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WKDD

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Coordinates:41°12′0.2″N81°31′22.4″W/ 41.200056°N 81.522889°W/41.200056; -81.522889
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(Redirected fromW287DQ)
For the Cleveland market radio station which identified as WKDD from 1977 to 2001, seeWAKS.

WKDD
Broadcast area
Frequency98.1MHz(HD Radio)
Branding98.1 KDD
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatHot adult contemporary
SubchannelsHD2:Air1
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
November 19, 1961
(62 years ago)(1961-11-19)
Former call signs
  • WTOF (1961–85)
  • WTOF-FM (1985–97)
  • WHK-FM (1997–2001)
  • WAKS (2001)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID43863
ClassB
ERP50,000watts
HAAT138 meters (453 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°12′0.2″N81°31′22.4″W/ 41.200056°N 81.522889°W/41.200056; -81.522889
Translator(s)See§ Translators
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live(viaiHeartRadio)
Websitewkdd.iheart.com

WKDD(98.1FM) is a commercialradio stationlicensed toMunroe Falls, Ohio,United States, featuring ahot adult contemporaryformat known as "98.1 KDD". Owned byiHeartMedia, Inc.,the station serves both theAkron-Cantonmetro area, with additional coverage inGreater Clevelandand much of surroundingNortheast Ohio.WKDD's studios are located inNorth Canton,while the transmitter is located inCuyahoga Falls.In addition to a standardanalog transmission,WKDD broadcasts over twoHD Radiochannels,[2]and streams online viaiHeartRadio.

History

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WTOF / WTOF-FM

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In 1960, Edwin Mortenson moved toCanton, Ohioand began construction on a new 50,000-wattFM radio station: WTOF at 98.1megahertz(MHz). Mortenson had tired of losing his radio ministry whenever a new station owner would come along and flip his affiliate's format; he resolved to build his own radio station to keep his religious shows on the air – WTOF-FM was that station. Broadcasting a Christian format under the name "Tower of Faith" (the origin of the "WTOF"call letters), the station served the Canton area for decades, and was just the first of several stations to come under Mortenson's ownership – the start ofMortenson Broadcasting.In 1985, the station changed its callsign to WTOF-FM after briefly owningWTOF (900 AM).[3][4]

WHK-FM (98.1)

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For the Cleveland radio station which identified as WHK-FM from 1948 to 1968, seeWMMS.
Station logo asWHK-FM

In 1997, Mortenson opted to sell off WTOF-FM, and Akron-licensed stationWHLO(640 AM), toCalifornia-basedSalem Communications;soon the West Coast firm would change the station's callsign to WHK-FM. Salem had already purchasedWHK(1420 AM) the previous year and flipped its format from news/talk to religious programming; the new WHK-FM would simulcast its sister station's content for the next few years.[5]

During this time, nationally syndicated area pastorAlistair Beggaired daily on both WHK and WHK-FM. In October 1997, both stations broadcast live from the "Stand in the Gap" rally held byPromise Keepers.[6]In September 2000, WHK-FM joined Rock Contemporary Christian Radio Inc., a radio network airingcontemporary Christian music.[7][8]

2001 "frequency swap"

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For more information on the July 3, 2001, exchange involving seven Northeast Ohio radio stations, see2001 in radio.

On July 3, 2001, WHK-FM was one of sevenNortheast Ohioradio stations involved in a complex exchange between three radio companies. Although generally reported as a "frequency swap", in reality these seven radio stations mostly traded callsigns along with their respective formats and staffs – all to facilitate the transfers of ownership of four of the seven stations. As part of this complex exchange,Salem Communicationssold WHK-FM toClear Channel Communications;both companies retained their respective on- and off-air staff. Clear Channel then changed the WHK-FM callsign to WAKS; and changed the station's format tohot adult contemporary(hot AC). Less than one month later, on July 23, 2001, Clear Channel changed the station's callsign to WKDD. In effect, this new WKDD (98.1 FM) licensed to Canton became the successor tothe previous WKDD(96.5 FM) licensed toAkron.[9]

