WOKV (AM)

Last updated
WOKV
WOKV ESPN 690 logo.png
Broadcast area Jacksonville metro area
Frequency 690 KHz
BrandingESPN 690
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Sports
Affiliations ESPN Radio
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
October 23, 1958;65 years ago (1958-10-23)
Former call signs
WAPE (1958–89)
WJKF (1989)
WPDQ (1989–94)
Call sign meaning
"OK"
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 53601
Class B
Power 50,000  watts day
25,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
 30°07′56.3″N81°41′58.9″W / 30.132306°N 81.699694°W / 30.132306; -81.699694 (WOKV-690 AM (day)) (day)
30°18′28.5″N81°56′22.5″W / 30.307917°N 81.939583°W / 30.307917; -81.939583 (WOKV-690 AM (night tower)) (night)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live
Listen live (via  Audacy)
Website www.espn690.com

WOKV (690 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to the Jacksonville, Florida, United States. WOKV is owned by Cox Media Group and broadcasts a sports format from studios in Jacksonville's Southside district and transmitters in Orange Park and Baldwin.

Contents

690 AM is a Canadian and Mexican clear-channel frequency, on which CKGM in Montreal, Quebec and XEN-AM in Mexico City, Mexico share Class A status.

History

The Big Ape

AM 690 first signed on the air on October 23, 1958, as WAPE. [2] It was a daytimer, owned by Brennan Broadcasting. WAPE originally broadcast with 25,000 watts and was required to be off the air at night. In 1963, the station got a boost to 50,000 watts by day and it also got nighttime authorization, running 10,000 watts after sunset; a previous attempt to add 25,000 watts of night power in 1960 was dismissed as contravening the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement. [3]

For more than two decades, WAPE operated as a popular Top 40 station, known as "The Big Ape". Comic actor Jay Thomas started his professional career as the station's morning man. [4] The Brennan family sold the station in 1970 to Stan and Sis Atlass Kaplan for $1.48 million. [5]

Eastman Radio acquired WAPE in 1980. [6] The next year, despite a rating increase, WAPE flipped to country. [7] Several years later, it converted to a Christian radio format. In 1986, WAPE migrated to 95.1 MHz (which, at the time, aired a rhythmic contemporary as WJAX-FM) and relaunched its Top 40 format as WAPE-FM.

News/talk

In 1989, WAPE was bought by Genesis Communications, which changed the call sign to WJKF, and then to WPDQ, and switched the format to news/talk. [8] The station carried a mix of local hosts and nationally syndicated shows, and was an affiliate of the ABC Information Network.

In 1993, Prism Radio Partners bought WPDQ for $400,000. [9] The following year, Prism bought talk station WOKV (600 AM) and oldies station WKQL (96.9 FM) for $3.75 million. [10] The company moved the talk programming and call letters of WOKV from 600 to 690.

Cox Radio acquired WOKV and several other Jacksonville-area stations in 2000. In 2006, Cox upgraded WOKV's nighttime signal to 25,000 watts after sunset, with a broader pattern, and also added an FM simulcast on 106.5 FM, formerly WBGB (now WHJX). This made WOKV one of only a few large-market news/talk radio stations at the time to simulcast on both AM and FM. In 2013, the FM simulcast was upgraded when WOKV moved the simulcast to the former WFYV-FM at 104.5, broadcasting with 100,000 watts; the 106.5 frequency returned to a music format, first as soft AC WEZI, then as alternative rock WXXJ, and now as urban adult contemporary WHJX.

WOKV was the flagship for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars from the team's inception in 1995 through 2013. WJXL took over that role in 2014.

