WPLK

WPLK (800 AM) is a radio station licensed to Palatka, Florida, broadcasting a soft oldies radio format The station is currently owned by Radio Palatka, Inc.[2] Programming is also heard on FM translator station W252DL at 98.3 MHz in the Killearn district of East Palatka, Florida.

WPLK
CityPalatka, Florida
Frequency800 kHz
BrandingWPLK 800 AM
SloganMusic of Your Day
Programming
FormatSoft Oldies
Ownership
OwnerNatkim Radio, LLC
WIYD
History
First air date
1957 (as WSUZ)
Former call signs
WSUZ (1957-July 13, 1990)[1]
Call sign meaning
W PaLatKa
Technical information
Facility ID54721
ClassB
Power1,000 watts day
334 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
29°39′7.00″N 81°35′32.00″W
Translator(s)98.3 W252DL (Killearn)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websiteputnamradio.com/wplk

History

The station first signed on in 1957 as WSUZ.[3][4] The station was owned by Raymac Inc. (Raymond P. McMillin and Carmen Macri), and was a daytimer, required to be off the air at night to avoid interfering with other stations on AM 800.

In 1957, Mr. Carmen Macri (the Mac of Raymac) was identified as the co-owner of the station, as well as WQIK in Jacksonville, Florida and WWOK in Charlotte, North Carolina.[5]

In 1958, the license was transferred to just Mr. McMillin.[6]

In 1961, an application was filed to transfer the license to WSUZ, Inc, however that transfer was not completed. In 1962, the station went into receivership under the custody of George J. Duck. In May 1963, the license was transferred to Bullock and Strickland, and in 1967 to just Wayne E. Bullock as Radio Station WSUZ. Mr. Strickland was a Washington, D.C.-based attorney and part owner of the station.

As of 1969, the station was an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System.[7]

In 1977, the station moved to a new transmitter location and studio. The studio had been at 309½ St John Avenue and was moved to old San Mateo Road.

In 1978, the station license was assigned to W. G. Enterprises, Inc. for a reported $155,000.[8]

The 1978 license renewal was in the name of Radio Palatka, Inc., which controlled the license until 2010.

In 1986, the station was airing country western music, and broke format to do a political interview with unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Mark Goldstein.[9]

As of 1987, the station was an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves' baseball radio network [10]

In 1990, Radio Palatka was assigned to the trustee oversight of Valarie J Hall of Jacksonville, Florida. That is when the call sign was changed to the current WPLK.

In 1997, the station was returned to the control of Wayne E. Bullock, Barbara K. Bullock, James M. Hester and Gail B. Hester.

An attempt was made in 2007 to sell the station to Radio Florida LLC for $400,000 with a stated intent to move the station from Putnam County and diplex the signal with WIYD (AM). Shortly thereafter, another application was filed to transfer the license to Flagler County Broadcasting LLC, with James E Martin having a 70% controlling interest in the ownership; however neither sale was completed and the license remained with Radio Palatka, Inc.

In 2010, the station license was transferred to NATKIN, LLC, (Charles E. Alford, Jr) the current licensee. The sales price reported to the FCC was $425,000.

References
  1. WPLK's callsign history on the F.C.C.'s website; retrieved January 23, 2019.
  2. "WPLK Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1957 page 86
  4. "FCC History card for WSUZ". Federal Communications Commission.
  5. "Radio station may be sold in Jacksonville". Tampa Bay Times. 31 Mar 1957. p. 11-A.
  6. "FCC approves Florida radio station changes". Tampa Tribune. Associated Press. 12 Jun 1958. p. 4-A.
  7. Boshoff, Col. W. H. (22 June 1969). "Nation Observing 25th anniversary of G.I. Bill". Orlando Sentinel. p. 2-A.
  8. "Radio Station OK'd". Florida Today. 12 March 1978. p. 20C.
  9. Dudley, Bruce (19 Oct 1986). "Ex-Democratic gubernatorial candidate backs Martinez". Tampa Tribune. p. B-1.
  10. Marx, Bill (3 April 1987). "WMMA, WLLD to tune in limited baseball for '87". Orlando Sentinel. p. c-2.
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