WOKV - FM History

FM History

According to the FCC's Call Sign History, 106.5 MHz signed on as WPVJ in July 1994.

The station changed calls to WTLK in October 1996, and was known as Real Radio 106.5, with a talk format. The most notable event during this part of the station's history was the return of The Greaseman to Jacksonville's airwaves. (Ironically, the Greaseman's previous time in Jacksonville had been on WAPE when it was on AM 690 (the current home of WOKV)) The Greaseman Show aired from 6-10AM ET. Numerous nationally syndicated shows filled the 10AM-noon slot including hosts Mike Walker, Alan Keyes and Bo Gritz. "The Judy Jarvis Show" aired between noon and 3PM, The Don and Mike Show from 3-7 PM, The Tom Leykis Show from 7-10PM, "Ferrall on the Bench" with Scott Ferrall from 10PM-1AM and Joey Reynolds aired overnights from 1-6. Weekend programming consisted of classic rock music provided by Westwood One's syndicated "Adult Rock & Roll" format.

WTLK flipped to classic rock in January 1998, becoming known as Big 106.5, and changing to the WBGB calls in March 1998. At this time, the station was owned by Clear Channel. The format change began with a 10,000 commercial-free song launch that ended on February 18, 1998. That morning, former WPLA and WNZS part-time air personality Randy Clemens became the first live local jock on the station with program director Steve Fox handling afternoon drive. The remaining dayparts were filled by Westwood One air talent, including Jeff Gonzer, Terry Gladstone, Tony Scott, Frazer Smith and Mackenzie Rae.

WBGB was divested by Clear Channel, along with sister stations WZNZ, WZAZ, and WJGR, in the fall of 1999 to Concord Media Group. From there, it came under the ownership of Jacor Broadcasting, who in turn sold the station to Caron Broadcasting (a division of Salem Communications) in 2003.

Caron flipped WBGB to Contemporary Christian, branding the station as 106.5 The Promise. Based on ratings, it was the most popular station of its genre in Jacksonville.

On July 6, 2006, Salem Communications entered into an agreement to sell WBGB-FM to Cox Radio for $7.7 million in cash. The last day the station broadcast as 106.5 The Promise was Monday, September 18, 2006. The format then moved to non-commercial religious broadcaster WCRJ/88.1, who adopted The Promise name as well as a number of on-air staffers.

On the afternoon on Tuesday, September 19, WBGB began stunting, letting listeners know that The Promise had moved to 88.1, and promising something "new and exciting" to come to 106.5 on Thursday, September 21. Part of the stunt included listening in on a "board meeting", with various ideas being thrown out for the new format including dance, "really redneck radio", "ultra-lite" (a jab at WEJZ), all-commercials (a blatant shot at Clear Channel), women's radio, and an alternative "Jack" format. However, the new format of WBGB, a simulcast of WOKV, was revealed on Cox's Investor Relations website on September 20.

On May 1, 2013, the station changed its frequency and power. The signal has stretched from 6,000 watts on 106.5 FM to 98,800 watts on 104.5 FM (formerly WFYV-FM). The move will expand its broadcast from Brunswick, Georgia south to Daytona Beach, Florida, southwest to Gainesville, Florida and west to Lake City, Florida. The signal will continue to be broadcast on 106.5 FM for a short time as they tell listeners about the change.