WKNK

WKNK (103.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Callaway, Florida, United States, the station serves the Panama City area. The station is currently owned by Aaron S. Lee, through licensee Great American Media, L.L.C.

WKNK
CityCallaway, Florida
Broadcast areaPanama City, Florida
Frequency103.5 MHz
BrandingKickin' Country 103.5
Programming
FormatCountry
AffiliationsPremiere Radio Networks, Westwood One
Ownership
OwnerAaron S. Lee
(Great American Media, L.L.C.)
WASJ, WRBA
History
First air date
1989-10-12 (as WXDZ)
Former call signs
WXDZ (1989-1989)
WBKL (1989-1991)
WDRK (1991-1997)
WMXP (1997-2004)
WAKT-FM (2004-2012)
Call sign meaning
W Kick'N K
Technical information
Facility ID42371
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT129 meters (423 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
30°10′51.00″N 85°29′45.00″W
Links
WebsiteKick'n 103.5 Country Music Radio

Until 2018, WKNK featured "The Gulf Coast Morning Show with Flip & Streeter". Personalities included Melissa Miller, Brad McKay and Jay Arthur,[1][2][3] with additional programming from Premiere Radio Networks and Westwood One.[4]

History

WKNK first signed on on 12 October 1989 as WXDZ. On 5 December of the same year, its calls were changed to WBKL. WBKL, known as "Cool 103.5", was an oldies station. On 6 December 1991, WBKL became WDRK, and billed itself as "Rock 103". It was a modern- and alternative-rock oriented station.

This lasted until 21 November 1997, when its calls were again changed, this time to WMXP, and was known as "Mix 103". In 2000, the station changed its format to Soft Rock, and its branding to "Lite Rock 103.5". In 2002, WAKT (then a country station) and WMXP traded formats, WMXP rebranding itself to "Max Country 103.5".

On 10 Mar 2004, Max Country 103 became Kat Country and its call sign was changed to WAKT-FM. In 2009, WAKT switched over to Hank FM branding, which lasted until 2012.

On 9 October 2012, its calls were changed to WKNK and its branding to "Kick'n Country 103.5". On 10 October 2018, Hurricane Michael destroyed the facilities of Powell Broadcasting, then-owner of WKNK, WASJ, WPFM, and WRBA.[5] After WKNK, WASJ, and WRBA were purchased by Gulf Coast Broadcasting in December 2018[6] (WPFM was sold to EMF), WKNK was the first to go back on the air on 23 January 2019, under the Hank FM moniker. The sale to Gulf Coast Broadcasting was consummated on April 30, 2019, at a price of $325,000.

On July 3, 2019, Gulf Coast broadcasting sold WKNK, WASJ, and WRBA to Great American Media for $700,000.[7] The sale was consummated on September 26, 2019.

In February 2020, the Hank FM name was dropped and it was once again rebranded to "Kickin' Country 103.5".

References
  1. "Melissa Miller | Kick'n 103.5 Country Music Radio". kickn1035.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  2. "Jay Arthur | Kick'n 103.5 Country Music Radio". kickn1035.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  3. "Brad Mckay | Kick'n 103.5 Country Music Radio". kickn1035.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  4. "WKNK Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  5. "Powell Broadcasting Pulling Plug On Panama City Cluster After Storm", All Access Music Group. October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  6. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/172514/powell-sells-silent-panama-city-trio/ Radio Insight - Panama City
  7. https://www.rbr.com/flip-or-flop-this-cluster-spin-brings-a-big-windfall/ Radio+Television Business Report


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