98.1 WKDD

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On October 29, 2008, the station became licensed to the Akron suburb ofMunroe Falls, Ohio.WKDD had a construction permit to return to the Akron area broadcast facility once occupied by its 96.5 FM predecessor, inCuyahoga Falls, Ohio.On December 18, 2009, 30-year morning host Matt Patrick hosted his last show on WKDD. Longtime co-host Barbara "B.A." Adams returned to join Matt for his last show (Matt soon became the morning show host atWTRCandWTRC-FMinSouth Bend, Indianaand later worked atKTRHinHouston, Texas). After playing "Home" byMichael Bublé,the new morning show "Keith & Krissy" was announced, hosted by WKDD Programming Operations Director Keith Kennedy, and Patrick's former co-host, Krissy Taylor. The station also changed their on-air branding at this time to "Akron's 98-1 The New WKDD" with the slogan "Akron's Hit Music Station."

Each February since 2000, WKDD teams up with Akron Children's Hospital for the "Have a Heart, Do Your Part Radiothon" to benefit the hospital. Radiothon airs live on WKDD all weekend long. The event was hosted for many years by Matt Patrick and Barbara Adams, and later by Angela, Keith and Krissy.[citation needed]

On September 7, 2010, WKDD moved its signal back to its Cuyahoga Falls broadcast location, formerly used by the station in their 96.5 days, to improve the quality of its signal in the Akron area, especially northern Summit County. The station also adopted a slightly new format playing music from "the '90s, 2k and Today", however some 1980's songs are also in the playlist. In early 2012, WKDD gradually moved to apop/contemporary hit radio(CHR) format.

Programming

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Local personalities on WKDD include the morning drive team of Keith Kennedy and "Captain" Tony McGinty; the majority of other programming is devoted to music, much of which is provided by iHeartMedia's internalPremium Choicenetwork.American Top 40,syndicated viaPremiere Networks,airs Sunday mornings.[10]

Translators

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WKDD's secondHD Radiosubchannel,which simulcasts theAir1network,[11]is relayed over two low-powertranslatorsin both the Akron and Cleveland markets:[12]

Broadcast translatorsfor WKDD-HD2
Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP(W) HAAT Class Transmitter coordinates FCC info
W224CD 92.7 FM Parma, Ohio 142417 99 278.9m(915ft) D 41°22′58.2″N81°42′6.5″W/ 41.382833°N 81.701806°W/41.382833; -81.701806(W224CD) LMS
W273BL 102.5 FM Akron, Ohio 141395 74 279 m (915 ft) D 41°3′53.2″N81°34′58.4″W/ 41.064778°N 81.582889°W/41.064778; -81.582889(W273BL) LMS

References

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  1. ^"Facility Technical Data for WKDD".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=73HD Radio Guide for Akron
  3. ^"Biography: Dr. Edwin M. Mortenson".BroadcastersHallofFame.com.Broadcasters Hall of Fame. 2010.RetrievedDecember 20,2010.
  4. ^Dyer, Bob (August 7, 1986). "Two radio stations in Akron area sold".Akron Beacon Journal.Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. C1 - Metro.
  5. ^Rosenberg, Arnie (March 13, 1998). "Defamation lawsuit filed against 14 radio stations: Suit says broadcasts wrongly identified couples as suspects in Prade case".Akron Beacon Journal.Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. A10 - Metro.
  6. ^Carney, Jim (September 29, 1997). "Area Radio Stations to Broadcast Rally".Akron Beacon Journal.Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. A10 - Metro.
  7. ^Long, Karen R. (October 11, 1997). "Pastor Won't Tread Lightly".The Plain Dealer.Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 4E - Religion.
  8. ^Jenkins, Colette M. (September 2, 2000). "Project Sets Up Five Libraries in West Africa".Akron Beacon Journal.A14 - Metro.
  9. ^Quinn, Jim (June 29, 2001). "It's time to reset your radio dial: Seven stations will get new frequencies Tuesday".Akron Beacon Journal.Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. B1 - Entertainment.
  10. ^"Radio Stations - Ohio".AT40.com.Premiere Radio Networks.2012.RetrievedDecember 16,2012.
  11. ^"HD Radio Stations in Akron, OH".HDRadio.com.HD RadioAlliance. 2012.RetrievedDecember 16,2012.
  12. ^"WKDD Munroe Falls OH: Full-Service FM, Channel 251 (98.1 MHz)".FCCdata.org - powered by REC.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
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