WJKR
WJKR is a radio station licensed to serve Worthington, Ohio, at 103.9 MHz. It broadcasts a variety hits format and is the former Central Ohio radio broadcast home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The studios are in North Columbus, and the transmitter is in West Columbus.
 | |
| City | Worthington, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Columbus, Ohio |
| Frequency | 103.9 MHz |
| Branding | 103.9 Jack FM |
| Slogan | playing what we want |
| Programming | |
| Format | Variety hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | North American Broadcasting Company, Inc. |
| Sister stations | WMNI, WRKZ |
| History | |
| First air date | September 4, 1998 (as WAXV) |
| Former call signs | WAXV (1998) WEGE (1998-2004) WTDA (2004-2012) WMNI-FM (2012-2013) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 60099 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 6,000 watts |
| HAAT | 99.3 meters (326 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1039jackfm.com |
History
Prior to this station's establishment, the frequency in the Columbus market was occupied by WBBY-FM, licensed to Westerville, Ohio; it permanently fell silent on December 31, 1990 after it was found that the majority owner/station manager withheld details to the FCC about his level of involvement in a Marietta, Ohio car dealership.[1][2] WBBY-FM held a jazz format throughout most of its existence, a format eventually picked up by WZJZ and WSWZ.[3]
Signing on in 1998 and also initially licensed to Westerville, this station broadcast classic rock music as WEGE "Eagle 103.9" prior to becoming WTDA ("Ted FM") in 2004, when it started playing a mix of Top-40-based hits, ranging from the 1960s through current popular hit music. With the Ted FM format, WTDA used the slogan "We Play Anything." The station's call letters attempted to incorporate this "Ted FM" branding. In September 2005, the station's owners added the Bob & Tom show, which had been dropped by Clear Channel's WBWR.[4]
On January 8, 2007, WTDA rebranded itself as the first and only FM talk station in Columbus, picking up the Glenn Beck radio show after the program was dropped from rival station WTVN.
On September 8, 2007, the Columbus Dispatch reported that the station had become the Columbus radio home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On December 21, 2009, the station flipped to classic hits and rebranded as "Classic Hits 103.9", using satellite programming from Dial Global's Classic Hits service.[5] WTDA was one of four radio stations in the Columbus market to have a Classic Hits/Oldies format, joining Newark-based WNKO and the WNND/WNNP "Rewind 103.5/104.3" simulcast.
On June 14, 2012, WTDA flipped to an all-news format, changing their call letters to WMNI-FM, simulcasting with WMNI, which had previously had an adult standards format. The simulcast ended on Thursday, July 18, 2013, when WMNI returned to the adult standards format.
On July 24, 2013, WMNI-FM changed format to variety hits, branded as "103.9 Jack FM".[6] The call letters were changed to WJKR the following day. The WJKR letters were formerly used on 98.9 FM, the previous "Jack FM" station in Columbus. That station is now conservative talk WTOH. WJKR moved its city of license from Westerville, Ohio to Worthington effective August 22, 2013.
References
- "WBBY Loses License For Lying To FCC" (PDF). Radio & Records. July 18, 1986. p. 12. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- "Sounds of Silence" (PDF). Popular Communications. April 1991. p. 45. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- Showalter, Kathy (August 18, 1997). "Purchase lets WZJZ simulcast jazz format". Columbus Business First. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- http://www.varietyhits.com/variety/markets/columbusoh.shtml
- From Radioinsight (December 21, 2009)
- http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/84317/jack-returns-to-columbus/
External links
- North American Broadcasting Company, Inc. Website
- WJKR in the FCC's FM station database
- WJKR on Radio-Locator
- WJKR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database