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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | |
| Frequency | 98.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 98.1 KDD |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Hot adult contemporary |
| Subchannels | HD2:Air1 |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | November 19, 1961 (64 years ago) (1961-11-19) |
Former call signs |
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| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 43863 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 138 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 | See§ Translators |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) |
| Website | wkdd |
WKDD (98.1FM) is a commercialradio station licensed toMunroe Falls, Ohio, United States, featuring ahot adult contemporary format known as "98.1 KDD". Owned byiHeartMedia, Inc., the station serves both theAkron-Canton metro area, with additional coverage inGreater Cleveland and 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 Radio channels,[2] and streams online viaiHeartRadio.
In 1960, Edwin Mortenson moved toCanton, Ohio and began construction on a new 50,000-watt FM 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]
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 Begg aired 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]
On July 3, 2001, WHK-FM was one of sevenNortheast Ohio radio 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 Communications sold 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]
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 atWTRC andWTRC-FM inSouth Bend, Indiana and later worked atKTRH inHouston, 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.
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 Choice network.American Top 40, syndicated viaPremiere Networks, airs Sunday mornings.[10]
WKDD's secondHD Radiosubchannel, which simulcasts theAir1 network,[11] is relayed over two low-powertranslators in both the Akron and Cleveland markets:[12]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W224CD | 92.7 FM | Parma, Ohio | 142417 | 99 | 278.9 m (915 ft) | 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 |
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