Personalities were live around the clock until late 1985, when expense cuts caused the owners to bring in a satellite delivered country music format, and then Judge Jones entered into a sweat-equity agreement with a group of former University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) students led by Donn Erisman.
In 1983, GM Donn Erismann and a conglomerate of ex UAF broadcasting students took over day-to-day operations of KSKE from Judge Jones with the plan of 'sweat equity-ing" their way into ownership.
Those broadcasters included Malcolm Atteberry, Kate Carlyle, Vince King, Michael Zokel, Rick Thompson, Dave Bergen "the engineer", Danny Manning, RJ Bishop, Kathy Beris, and JJ Valentine.
The format was a blend of Adult Contemporary in the mornings, AC & top 40 Mid-day/afternoons and AOR rock and Heavy Metal overnight.