On weekdays, WTKS-FM broadcasts hot talk shows, aimed at a more youthful audience than would usually listen to conventional talk radio shows. Weekdays begin with "Monsters in the Morning", followed by "The News Junkie", "The Jim Colbert Show", "A Corporate Time with Tom & Dan" and "Real Laughs". From 10p.m. to early morning, WTKS-FM switches to alternative rock. Weekends also feature alternative rock, with some specialty shows on Sunday mornings and evenings.
Parent company iHeartMedia had picked some shows from WTKS-FM as part of XM Radio's Extreme XM channel 152. That service was discontinued in 2008.
History
The station first signed on the air on May 6, 1962. WRKT-FM originally had an automatedbeautiful music format, and was the sister station to WRKT (1300 AM, now WKQK). The station was owned by C. Sweet Smith. It played quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumental cover versions of popular songs, as well as Broadway and Hollywood show tunes.
In 1967, the station changed formats to progressive rock with the new call sign WKPE. The station was initially automated, but eventually added live announcers.[3] WKPE reverted to the WRKT call letters in 1977 with a Top 40 format as "Rocket 104", then 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. The more powerful relocated tower would allow the station to serve the lucrative Orlando radio market. The call letters were changed that year to WSSP. A beautiful music format was planned, but WSSP initially adopted a country 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.[4]
The move to Bithlo was completed in 1985, and WSSP became beautiful musicWSSPer 104 ("whisper"). For a number of years, "WSSPer" was one of the most popular radio stations in Orlando, often ranking as the #1 station in the Arbitron ratings and posting shares as high as 17% in certain dayparts.[5][6] However, by the early 1990s, the station's ratings were down, and after stunting with a robotic countdown, WSSP switched to a hot AC format as WZTU, U104.1, on May 3, 1991, in the hopes of raising ratings and revenue.[7][8][9] "U104.1" failed miserably. Later that year, 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). After stunting with yet another robotic countdown, Paxson switched WZTU to CHR as WHVE "One Hundred-Four One, The Wave", at 7:45a.m. on May 29,[10][11] 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.[12] "The Wave" format was dropped on August 17, 1992, after only just three months.
WHVE then changed its calls to WWNZ-FM, and began simulcasting WWNZ's talk format, though it would air a few separate shows.[13] Paxson sold WWNZ-FM to Press Broadcasting, which also owned WKCF, in 1993.[14][15][16] In May of that year, Press Broadcasting initiated the WTKS calls and the "Real Radio" format, which was talk shows during the week (including Howard Stern from May 1994 through February 2004[17]) and alternative rock on the weekend.[18][19] Real Radio was created by Sabo Media CEO Walter Sabo for Press Broadcasting. The station was sold back to Paxson in 1996 and then came under the umbrella of Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) 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.[20]
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 managed to net a surface-to-air rocket launcher.[21]
WTKS-FM HD2 originally aired a simulcast of talk radio 540 WFLF, and the HD3 subchannel aired a simulcast of sports radio 740 WYGM. WTKS stopped simulcasting WYGM on the HD3 subchannel on May 6, 2012, with the WYGM simulcast moving to WJRR-HD2, resulting in the demise of "Channel X". On February 12, 2014, the WFLF simulcast moved from W283AN 104.5 to W273CA 102.5 (displacing smooth jazz), and WTKS-HD2 flipped to its current urban format as "The Beat", filling the void after long-time urban station WJHM flipped to Top 40 the previous day.[22]
Previous shows
SBK Live originally aired from 7:00pm to 11:00pm Monday through Friday. After the show was cancelled Soul Brother Kevin moved back as a member of The Monsters in the Morning show.[citation needed]
The Buckethead Show with Buckethead (Jason Bailey). It originally aired from 11:00am to 3:00pm Monday through Friday. After the show was cancelled on June 26, 2013, Bailey went to CBS Radio's WZGC-FM in Atlanta to co-host The Morning Grind with Randy Cross and Kristen Ledlow.[23]
WQMP is a radio station licensed to Daytona Beach serving the Orlando and Space Coast areas of Central Florida. Owned by Audacy, Inc., it broadcasts an alternative rock format branded as "FM 101.9". Its studios are located in Maitland and the transmitter is in Orange City. To the north, the station can be heard as far as St. Augustine, to the south, the station can be heard as far as Palm Bay and is one of the few Orlando stations that covers Ocala.
WCFB is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Daytona Beach, Florida, serving the Greater Orlando area. The station is owned by Cox Media Group, and airs an urban adult contemporary radio format. Its studios and offices are located on North John Young Parkway in Orlando. On weekdays, WCFB carries the syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show, as well as an hour of urban contemporary gospel music at 5 a.m., and a Quiet Storm program at night.
WYGM is a commercial radio station in Orlando, Florida, United States. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a sports radio format. Programming is simulcast on FM translator station W245CL at 96.9 MHz in nearby Deltona, Florida, and uses its FM dial position in its moniker, "96.9 The Game." It is also heard on the HD2 channel of co-owned WJRR 101.1.
