WKTK

WKTK is a commercial radio station licensed in Crystal River, Florida, broadcasting to the Gainesville-Ocala, Florida area on 98.5 FM. The station began broadcasting in 1976 as WRYO, a religious station. The WKTK ("Koast-to-Koast", referring to the station's large coverage area stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico) calls were adopted in 1986 and the station has been through various forms of the Adult Contemporary and Hot AC formats since before finally settling into the mainstream AC sound it now uses. It can be picked up in portions of Orlando, Jacksonville, and the Tampa Bay Area.

On May 19, 2008, utilizing iBiquity's in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio technology,^[1] WKTK-FM began broadcasting its signal in both digital (HD-1) and analog (FM) formats. In addition to the digital launch, WKTK-HD2 began broadcasting the area's only all digital, all blues music format, branded as The Swamp WKTK-HD2 (98.5-2). The station was granted special permission to use "The Swamp" from The University of Florida in homage of the school's football stadium, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field.^[2]

Other usage of call

The WKTK call letters were also used during the 1970s by the progressive rock station in Baltimore, Maryland. The line-up of on air talent between 1970 and 1976 included Gabe Bathory, sign on until 10am. Dave ( Prosser ) Ross, 10am until 2pm. Larry Allan or Barry "Reazar" Richards 2pm until 6pm. Baltimore night time radio legend Joe Buccheri ( Bu-Carey )6pm until mid-night and Scott Stephens Midnight until 6am.

References

External links

• Official Website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WKTK
• Radio-Locator information on WKTK
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WKTK

Coordinates: 29°15′36″N 82°34′05″W / 29.260°N 82.568°W / 29.260; -82.568