surged as a result of mentions by Zeman on his program. Soon after the dog became part of the program, WVTK changed the name of the morning show to "The Wake-Up Crew with Bruce & Hobbes." Hobbes has his own Facebook page (Hobbes Zeman) and has been instrumental in the huge popularity of the program, and the success of the station.
As of 2011, Hobbes was the only full-time, canine morning radio-show host in the United States. A domestic violence survivor, the dog has become arguably the most prominent canine in Vermont history. Since joing the staff of WVTK, Hobbes has been made an honorary police K-9 in three Vermont communities - Middlebury, Vergennes and Bristol. He is also the "official" Fire Dog of The New Haven Volunteer Fire Department. In 2011, Hobbes made history when he became the first canine in Vermont history to be allowed on the floor of the Vermont House of Representatives, where he was recognized for his work on behalf of animals.
Other programming includes The John Tesh Radio Show at night, and weekend host, Ted Richards. 92.1 WVTK also offers some unique and eclectic programming on weekends including The Mike Harvey Show, on Saturday evenings. On Sundays mornings, WVTK features The Sounds of Sinatra and Sunday evenings features the Dave Koz Radio Show (smooth jazz) and Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis (traditional jazz).
By March 2012, following the transition of sister station WEZF from adult contemporary to hot adult contemporary, WVTK became the only AC station in the Burlington area, although in the Plattsburgh area, there are no stations excluding Montreal's CKBE-FM (9-2-5 The Beat), which does put a partial signal into Plattsburgh. WVTK's signal is blocked in Plattsburgh by WCEL 91.9. This officially all changed as WIER assumed an adult contemporary format to replace active rock on March 28, 2012.