WTKE-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WTKE-FM


city = Holt, Florida
area =
branding =
slogan = "Sportsradio 98.1theticket"
airdate = 1989-01-01 (as WWSF)
frequency = 98.1 MHz
format = Sports radio
power =
erp = 100,000 watts
haat = 147.0 meters
class = C1
facility_id = 56374
coordinates = coord|30|24|38.00|N| 86|37|22.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WWSF (1989-1989)
WWSF-FM (1989-1994)
WXCR (1994-1989)
WWSF (1989-1989)
WTKE (1999-2006)
owner = Star Broadcasting, Inc.
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast =
website = [http://www.sportstalktheticket.com sportstalktheticket.com]
affiliations = Premiere Radio Networks, ESPN Radio, Sporting News RadioInfobox Radio station
name = WTKE


city = Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
airdate = 1994-09-19 (as WFAV)
frequency = 1400 kHz
power = 1,000 watts
erp =
format = Sports radio
haat =
class = C
facility_id = 47003
coordinates = coord|30|24|38.00|N|86|37|23.00|W|region:US_type:city
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WFAV (1994-2002)
WJGC (2002-2004)
WBAU (2004-2006)

WTKE-FM (98.1 FM) and WTKE (1400 AM) is a radio station simulcasting a sports radio format. Licensed to Holt, Florida, USA, and Ft. Walton Beach, Florida the station serves the Fort Walton Beach area. The station is currently owned by Star Broadcasting, Inc. and features programing from Premiere Radio Networks, ESPN Radio and Sporting News Radio. [ cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=WTKE-FM |title=WTKE-FM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ]

History

The FM station went on the air as WWSF on 1989-01-01. on 1989-08-04, the station changed its call sign to WWSF-FM, on 1994-10-24 to WXCR, on 1995-10-02 to WWSF, on 1999-03-01 to WTKE, on 2006-06-23 to the current WTKE. The AM station went on the air as WFAV on 1994-09-19. on 2002-01-31, the station changed its call sign to WJGC, on 2004-07-21 to WBAU, on 2006-06-30 to the current WTKE, [ cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=47003&Callsign=WTKE |title=WTKE Call Sign History |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division ]

tation History

The station switched to an all-sports format in February 1998 while owned by Capstar Broadcasting. Ownership changed to AMFM, Inc. and Chancellor Media. When the merger between AM/FM and Clear Channel was completed, WTKE-FM remained with Clear Channel while the other stations in the AM/FM group were spun off first into a trust, then to Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd..

In 2002, Clear Channel agreed to a swap with Star Broadcasting, Inc. which resulted in WTKE-FM going to Star. Star Broadcasting took ownership in 2003, before agreeing to sell the station to Qantum Communications in 2004. A later deal between Star and Cumulus Broadcasting was not executed. The sale to Qantum is still pending as of 2008.

The original lineup consisted of JT The Brick overnight, John and Johnny in the Mornings, The Fabulous Sports Babe in the mid-morning, The Jim Rome Show in mid-day, a re-broadcast of The Fabulous Sports Babe in the afternoon, Conference Call in the afternoon drive followed by ESPN Gamenight in the evening.

Morning Show Changes

In 1999, an agreement between the Sports Fan Radio Network and CBS Sportsline was dissolved, ending the John and Johnny Show, resulting in the pre-syndication airing of Mike and Mike in the Morning from ESPN Radio.

In 2000, when Clear Channel took control of the radio station, Rick & Bubba were placed in the morning drive. This was the first non-sports programming aired since 1999 when "The Ticket" moniker was adopted. They remained in place until 2003 when they were moved to WYCL-FM prior to Star Broadcasting assuming operations. They were replaced once again by Mike and Mike in the Morning until 2004.

In 2004, Max'd Out took over the morning time slot. The show was the first local morning show on the station since switching to sports. Hosted originally by Max Howell and Lionel Fayard, Adam McCloskey soon added co-host duties in addition to producing the show. Scott Moore was later added to the show, which continued until December 2004.

In January 2005, Adam McCloskey assumed the host role while the show remained unnamed. Later Scott McKinney and Scott Moore were added to the program which was renamed "The Morning Wrap" after a listener contest. McCloskey left the show in April to leave for KKNS-AM in Albuquerque, NM. He was soon replaced as producer by "Limo" Rob Becton. In late 2005, Rebecca "The Sports Babe" was added to the roster with McKinney and Moore.

