WYKS

Last updated

WYKS
Broadcast areaGainesville-Ocala
Frequency 105.3 MHz
BrandingKiss 105.3
Programming
Format Contemporary hits
Ownership
OwnerGillen Broadcasting Corporation
WAJD
History
First air date
May 4, 1970 (1970-05-04)
Former call signs
WGVL (1970–1981)
Former frequencies
105.5 MHz (1970–1995)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 24208
Class A
ERP 3,000 watts
HAAT 142 meters (466 ft)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Website kiss1053.com

WYKS (105.3 FM, "Kiss 105.3") is a commercial radio station licensed to Gainesville, Florida, United States, serving the Gainesville-Ocala market. It is owned by the Gillen Broadcasting Corporation and airs a contemporary hits format.

Contents

The studios and transmitter are on SW 24th Avenue in Gainesville, near the Galen College of Nursing.

History

The station signed on the air on May 4, 1970. [2] It broadcast on 105.5 FM as WGVL. It began with an automated country music format but soon switching to album oriented rock. As an AOR outlet, WGVL was one of the most popular FM stations in Gainesville during the 1970s, often beating AM Top 40 stations WRUF 850 and WGGG 1230 in its target young male demographics.

After 103.7 WRUF-FM abruptly switched from beautiful music to AOR as "Rock 104" in 1981, WGVL decided to take a new tack. WRUF-FM is powered at 100,000 watts vs. 3,000 for WGVL and WGVL's management realized it would be hard for it to compete with WRUF-FM for rock fans. On December 25, 1981, "Kiss 105" was born with a Top 40/CHR format. The call sign switched to WYKS, the last two letters standing for "KISS-FM." Since it was Christmas Day, Kiss 105 debuted with Bob and Doug McKenzie's version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Now known as "Kiss 105.3", adding the decimal point, WYKS has remained one of the most popular radio stations in the market since.

The frequency changed from 105.5 to 105.3 in 1995. Although the station's effective radiated power (ERP) remained at 3,000 watts, there was a slight increase in tower height, which improved the station's coverage area.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WYKS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-42. Retrieved April 1, 2025.

29°37′55″N82°25′08″W / 29.632°N 82.419°W / 29.632; -82.419

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