Radio WTKS-FM (Real104)

WTKS-FM 104.1 is a FM radio station airing a talk radio format during the work week. The station is licensed by the (U.S.) Federal Communications Commission to broadcast from Cocoa Beach, Florida (though the studio is located in Maitland, Florida), and serves mainly the Orlando and Central Florida areas.

104.1 FM began operations in 1962 as WRKT-FM with an automated Jazz format, the sister station to WRKT-AM 1300 (now WTIR). The station was owned by C. Sweet Smith . In 1967, the station changed format to Progressive Rock with the new calls WKPE; the station was initially automated but eventually added more live announcers. WKPE reverted to the WRKT calls in 1977 with a Top 40 format as "Rocket 104," shifting its format to Adult Contemporary in 1980.

Guy Gannett purchased WRKT-FM in 1981 with the intent of upgrading the 30,000-watt station to 100,000 watts from a new tower near Bithlo and serve the Orlando market. The calls were changed that year to WSSP. A Beautiful Music format was planned, but WSSP initially adopted a Country format as "Brevard's Stereo Country 104." The country format was a temporary measure until the upgrade of the station's signal could be finalized.

The move to Bithlo was completed in 1985, and WSSP became Beautiful Music "WSSPer [Whisper] 104". For a number of years, "WSSPer" was one of the most popular radio stations in Orlando, often ranking as the #1 station 12+ in the market and posting shares as high as 17% in certain dayparts. However, by 1992, the station's ratings were down, and WSSP switched to a Hot AC format as WZTU "U104.1" in the hopes of raising ratings and revenue. "U104.1" failed miserably. Later in 1992, Gannett sold its radio stations in Orlando and Miami to concentrate on its television properties. WZTU was acquired by Paxson Communications Corporation, headed by Lowell "Bud" Paxson (founder of the Home Shopping Network and later PAX TV). Paxson switched WZTU to CHR as WHVE "One O' Four Point One, The Wave," but despite the programming expertise of Bill Pasha of WAPE-FM in Jacksonville, ratings and revenues did not increase; the station came in a dismal 14th place in its first ratings book. The plug was pulled on "The Wave" in August 1992 after only three months.

WHVE changed its calls to WWNZ-FM, simulcasting much of its programming from WWNZ-AM 740 with a few separate shows. Paxson sold WWNZ-FM to Press Broadcasting, which also owned WKCF, in 1993. Press Broadcasting initiated the WTKS calls and the " Real Radio " moniker, which was talk shows during the week ( including Howard Stern for a few years ) and alternative rock on the weekend . The station was sold back to Paxson in 1996 and then came under the Clear Channel umbrella in 1997. On June 21, 2007, Clear Channel announced the request of transfer for their entire Orlando cluster into the Aloha Station Trust upon the consummation of the impending company buyout. In August 2008, the station that was actually transferred, and is also up for sale, is WTKS sister station WJRR[citation needed].

WTKS held an annual "Kicks for Guns" program in association with the Orlando Police Department where citizens could exchange guns, no questions asked, for shoes. The program made international headlines when the 2007 exchange netted a rocket launcher.

Since 2004, parent Clear Channel Communications picked shows from the station to be a part of XM Radio's Extreme XM channel 152.

In September 2010, WTKS changed its weekend programming to classic rock. Prior to this time, that station had played alternative, indie, and modern rock music on weekends.[citation needed]