In May 2006, McCloskey returned as Moore left, he soon replaced Becton as producer as well as co-host. The lineup of McKinney, McCloskey and "The Sports Babe" remained in place until July 2007 when McKinney left the show. Rob Brown was added as producer/co-host while McCloskey assumed primary host duties. In April 2008, Rebecca "The Sports Babe" left the show.

Late Morning Changes

The 9am-11am slot was originally held by "The Fabulous Sports Babe" from ESPN Radio. When she was removed the station continued airing ESPN's offering in the time-slot, The Tony Kornheiser Show. Kornheiser remained in place until 2003 when the relationship between WTKE-FM and ESPN Radio was severed, though during the "Rick & Bubba" era the show was reduced to one hour between 10am and 11am. He was replaced by James Brown from Sporting News from 2004 until March 2005.

The Joe Scarborough Show from Westwood One was initially placed in the slot as the station moved away from an all-sports format, before Scarborough left the program. G. Gordon Liddy's show then moved from tape-delay to its' live slot in 2005. In mid-2006 "Brian and The Judge" replaced Liddy.

Mid-Day Changes

There have been no changes to the mid-day since the station switched in 1999. Jim Rome remains the only host on the station who has never had his show altered by management.

Early Afternoon (2pm-5pm)

When Jim Rome broadcast for 4 hours, the 3pm-5pm slot was filled by a replay of "The Fabulous Sports Babe." Upon Tony Kornheiser's replacement of the "Sports Babe" by ESPN, The Dan Patrick show replaced the tape-delay.

Jim Rome soon reduced his show to three hours, whereby Dan Patrick's third-hour was aired live from 2p-3p before the final 2 hours were broadcast on a tape-delayed basis.

"Sports Shorts" with Mark Holiday began airing from 4pm until 5pm in early 2000. It was the first local programming aired by the radio station. Greg Golden soon took over the hour of locally-originated program renaming it "The Cheap Seats."

A contractual agreement could not be reached when Clear Channel assumed operations and Patrick returned to the slot until October 2000. Kiley and Booms from FOX Sports then took over the 4pm hour, before being expanded to air from 2pm until 5pm in early 2001. For a brief time following the events of September 11, 2001, a Clear Channel program was aired, before Kiley and Booms returned. Following Booms exit from FOX Sports in 2002, the Paul Finebaum show was aired beginning at 3pm, while FOX programming remained from 2pm-3pm, most notably "The Jim Daniels Show."

In early 2003, following a rant by Finebaum, he was removed from the station. Daniels show expanded to cover the period. Later in 2003, Southern Sports Tonight switched broadcast time and was aired in the 4pm hour.

Coinciding with the addition of Scarborough in the morning, "The Radio Factor" with Bill O'Reilley was added to the lineup in March 2005, on a tape delated basis.

Months later in 2005, Southern Sports Tonight ceased operations as a network show, and it was replaced by "Conference Call." Southern Sports Tonight returned in early 2005 as a locally-originated show and began airing at 4pm hosted by Scott McKinney. This continued until 2007 when McKinney left "The Morning Wrap." At this point, Southern Sports Tonight expanded to 3pm until 7pm supplanting an hour of "The Radio Factor."

It was returned to three hours in early 2008.

Program Lineup

Weekday Lineup:1am-6am The David Stein Show (Final hour tape-delayed)6am-9am The Morning Wrap (Hosts: Adam McCloskey and Rob Brown)9am-11am Brian and the Judge (Hosts: Brian Kilmeade and Andrew Napalatano)11am-2pm The Jim Rome Show2pm-4pm The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilley 4pm-7pm Southern Sports Tonight (Host: Scott McKinney)7pm-9pm The Arnie Spanier Show9pm-1am Todd Wright Tonight

Former Hosts

JT The Brick (overnight)All Night with Todd Wright (overnight)

The Fabulous Sports Babe

References

External links

*FMQ|WTKE-FM
*FML|WTKE-FM
*FMARB|WTKE-FM

Ft. Walton Beach Radio