In 2010, WOKV was added as a Primary Entry Point to the Emergency Alert System as part of a doubling of the number of designated PEP stations. [11]

Flip to sports

On January 2, 2019, WOKV (AM) split from its simulcast with WOKV-FM and changed its format to sports, branded as "ESPN 690" with programming from ESPN Radio. [12]

AM 690 facilities

WOKV has one of the strongest daytime AM signals in the Southeast. [13] In addition to the Jacksonville metropolitan area, its non-directional 50,000– watt daytime signal covers the Atlantic coast, as far south as Melbourne, Florida, and as far north as Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, an area that includes Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. At night, the station reduces power to 25,000 watts and uses a directional antenna to protect clear channel Class A station CKGM in Montreal as well as older, high-power stations on the 690 frequency, including XEWW in Baja California, Mexico and CBU in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Programming

WOKV AM 690's programming is made up primarily of ESPN Radio shows, with some live play-by-play coverage of sporting events.

Related Research Articles

A clear-channel station is an AM radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning nighttime skywave propagation. The system exists to ensure the viability of cross-country or cross-continent radio service enforced through a series of treaties and statutory laws. Known as Class A stations since the 1983 adoption of the Regional Agreement for the Medium Frequency Broadcasting Service in Region 2, they are occasionally still referred to by their former classifications of Class I-A, Class I-B, or Class I-N. The term "clear-channel" is used most often in the context of North America and the Caribbean, where the concept originated.

WBOB is a commercial AM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. The station airs a talk radio format and is owned by Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corporation. Weekdays begin with a local news and information show, followed by mostly syndicated programming, including shows from Mark Levin, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Jay Sekulow and Red Eye Radio. Most hours begin with Townhall News. Some hours are paid brokered programming. The station calls itself "Talkradio AM 600 & FM 101.1 WBOB".

KFXN is a radio station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, serving the Twin Cities area. The station is owned by Kongsue Xiong, through licensee Asian American Broadcasting, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAPE-FM</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Jacksonville, Florida

WAPE-FM is a commercial FM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. It is owned by Cox Radio and airs a Top 40 (CHR) radio format. Its transmitter is located in Downtown Jacksonville, off Gator Bowl Boulevard. The studios and offices are located on Central Parkway in Jacksonville's Southside section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDAE</span> Sports radio station in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

WDAE is a commercial radio station licensed to St. Petersburg, Florida and serving the Tampa Bay area. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a sports radio format. WDAE is one of the oldest radio stations in Florida still broadcasting today, going on the air in 1922. The studios and offices are on West Gandy Boulevard in South Tampa. The transmitter site is located near the Gandy Bridge in St. Petersburg.

WTAR is a commercial radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads radio market. WTAR is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc. It broadcasts an adult album alternative format as "96.5 The Coast".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWPN (AM)</span> Sports radio station in Oklahoma City

KWPN is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Moore, Oklahoma, and serving the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media and airs a sports format. While Cumulus owns three sports stations in Oklahoma City, WWLS-FM and WKY have mostly local shows on weekdays, while KWPN carries mostly syndicated programming from ESPN Radio. The studios and offices are on NW 64th Street in Northwest Oklahoma City.

WQOP is a radio station licensed to serve Jacksonville, Florida. The station is owned by Relevant Radio, Inc., and broadcasts a Catholic radio format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGNE-FM</span> Radio station in Middleburg, Florida, serving Jacksonville, Florida

WGNE-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Middleburg, Florida, and serving the Jacksonville metropolitan area. It is owned by Renda Broadcasting and airs a country music radio format as "99.9 Gator Country", and primarily competes against iHeartMedia-owned WQIK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHIO (AM)</span> News/talk radio station in Dayton, Ohio, United States

WHIO – branded AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO – is a commercial talk AM radio station licensed to serve Dayton, Ohio and covering the Dayton metropolitan area. Owned by Cox Media Group, the WHIO studios are located at the Cox Media Center building in Dayton, while the transmitter is located in nearby Kettering. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WHIO is simulcast full-time on WHIO-FM (95.7) and is available online.

