KFTK (AM)

KFTK
Broadcast areaGreater St. Louis
Frequency1490 kHz
Programming
FormatDefunct
Ownership
Owner
  • Entertainment Media Trust
  • (Entertainment Media Trust, Dennis J. Watkins, Trustee)
OperatorEntercom
WQQW, KQQZ, KZQZ
History
First air date
July 10, 1972; 52 years ago (1972-07-10) (as WESL)[1]
Last air date
March 20, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-03-20)
Former call signs
WESL (1972–2007)
WFFX (2007–2010)
WQQX (2010–2016)
Call sign meaning
shared with KFTK-FM
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID72815
ClassC
Power1,000 watts (day)
1,000 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
38°37′16″N 90°9′36″W / 38.62111°N 90.16000°W / 38.62111; -90.16000
Translator(s)98.7 K254CR (St. Louis)
Links
Public license information

KFTK was a commercial radio station that was licensed to East St. Louis, Illinois on 1490 AM, and broadcast from 1972 to 2020. KFTK's transmitter was located in East St. Louis. From 2016 to 2020, KFTK and low-power translator K254CR (98.7 FM) were operated by both Emmis Communications and Entercom as a full-time simulcast of KFTK-FM (97.1).

The station's license was revoked by the Federal Communications Commission after it was revealed that its principal owner, Entertainment Media Trust (doing business as Insane Broadcasting), was set up as a shell company for a convicted felon. The cancellation also included three other AM stations in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area: KQQZ, KZQZ and WQQW.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference by1982 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KFTK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.