WYKT (105.5 FM, "The Ticket") is a radio station licensed to Wilmington, Illinois. It is affiliated with Fox Sports Radio. WYKT has an effective radiated power of 1,300 watts at 147 meters height above average terrain.
History The station began broadcasting on September 29, 1980, and held the call sign WLMT.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.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."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.Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, 1984. p. B-85. Retrieved July 17, 2018.Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988. Retrieved July 17, 2018. In 1994, the station was sold to L.B.R. Enterprises for $257,000."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."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". 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. In 1998, the station was sold to STARadio Corporation."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.The M-Street Radio Directory. 2002-2003. p. 203. Retrieved July 17, 2018.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."Oldies radio parties like it's '79 but not '99", Daily Journal, November 3, 2003. Retrieved August 9, 2018.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". "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"."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. 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, but by 2018, it would become an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio.
In 2026, the station was sold to Shaw Media.
References
External links
History Cards for WYKT