WTKS-FM
Encyclopedia
WTKS-FM 104.1 is a FM radio station airing a talk radio
format during the work week. The station is licensed by the (U.S.) Federal Communications Commission
to broadcast from Cocoa Beach, Florida
(though the studio is located in Maitland, Florida
), and serves mainly the Orlando
and Central Florida
areas.
Most of the programs are designed to appeal to young adults. The weekend programming is classic rock
. Over the past six years, parent Clear Channel Communications
has picked shows from this station to be a part of XM Radio's Extreme XM channel 152.
WTKS simulcasts the news talk station WFLF 540 AM on HD Radio
digital subchannel WTKS HD-2.
WTKS simulcasts the sports talk station WYGM "740 the Game" on HD Radio
digital subchannel WTKS HD-3.
format, the sister station to WRKT-AM 1300 (now WTIR
). The station was owned by C. Sweet Smith . In 1967, the station changed format to Progressive Rock
with the new calls WKPE; the station was initially automated but eventually added more live announcers. WKPE reverted to the WRKT calls in 1977 with a Top 40 format as "Rocket 104," shifting its format to Adult Contemporary in 1980.
Guy Gannett purchased WRKT-FM in 1981 with the intent of upgrading the 30,000-watt station to 100,000 watts from a new tower near Bithlo
and serve the Orlando market. The calls were changed that year to WSSP. A Beautiful Music
format was planned, but WSSP initially adopted a Country
format as "Brevard's Stereo Country 104." The country format was a temporary measure until the upgrade of the station's signal could be finalized.
The move to Bithlo was completed in 1985, and WSSP became Beautiful Music "WSSPer [Whisper] 104". For a number of years, "WSSPer" was one of the most popular radio stations in Orlando, often ranking as the #1 station 12+ in the market and posting shares as high as 17% in certain dayparts. However, by 1992, the station's ratings were down, and WSSP switched to a Hot AC format as WZTU "U104.1" in the hopes of raising ratings and revenue. "U104.1" failed miserably. Later in 1992, Gannett sold its radio stations in Orlando and Miami to concentrate on its television properties. WZTU was acquired by Paxson Communications Corporation, headed by Lowell "Bud" Paxson
(founder of the Home Shopping Network
and later PAX TV). Paxson switched WZTU to CHR
as WHVE "One O' Four Point One, The Wave," but despite the programming expertise of Bill Pasha of WAPE-FM
in Jacksonville, ratings and revenues did not increase; the station came in 14th place in its first ratings book. "The Wave" was cancelled in August 1992 after three months.
WHVE changed its calls to WWNZ-FM, simulcasting much of its programming from WWNZ-AM 740 with a few separate shows. Paxson sold WWNZ-FM to Press Broadcasting, which also owned WKCF
, in 1993. Press Broadcasting initiated the WTKS calls and the "Real Radio", which was talk shows during the week (including Howard Stern
for a few years) and alternative rock
on the weekend. The station was sold back to Paxson in 1996 and then came under the Clear Channel umbrella in 1997. On June 21, 2007, Clear Channel announced the request of transfer for their entire Orlando cluster into the Aloha Station Trust
upon the consummation of the impending company buyout.
WTKS held an annual "Kicks for Guns" program in association with the Orlando Police Department where citizens could exchange guns, no questions asked, for shoes. The program made international headlines when the 2007 exchange netted a rocket launcher
.
Since 2004, parent Clear Channel Communications
picked shows from the station to be a part of XM Radio's Extreme XM channel 165.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format during the work week. The station is licensed by the (U.S.) Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to broadcast from Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 12,482 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2008, the city had a population of 11,920...
(though the studio is located in Maitland, Florida
Maitland, Florida
Maitland is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States, part of the Greater Metro Orlando area. The population was 12,019 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 14,172...
), and serves mainly the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
and Central Florida
Central Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
areas.
Most of the programs are designed to appeal to young adults. The weekend programming is classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
. Over the past six years, parent Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
has picked shows from this station to be a part of XM Radio's Extreme XM channel 152.
WTKS simulcasts the news talk station WFLF 540 AM on HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
digital subchannel WTKS HD-2.
WTKS simulcasts the sports talk station WYGM "740 the Game" on HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
digital subchannel WTKS HD-3.
Previous Shows
- The Howard Stern Show, weekdays 6am to 11am(ish). Aired from 1994 to 2004. Syndicated from New York. Clear Channel dropped this show in 2004 from six stations that aired it.
- The Phil HendriePhil HendriePhilip Stephen Hendrie is an American radio personality. He is best known as the host of The Phil Hendrie Show, a comedy talk radio program that is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network...
