WALK-FM

Infobox Radio station


name = WALK-FM
airdate = 1952
frequency = 97.5 MHz HD Radio
city = Patchogue, New York
area = Long Island| to Extreme Eastern New Jersey
format = Adult Contemporary
owner = Aloha Station Trust, LLC
erp = 39,000 watts
haat = 169 meters
branding = WALK 97.5
slogan = Long Island's Best Variety from Yesterday and Today
class = B
facility_id = 10137
webcast = [http://www.walkradio.com/pages/listenlive.html Listen Live]
website = [http://walkradio.com/ www.walkradio.com]

WALK-FM, known on-air as "WALK 97.5," is a radio station on Long Island with an adult contemporary format. Located on 97.5 FM, the station is licensed to Patchogue, New York. The station's ratings are usually at or near the top compared with other radio stations that can be heard on Long Island. The stations slogan is "Long Island's Best Variety - From Yesterday and Today." It can be heard on air frequently during commercials and ends with "WALK 97.5." Its transmitter is located in Farmingville, New York.

History

Beginnings

WALK-FM, which first went on the air in 1952 as part of the Island Broadcasting System, is a Clear Channel Communications radio station. As has its sister station in New York City, WLTW, WALK has in recent years run a full schedule of Christmas music during the holiday season.

One of WALK-FM's longest running shows was "Klein til 9 and again til 10" hosted by Bob Klein.

WALK-FM on Good Morning America

The WALK Breakfast Club, the weekday morning show hosted by Mark Daniels and Cindy, was featured on ABC's Good Morning America in December 2005. It was a live report from the WALK-FM studios as the host of GMA asked Mark and Cindy about Holiday music on radio stations. After the report, Cindy accused Mark of paying off the cameraman since the camera was only focusing on Mark. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4189/is_20051216/ai_n15943937]

K.T. Mills Stalked

For eleven years, a Florida man stalked K.T. Mills: such as mailing gifts, letters, and a wedding ring to the WALK studios. In 2005, the Florida man was arrested in Tampa, Florida. [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/story/272581p-233399c.html] During the eleven years, K.T. Mills formed a new stalking bill, strengthening New York State laws, which was signed by Governor Pataki in 2003.

Traffic Reporter Arrested

In March 2006, Jim Buckley, who was a traffic reporter for WALK-FM, was arrested after authorities found child pornography on his computer. [http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=162&show=article&a_id=7450] After WALK-FM found replacements for drive-time traffic reports, Brett Levine and Chuck Hesselbirg, WALK renamed the traffic reports from SkyWALK Traffic to WALK Total Traffic to make the station part of the new Total Traffic system offered by Clear Channel. Hesselbirg and Levine was later fired from WALK because of job cuts from Clear Channel in November 2006.

WALK Today

In mid-2006, WALK-FM started broadcasting in HD Radio. Weeks after, WALK-FM released a second channel on the HD signal (HD-2), a country station, which Clear Channel states that WALK-FM HD-2 is the first country station on Long Island in five years. The station can be heard through a HD Radio Device or on the WALK-FM website. [http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/ny-ffbuz4807814jul09,0,5869737.story]

WALK is one of the hundreds of Clear Channel stations that is up for sale after an announcement from the company that it is planning to go private. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Channel#Clear_Channel_Sale] WALK-FM was purchased by Clear Channel in 2000.

On Saturday November 17, long-time WALK veteran Dave Shnayer, known as JD Howard on-air, died after a four-year battle with lymphoma. The death was announced the following afternoon by Holly Levis. [http://www.walkradio.com/pages/jocks.html?feed=106670&article=335436] [http://www.newsday.com/news/obituaries/ny-lishna225471795nov22,0,7552814.story]

The station is more modern and less "lite" than sister WLTW, which plays the late 60's, many 70's and 80's, some 90's, and Modern Hits. WALK rarely plays 60's.

Airstaff

The current lineup is as follows

* Morning Show: The Breakfast Club - Mark Daniels & Cindy with Donna Vaughan - News/Traffic & Pat Pagano - Weather
* Mid-Days: Scott Miller
* Afternoon Drive: K.T Mills
* Nighttime: Patrick Shea
* Overnights: Long Island's best variety from yesterday and today
* Weekenders: Mary Carolan, Dennis Falcone, Holly Levis, Jack Nolan, David North, Jeffery Wands, & Kara Reifert

Awards

In 2007, the station was nominated for the top 25 markets Adult Contemporary station of the year award by Radio & Records magazine. Other nominees included WMJX in Boston, KOST in Los Angeles, WLTW in New York, WBEB, in Philadelphia, and KEZK-FM in St. Louis. cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=2007 Industry Achievement Awards | date=Sept 28, 2008 | publisher= | url =http://www.radioandrecords.com/Conventions/con2007/awards/indexFinal.asp | work =Radio and Records]

References

External links

* [http://www.walkradio.com/ WALK 97.5]
* [http://www.realtimetraffic.net/ Total Traffic Corporate Website]
*FMQ|WALK
*FML|WALK
*FMARB|WALK