WDKF
Encyclopedia
WDKF, is a Top 40 Mainstream station serving the Dayton
area. WDKF, whose community of license is Kettering, Ohio
, broadcasts on 99.9 MHz with an ERP of 28,000 watts, and is owned by Clear Channel Communications
.
In early May of 1994, the station was sold to Terry Jacobs (formerly of Jacor) who decided to flip the frequency to be Dayton's third oldies station, to compete with similar formats at 95.3 FM and 103.9 FM. On 3 May, the X-Rock staff was fired, the station began playing 20 different versions of "Louie Louie" and calling itself "Louie 95" in an effort to entice listeners by playing different versions of the mid 1960s hit "Louie, Louie" a Richard Berry-penned college ditty popularized by The Kingsmen, and Paul Revere and The Raiders among many others. During this time it was known as "The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. It became WDOL, an oldies outlet until 1996 when consistently miniscule ratings forced a switch to Rhythmic as WBTT, "94.5 The Beat." By 1999 they shifted to Top 40 Mainstream and began a serious challenge to take on the area's longtime rival WGTZ
. They would also drop "The Beat" (No pun intended) to become WDKF, "94.5 KISS-FM," in 2000, after Clear Channel expanded the brand to other markets. Despite the move, they maintained a Rhythmic lean during that tenure.
In March, 2005, WDKF stunned listeners by holding a "funeral" for "KISS-FM
", and briefly stunted as "94.5 FM-Playing Whatever We Want, Whenever We Want". On March 30, 2005, at 3 PM, the all-new Channel 9-4-5 launched. Despite the changes however, the station continues to lean Rhythmic as they battle Main Line Broadcasting of Dayton's Rhythmic contemporary rival WDHT
for listeners. Main Line's other station, WGTZ, dropped their Top 40 format in November 2007 and flipped to "Fly 92.9," a "We Play Everything"-type Adult Hits
format, , making WDKF the only CHR Station in Dayton. The "Channel" branding was used previously in the late 1960s by sister station WONE (AM)
"Channel 98" for its then-Top 40 format when it competed with WGTZ's AM sister WING
.
In May 2009, Clear Channel Communications
removed all local jocks from this station, and its website. Channel picked up Clear Channel's new programming initiative known as "Premium Choice" 24 hours. The playlist is generated and used nationally in addition to voice tracks and liners.
WDKF previously broadcasted "Dayton's New Joints" on its HD-2 subchannel before going silent. Currently, on their HD-2 channel, is the IHeartRadio
smooth jazz
format.
On May 24, 2011, Clear Channel announced that WDKF would swap signals with sister station WLQT
, thus giving the former more signal coverage in the Dayton area.
On May 27, 2011 at 12:00pm EDT, Channel 9-4-5 became Channel 99-9 continuing scheduled programming with On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)
's American Top 5 at noon.
Channel 99-9 broadcasts mainstream top 40 from 6am-6pm, while broadcasting a rhythmic top 40 format the other 12 hours. This makes Channel a rhythmic-leaning top 40 radio station, and putting them closer to the already dominant WDHT
, Hot 102-9.
6am-10am: Elvis Duran and The Channel 99-9 Morning Show (syndicated from WHTZ
).
10am-2pm: On-Air with Ryan Seacrest (syndicated from KIIS-FM
)
2pm-7pm: JJ (piped in from WHTZ
)
7pm-12am: Mack On The Radio (piped in from WHYI
)
12am-6am: Nessa (piped in from KYLD)
On Saturday, Channel 99-9 runs Saturday Night Online with Romeo (syndicated from WIOQ
).
On Sunday, Channel 99-9 runs American Top 40
with Ryan Seacrest
, Club Kane (syndicated from WIHT
) and Dawson McAllister Live
out of Spring Hill, TN.
Channel 99-9 broadcasts in HD and streams in high quality at channeldayton.com
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
area. WDKF, whose community of license is Kettering, Ohio
Kettering, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,502 people, 25,657 households, and 15,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,077.4 people per square mile . There were 26,936 housing units at an average density of 1,441.6 per square mile...
, broadcasts on 99.9 MHz with an ERP of 28,000 watts, and is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
History
WDKF began their history on December 16, 1993 as Alternative Rock WZJX (94-5 X-Rock), Dayton's first-ever alternative station. George Wymer was General Manager, Randy Scovil was Program Director as well as the afternoon drive host. Steve Stone and Christy Chatman were the morning show, Andy Sims did mid-days, and Greggy hosted the evening shift. During the six months as an alternative station, X-Rock brought two sell-out shows to Hara Arena: The Breeders & Afghan Whigs, and later The Smashing Pumpkins. In the station's first ratings period (Jan-March 1994) X-Rock's ratings in the 18-34 demo had already grown to half of longtime Dayton rock station, WTUE.In early May of 1994, the station was sold to Terry Jacobs (formerly of Jacor) who decided to flip the frequency to be Dayton's third oldies station, to compete with similar formats at 95.3 FM and 103.9 FM. On 3 May, the X-Rock staff was fired, the station began playing 20 different versions of "Louie Louie" and calling itself "Louie 95" in an effort to entice listeners by playing different versions of the mid 1960s hit "Louie, Louie" a Richard Berry-penned college ditty popularized by The Kingsmen, and Paul Revere and The Raiders among many others. During this time it was known as "The Chicken" in reference to its mascot, a giant whole broiled chicken dressed in seasonal clothing. It became WDOL, an oldies outlet until 1996 when consistently miniscule ratings forced a switch to Rhythmic as WBTT, "94.5 The Beat." By 1999 they shifted to Top 40 Mainstream and began a serious challenge to take on the area's longtime rival WGTZ
WGTZ
WGTZ "Fly 92.9" is a commercial FM station licensed in Eaton, Ohio at 92.9 MHz serving the Dayton and Springfield market area with an Adult Hits format. The previous CHR/Pop format commenced Sunday, March 15, 1984 at Noon when Dayton-based Great Trails Broadcasting owned the station at the time...