WMIB is an urban contemporary radio station in South Florida, United States. It is licensed to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but it also serves Miami and the Miami metropolitan area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia and the broadcast license is held by Clear Channel Broadcast Licenses, Inc. Its studios are located in Pembroke Pines and its transmitter site is in Miami Gardens. WMIB competes with WEDR. WMIB broadcasts with 100,000 watts effective radiated power and 1,007 feet height above average terrain from the Guy Gannett broadcasting tower in Miami. Other stations on the tower are WAXY-FM, WHYI-FM, WMXJ, WHQT-FM, WMIA-FM, WFLC, WFEZ, WEDR, and WZTU.
WOCL is a commercial radio station, licensed to DeLand, Florida, and serving Greater Orlando and Central Florida. It is owned by Audacy, Inc., and airs a classic hits radio format, focusing on the hits from the 1980s but with some 90s and 2000s titles as well. The radio studios and offices are on Pembrook Drive in Maitland.
WOMX-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Orlando, Florida. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs a hot adult contemporary radio format known as Mix 105.1. WOMX-FM's studios and offices are located on Pembrook Drive in Maitland and its transmitter tower is off Fort Christmas Road in Bithlo.
WFLF is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Pine Hills, Florida, and serving Greater Orlando. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a news/talk format. The studios and offices are in the iHeart Orlando complex in Maitland.
WSSP is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, owned by Audacy, Inc. It airs a sports radio format known as "1250 AM The Fan." Most of its programs are from CBS Sports Radio and the BetQL Network.
WJRR is a commercial radio station licensed to Cocoa Beach, Florida, serving Greater Orlando. Owned by iHeartMedia, WJRR airs an active rock radio format. It is the Orlando affiliate for the syndicated rock series Skratch 'N Sniff. WJRR studios and offices are located on Maitland Center Parkway in the Orlando suburb of Maitland. The station transmitter is off Fort Christmas Road in Christmas, Florida.
WOEX is a commercial radio station in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by Cox Media Group through Cox Radio, LLC and airs a Spanish-language Contemporary Hits radio format. WOEX's studios and offices are located in Orlando on North John Young Parkway.
WRUM is a commercial radio station in Orlando, Florida, known as "Rumba 100.3". It airs a Spanish-language radio format featuring Latin pop, reggaeton and tropical music, and is owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are on Maitland Center Parkway in Maitland.
WMGF is a commercial radio station licensed to Mount Dora, and serving Orlando and Central Florida. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an adult contemporary radio format, switching to a Christmas music for much of November and December. Its offices and studios are on Maitland Center Parkway in Maitland.
WMTX is a commercial radio station in Tampa, Florida, known as "Mix 100.7". It has an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, with its studios and offices on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa. WMTX serves as the primary Emergency Alert System station for the Tampa Bay area.
WREH was a 100,000-watt FM station, broadcasting on 90.5 MHz. Its city of license was Cypress Quarters in Okeechobee County, Florida. The station went on the air in 2004. Reach Communications, ReachFM's parent company, was formed in association with Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When it was active, ReachFM's programming was geared towards a diverse active Christian audience. According to its website, WREH's last day of programming was March 30, 2016. On February 15, 2017, Reach Communications informed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that WREH had ceased broadcasting on February 10; on April 18, 2017, it surrendered the station's license, and the license was cancelled by the FCC on April 19, 2017.
Pride Radio (United States) (stylized as PRIDE Radio) is an LGBTQ+ electronic dance music and top 40 radio network launched by Clear Channel Communications Format Lab under the direction of Michael Albl, who conceived the format, on terrestrial HD2 & HD3 stations and online via CCRD (Clear Channel Radio Digital) in 2006. The radio division became known as iHeartMedia on September 16, 2014. It is one of several music channels that are available through iHeartMedia's iHeartRadio app.
WOKV-FM is a radio station in Atlantic Beach, Florida, United States, serving the Jacksonville metropolitan area. It airs a news/talk format branded as "News 104.5 WOKV". The station is owned by Cox Media Group and broadcasts from studios and a transmitter in the Southside district of Jacksonville.
WMFE-FM is a listener-supported FM radio station in Orlando, Florida, owned by Community Communications, Inc. WMFE-FM is Central Florida's National Public Radio (NPR) member station, with a format of news and information. Most programming is simulcast on 89.5 WMFV in Cedar Creek, Florida. The radio studios are on East Colonial Drive in Orlando.
WFYY is a commercial radio station licensed to Windermere, Florida, and serving Greater Orlando. The station is owned by JVC Broadcasting, and airs a hot talk format.
WKSL is a commercial radio station licensed to Neptune Beach, Florida, broadcasting to the Jacksonville metropolitan area. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc. WKSL airs a Top 40/CHR radio format. WKSL carries two weekday syndicated programs, with Elvis Duran and the Morning Show from WHTZ New York City, and in middays, WKSL carries On Air with Ryan Seacrest based at KIIS-FM Los Angeles.
W283AN is an FM translator station licensed to cover Orlando, Florida. It rebroadcasts a mainstream urban format from the HD2 subchannel of WTKS-FM. The station, which was launched on February 12, 2014, is owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The station launched the day after WJHM shifted from Rhythmic CHR to Top 40/CHR.
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