WYKT
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WYKT
| logo = File:WYKT 105.5theticket logo.png
| city = Wilmington, Illinois
| area = Joliet, Illinois
| branding = 105.5 The Ticket
| frequency = 105.5 MHz
| translator =
| repeater =
| airdate = {{start date and age|1980|9|29}}
| format = Sports radio
| erp = 1,300 watts
| haat = {{convert|147|m|sp=us}}
| class = A
| facility_id = 36120
| coordinates = {{coord|41|17|11|N|88|14|23|W|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = Y kat
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WLMT (1980–1982)|WDND (1982–1995)}}[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=36120&Callsign=WYKT36120 Call Sign History], fcc.gov. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
| former_frequencies =
| affiliations = Fox Sports Radio
| owner = STARadio Corporation
| licensee =
| licensing_authority = FCC
| sister_stations = WKAN, WXNU
| webcast = {{listen live|https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WYKT}}
| website = {{url|https://www.1055theticket.com/}}
}}
WYKT (105.5 FM, "The Ticket") is a radio station in northeastern Illinois. It is licensed to Wilmington, Illinois and is a Fox Sports Radio affiliate. It has an effective radiated power of 1,300 watts at 147 meters height above average terrain.{{cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/info/WYKT-FM |title=WYKT-FM 105.5 MHz - Wilmington, IL |publisher=Radio-locator.com |access-date=July 17, 2018}}
History
The station began broadcasting on September 29, 1980, and held the call sign WLMT.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1981/Ca%20Facilities%20of%20Radio%201981%20A-M.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1981], Broadcasting & Cable, 1981. p. C-75. Retrieved July 18, 2018. The station was originally owned by Viking Broadcasting Corporation, and had an ERP of 3 kw at an HAAT of 275 feet. WLMT initially aired a MOR format, later switching to a top 40 format.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1982/C%20Radio%20AL%20to%20MT%20BC%20YB%201982%20All-4.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1982], Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1982. p. C-77. Retrieved July 17, 2018. In 1982, the station was sold to DBC Broadcasting for $160,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-02-01.pdf Ownership Changes]", Broadcasting, February 1, 1982. p. 90. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
On November 1, 1982, the station's call sign was changed to WDND by then-owner Donald T. Burgeson. WDND aired an adult contemporary format.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1984/B-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-1984.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984], Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1984. p. B-85. Retrieved July 17, 2018.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/City-Magazines-Misc/Chicagoland-Radio-Waves-Two-Issues.pdf Chicagoland Radio Waves], MediaTies. Summer 1988. Retrieved July 17, 2018. In 1994, the station was sold to L.B.R. Enterprises for $257,000."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1994/RR-1994-10-28.pdf Transactions]", Radio & Records, October 28, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
In February 1995, the station's format was changed from adult contemporary to Triple-A."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1995-02.pdf Format Changes & Updates]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 12 No. 8. February 22, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2018. In April 1995, the station's call sign was changed to WYKT. The station was branded "The Kat".{{cite web |url=http://www.kat1055.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990208014231/http://www.kat1055.com/ |title=WYKT -The Kat - 105.5FM |publisher=WYKT |archive-date=February 8, 1999 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }} In July 1995, the station picked up the WDRE Underground Network at night, while continuing to air its local Triple-A format during the day.{{cite magazine|title=Vox Jox|magazine=Billboard|date=July 29, 1995|volume=107|issue=30|page=114|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-07-29.pdf|access-date=July 17, 2018}} In 1998, the station was sold to STARadio Corporation."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1998-06.pdf Proposed Station Transfers]", The M-Street Journal. Vol. 15 No. 22. June 3, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved July 18, 2018. WYKT would continue airing a Triple-A format until 2003.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/2002/AL-MT-M-Street-11-2002-2003.pdf The M-Street Radio Directory]. 2002-2003. p. 203. Retrieved July 17, 2018.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2002-03/A-Radio-AL-MT-BC-YB-2002-3.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2002-2003], Broadcasting & Cable, 2002. p. D-148. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
On August 18, 2003, WYKT adopted an oldies format branded as "The Pickle", playing music from 1964 to 1983."[https://www.daily-journal.com/entertainment/oldies-radio-parties-like-it-s-but-not/article_3650ace1-b46d-5990-b344-97ae1925da29.html Oldies radio parties like it's '79 but not '99]", Daily Journal, November 3, 2003. Retrieved August 9, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.1055thepickle.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040830200148/http://www.1055thepickle.com/ |title=The Pickle |publisher=WYKT |archive-date=August 30, 2004 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }}[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/2004/AL-MT-M-Street-13-2004-2005.pdf The M-Street Radio Directory]. 2004-2005. p. 208. Retrieved July 17, 2018. In October 2007, WYKT began airing a Top 40 format and was branded as "My 105.5".{{cite web|url=http://www.my1055.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110090707/http://www.my1055.com/|title=MY 105.5!|publisher=WYKT |archive-date=January 10, 2008|access-date=July 18, 2018 |url-status=dead}} "My 105.5" carried American Top 40, along with local personalities. In September 2009, the station switched to a classic rock format, and was again branded "The Kat", with the slogan "The Southland's Rock and Roll Animal"."[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/6622-rocker-the-kat-105-5-to-flip-to-all-sports-105-5-the-ticket Rocker 'The Kat 105.5' To Flip To All-Sports '105.5 The Ticket']", Chicagoland Radio and Media, June 19, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.kat1055.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105154257/http://www.kat1055.com/|title=The Kat 105.5 - The Southland's Rock and Roll Animal|publisher=WYKT |archive-date=January 5, 2010|access-date=July 17, 2018 |url-status=dead}} The station's format would gradually shift to active rock.
On July 10, 2014, the station's format was switched to sports, as "105.5 The Ticket".
"The Ticket" was initially a CBS Sports Radio affiliate,{{cite web|url=http://www.1055theticket.com/shows.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911141137/http://www.1055theticket.com/shows.html|title=Shows - 105.5 The Ticket |publisher=STARadio Corp.|archive-date=September 11, 2014|access-date=July 17, 2018}} but by 2018, it would become an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio.{{cite web|url=http://www.1055theticket.com/shows.html |title=Shows - 105.5 The Ticket |publisher=STARadio Corp.|access-date=July 17, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.1055theticket.com/}}
- {{FM station data|36120|WYKT}}
- [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=81874 History Cards for WYKT]
{{Joliet-Morris-Crete Radio}}
{{Sports Radio Stations in Illinois}}
Category:1980 establishments in Illinois
Category:Fox Sports Radio stations
Category:Kankakee County, Illinois