. They would also drop "The Beat" (No pun intended) to become WDKF, "94.5 KISS-FM," in 2000, after Clear Channel expanded the brand to other markets. Despite the move, they maintained a Rhythmic lean during that tenure.
In March, 2005, WDKF stunned listeners by holding a "funeral" for "KISS-FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
", and briefly stunted as "94.5 FM-Playing Whatever We Want, Whenever We Want". On March 30, 2005, at 3 PM, the all-new Channel 9-4-5 launched. Despite the changes however, the station continues to lean Rhythmic as they battle Main Line Broadcasting of Dayton's Rhythmic contemporary rival WDHT
WDHT
WDHT, "Hot 102.9", is an Rhythmic Contemporary radio station in Urbana, Ohio serving the Dayton/Springfield area that broadcasts on the 102.9 frequency. WDHT is currently owned by Main Line Broadcasting which also owns WING-AM, WROU-FM, WCLI-FM and WGTZ-FM...
for listeners. Main Line's other station, WGTZ, dropped their Top 40 format in November 2007 and flipped to "Fly 92.9," a "We Play Everything"-type Adult Hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
format, , making WDKF the only CHR Station in Dayton. The "Channel" branding was used previously in the late 1960s by sister station WONE (AM)
WONE (AM)
WONE is an AM radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating on 980 kHz with a Sports Talk format. It carries programming from Fox Sports Radio, as well as the Jim Rome Show and the Dan Patrick Show .-History:The station took the air in 1949, licensed to Skyland Broadcasting Corp...
"Channel 98" for its then-Top 40 format when it competed with WGTZ's AM sister WING
WING
WING "ESPN 1410" is a commercial AM radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating with 5,000 watts at 1410 kHz with studios, offices and transmitter located on David Road in Kettering. It is the first full-time commercial radio station in Dayton...
.
In May 2009, Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
removed all local jocks from this station, and its website. Channel picked up Clear Channel's new programming initiative known as "Premium Choice" 24 hours. The playlist is generated and used nationally in addition to voice tracks and liners.
WDKF previously broadcasted "Dayton's New Joints" on its HD-2 subchannel before going silent. Currently, on their HD-2 channel, is the IHeartRadio
Iheartradio
iHeartRadio is a Clear Channel Radio network to aggregate local radio brands, personalities and on-demand content. It is best known as a mobile application...
smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
format.
On May 24, 2011, Clear Channel announced that WDKF would swap signals with sister station WLQT
WLQT
WLQT is a radio station broadcasting a Soft Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Englewood, Ohio, USA, the station serves the Dayton area...
, thus giving the former more signal coverage in the Dayton area.
On May 27, 2011 at 12:00pm EDT, Channel 9-4-5 became Channel 99-9 continuing scheduled programming with On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)
On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)
On Air with Ryan Seacrest is the name of an American syndicated radio program hosted by Ryan Seacrest. As of 2010, the daily morning radio show airs on Los Angeles top 40 station KIIS-FM and was launched at the same time as the television show with the same name, although Seacrest had hosted a...
's American Top 5 at noon.
Channel 99-9 broadcasts mainstream top 40 from 6am-6pm, while broadcasting a rhythmic top 40 format the other 12 hours. This makes Channel a rhythmic-leaning top 40 radio station, and putting them closer to the already dominant WDHT
WDHT
WDHT, "Hot 102.9", is an Rhythmic Contemporary radio station in Urbana, Ohio serving the Dayton/Springfield area that broadcasts on the 102.9 frequency. WDHT is currently owned by Main Line Broadcasting which also owns WING-AM, WROU-FM, WCLI-FM and WGTZ-FM...
, Hot 102-9.
On-Air DJ's
Weekdays6am-10am: Elvis Duran and The Channel 99-9 Morning Show (syndicated from WHTZ
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
).
10am-2pm: On-Air with Ryan Seacrest (syndicated from KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a partial Top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz...
)
2pm-7pm: JJ (piped in from WHTZ
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
)
7pm-12am: Mack On The Radio (piped in from WHYI
WHYI
WHYI-FM, better known as Y-100, is a heritage FM Top 40 contemporary hit radio station that broadcasts at 100.7 MHz. Its city of license is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Y-100 broadcasts at an effective radiated power of 98,000 watts from its 1,005 foot transmitter, which is located on the...
)
12am-6am: Nessa (piped in from KYLD)
On Saturday, Channel 99-9 runs Saturday Night Online with Romeo (syndicated from WIOQ
WIOQ
WIOQ, known as "Q102", is a CHR/Pop radio station which is broadcast in the Philadelphia area. The station appeals to a generally young demographic. WIOQ is owned by Clear Channel Communications. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.-WFIL-FM/Popular 102:The...
).
On Sunday, Channel 99-9 runs American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
with Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
, Club Kane (syndicated from WIHT
WIHT
WIHT is a Top 40 formatted radio station that serves the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area. The station broadcasts 24 hours a day. WIHT is licensed to and owned by Clear Channel Communications...
) and Dawson McAllister Live
Dawson McAllister Live
Dawson McAllister Live is a talk radio show hosted by Dawson McAllister where teenagers and young adults talk about problems in life including divorce, depression, cutting, suicide, drug addictions, eating disorders, homosexuality, and family issues...
out of Spring Hill, TN.
Channel 99-9 broadcasts in HD and streams in high quality at channeldayton.com