WKTZ is an American radio station licensed to serve Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Established in 1958, the station is currently owned and operated by the American Family Association, and is that organization's only station on the AM band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHIO-FM</span> News/talk radio station in Pleasant Hill–Dayton, Ohio

WHIO-FM – branded AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO – is a commercial talk radio station licensed to serve Pleasant Hill, Ohio, covering Dayton, Ohio and the Dayton metropolitan area. Owned by Cox Media Group, WHIO-FM acts as a full-time simulcast of WHIO. The WHIO-FM studios are located at Cox Media Center building in Dayton, while the transmitter is located in nearby Piqua. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WHIO-FM streams online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJXL (AM)</span> Radio station in Jacksonville Beach, Florida

WJXL is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and serving the Jacksonville metropolitan area. WJXL is owned by Seven Bridges Radio, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOKV-FM</span> News/talk radio station in Atlantic Beach–Jacksonville, Florida

WOKV-FM is a radio station in Atlantic Beach, Florida, United States, serving the Jacksonville metropolitan area. It airs a news/talk format branded as "News 104.5 WOKV". The station is owned by Cox Media Group and broadcasts from studios and a transmitter in the Southside district of Jacksonville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFH (AM)</span> Sports radio station in Wichita, Kansas

KFH is a commercial AM radio station in Wichita, Kansas. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. It airs a sports radio format. The station's studios and offices are located on East Douglas Avenue.

KUOA is a commercial radio station licensed to Siloam Springs, Arkansas. It serves Northwest Arkansas, including Fayetteville and Bentonville. KUOA airs a Regional Mexican format and is owned by Jesus Gabriel Hernandez, through licensee Maxx Media Radio, LLC. The station is known as "La Maxxima 103.1 FM & 1290 AM."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPDQ (AM)</span> Radio station in Portland, Oregon

KPDQ is a commercial AM radio station in Portland, Oregon. It is owned by Salem Media Group and serves the Portland metropolitan area, with a Christian talk and teaching radio format known as "True Talk 800." The studios and offices are on SE Lake Road in Portland. KPDQ is co-owned with KPDQ-FM, also a Christian talk and teaching station. Each station runs its own schedule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJGL</span> Radio station in Jacksonville, Florida

WJGL is a commercial FM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. The station is owned by Cox Radio, a division of the Cox Media Group. WJGL airs a classic hits radio format that leans towards classic rock, playing primarily rock songs from the 1970s, 80s and some 90s, while avoiding pop/dance artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna.

WMDX is a commercial radio station licensed to Columbus, Wisconsin, and serving the Madison metropolitan area radio market. The station is owned by Sage Weil and Michael Crute, through licensee Civic Media, Inc. Crute is the host of "The Devil's Advocates", a syndicated show for which WMDX serves as the flagship station. Branded as "Mad Radio 92.7", WMDX airs a progressive talk radio format. WMDX carries live locally programmed news and talk programming for most of the day, originating from studios located on State Street in downtown Madison as well the Waukesha studios of sister station WAUK. The station also carries live syndicated programming from Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann. WMDX also serves as the flagship station of the Civic Media Network, a statewide news network with affiliates across Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHJX</span> Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in Ponte Vedra Beach–Jacksonville, Florida

WHJX is an FM radio station owned by Cox Media Group. It is licensed to Jacksonville, Florida, and serves the Jacksonville metropolitan area with an urban adult contemporary format. It brands as "Hot 106.5" and was previously heard on WOKV-HD2 and translator W258CN as "Hot 99.5".

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WOKV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1960 page A-131
  3. ↑ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 6, 1960. p. 104. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Jay Thomas Dead At 69". Radio Ink. August 24, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Are FCC threats spur to sales boom?" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 28, 1970. p. 59. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ "WAPE Sold To Eastman" (PDF). Radio & Records. August 22, 1980. p. 3. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Street Talk" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 6, 1981. p. 18. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1991 page B-68
  9. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994 page B-76
  10. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995 page B-83
  11. ↑ Stimson, Leslie (September 22, 2010). "New PEP Station in Florida Dedicated". Radio World. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  12. ↑ Cox to Launch ESPN 690 Jacksonville Radioinsight - November 6, 2018
  13. ↑ "WOKV-AM NEWS TALK 690 - BUSINESS OFC". cylex-usa.com. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.