WTKM-FM (104.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Hartford, Wisconsin, serving the Greater Milwaukee radio market. It is owned by Tomsun Media, LLC, which is operated by David and Connie Stout. The radio studios are on North Main Street at Summer Street. WTKM-FM airs a full service radio format of classic country music, with local news, weather, talk and high school sports.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Milwaukee |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.9 FM MHz |
| Branding | "WTKM-FM" |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic Country (with full service news, weather and sports) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Tomsun Media, LLC |
| WPTT | |
| History | |
First air date | October 1, 1973 |
Call sign meaning | W The Kettle Moraine (natural feature in region) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 34303 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 5,800 watts |
| HAAT | 91 meters (299 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | www.wtkm.com |
WTKM-FM is a Class A FM station. It has an effective radiated power of 5,800 watts. The transmitter is on West Waterford Road in Hartford, shared with its sister station, WPTT 1540 AM.[2]
History
editWTKM-FM signed on the air on October 1, 1973.[3] This was made possible when another station, WTTN-FM in Watertown (now WJJO), moved from 104.7 to 94.1 FM. That allowed WTKM to apply for an FM license on 104.9 MHz to simulcast 1540 AM, which is a daytimer station, required to go off the air at night. WTKM-FM's signal mostly covers the northwestern portion of Milwaukee and its suburbs.
WTKM-AM-FM played mostly polka music for many years. The Milwaukee area has a number of residents who trace their histories to Poland and other Eastern European countries where polka music is popular. For many years, WTKM-AM-FM were the only radio stations in the U.S. with a full-time polka format. The stations had a fiercely loyal listener base where some fans built special antennas just to receive their signal.
In 2007, WTKM 1540 and WTKM-FM 104.9 split their programming. The AM station began airing oldies. WTKM-FM later began playing classic country music. Polka music is no longer programmed on the stations.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WTKM-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WTKM
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-232. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Hartford's WTKM is a broadcasting throwback". OnMilwaukee.com. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
External links
edit- WTKM Website
- Facility details for Facility ID 34303 (WTKM-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WTKM-FM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
43°16′48″N 88°23′02″W / 43.280°N 88.384°W
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