Show. A syndication rebroadcast. - The Ed TyllEdward TyllEdward Tyll is an American comedian and radio personality.Tyll was born in The Bronx, New York USA the only child of Italian-Polish-American parents. He earned a B.S...
Show. Broadcast locally. - LoveLine with Dr. Drew Pinsky and Adam CarollaAdam CarollaAdam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast on the ACE Broadcasting Network...
. Syndicated. - G. Gordon LiddyG. Gordon LiddyGeorge Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
History
104.1 FM began operations in 1962 as WRKT-FM with an automated JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
format, the sister station to WRKT-AM 1300 (now WTIR
WTIR
WDMC is a radio station broadcasting a religious format. Licensed to Melbourne, Florida, USA, the station is currently owned by Divine Mercy Communications.-External links:*...
). The station was owned by C. Sweet Smith . In 1967, the station changed format to Progressive Rock
Progressive rock (radio format)
Progressive rock is a radio station programming format that prospered in the late 1960s and 1970s, in which the disc jockeys are given wide latitude in what they may play, similar to the freeform format but with the proviso that some kind of rock music is almost always what is played...
with the new calls WKPE; the station was initially automated but eventually added more live announcers. WKPE reverted to the WRKT calls in 1977 with a Top 40 format as "Rocket 104," shifting its format to Adult Contemporary in 1980.
Guy Gannett purchased WRKT-FM in 1981 with the intent of upgrading the 30,000-watt station to 100,000 watts from a new tower near Bithlo
Bithlo, Florida
Bithlo is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. For 20 years in the early 20th century, Bithlo was an incorporated...
and serve the Orlando market. The calls were changed that year to WSSP. A Beautiful Music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format was planned, but WSSP initially adopted a Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format as "Brevard's Stereo Country 104." The country format was a temporary measure until the upgrade of the station's signal could be finalized.
The move to Bithlo was completed in 1985, and WSSP became Beautiful Music "WSSPer [Whisper] 104". For a number of years, "WSSPer" was one of the most popular radio stations in Orlando, often ranking as the #1 station 12+ in the market and posting shares as high as 17% in certain dayparts. However, by 1992, the station's ratings were down, and WSSP switched to a Hot AC format as WZTU "U104.1" in the hopes of raising ratings and revenue. "U104.1" failed miserably. Later in 1992, Gannett sold its radio stations in Orlando and Miami to concentrate on its television properties. WZTU was acquired by Paxson Communications Corporation, headed by Lowell "Bud" Paxson
Bud Paxson
Lowell W. "Bud" Paxson is an American media executive.A native of Florida, Paxson began his career at a little 500 watt radio station in upstate New York, and later as the owner of a small AM radio station, WWQT 1470 AM, in Clearwater, Florida. There, in 1977, an advertiser had plenty of product...
(founder of the Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
and later PAX TV). Paxson switched WZTU to CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
as WHVE "One O' Four Point One, The Wave," but despite the programming expertise of Bill Pasha of WAPE-FM
WAPE-FM
95.1 WAPE-FM is a Top 40/CHR radio station based in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. The Cox Radio outlet broadcasts at 95.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW...
in Jacksonville, ratings and revenues did not increase; the station came in 14th place in its first ratings book. "The Wave" was cancelled in August 1992 after three months.
WHVE changed its calls to WWNZ-FM, simulcasting much of its programming from WWNZ-AM 740 with a few separate shows. Paxson sold WWNZ-FM to Press Broadcasting, which also owned WKCF
WKCF
WKCF is the CW-affiliated television station for Central Florida licensed to Clermont. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 17 from a transmitter in unincorporated Bithlo. The station can also be seen on Bright House Networks channel 8 and Comcast channel 13...
, in 1993. Press Broadcasting initiated the WTKS calls and the "Real Radio", which was talk shows during the week (including Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
for a few years) and alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
on the weekend. The station was sold back to Paxson in 1996 and then came under the Clear Channel umbrella in 1997. On June 21, 2007, Clear Channel announced the request of transfer for their entire Orlando cluster into the Aloha Station Trust
Aloha Station Trust, LLC
Aloha Station Trust, LLC is a privately owned trust company that owns radio and television stations previously owned by Clear Channel Communications....
upon the consummation of the impending company buyout.
WTKS held an annual "Kicks for Guns" program in association with the Orlando Police Department where citizens could exchange guns, no questions asked, for shoes. The program made international headlines when the 2007 exchange netted a rocket launcher
Rocket launcher
A rocket launcher is any device that launches a rocket-propelled projectile, although the term is often used in reference to mechanisms that are portable and capable of being operated by an individual....
.
Since 2004, parent Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
picked shows from the station to be a part of XM Radio's Extreme XM channel 165.