WCKT

WCKT
Broadcast areaFort Myers, Florida
Frequency107.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingCat Country 107.1
Programming
FormatCountry
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
WBCG, WBTT, WCCF, WCVU, WIKX, WOLZ, WWCD, WZJZ
History
First air date
January 1, 1976 (as WSWF-FM)
Former call signs
WSWF-FM (1976–1983)
WOOJ-FM (1983–1989)
WCKT (1989–2003)
WRLR (2003)
WDRR (2003–2004)
WZJZ (2004–2007)
Call sign meaning
sounds like "cat"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID55755
ClassC2
ERP23,500 watts
HAAT220 meters
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitecatcountry1071.iheart.com

WCKT (107.1 FM) is a commercial radio station located in Lehigh Acres, Florida, broadcasting to the Fort Myers, Florida area. WCKT airs a country music format branded as "Cat Country". WCKT originally signed on in 1976, airing a beautiful music format. In 1979, the format was flipped to Disco, and the call letters were changed to WSWF. In 1985, the format was changed to Album Oriented Rock, and the call letters were changed to WOOJ (Orange Rock 107). In 1988, facing competition from the new and much more powerful WRXK, WOOJ tweaked its format to Classic Rock. The format was flipped to Country as WCKT, in 1989.

In only one ratings period, the new Cat Country beat longtime Southwest Florida country outlet WHEW to become the area's #1 country station. WCKT programmed a music intensive format up against WHEW's more full service approach. That lasted for several years until WHEW become WWGR (Gator Country) about the time the Ft. Myers and Naples markets were combined to become one metro. Since then, WWGR has been the #1 country outlet in the Ft. Myers - Naples market.

During WCKT's history, current owner iHeartMedia, Inc. (formerly Clear Channel Communications) briefly had the station on the 100.1 frequency (what is now WZJZ) out of Port Charlotte. Even though the 100.1 frequency is a C1 stronger signal, the northern leaning coverage area didn't put a strong enough signal to cover the Naples area, and additionally had substantial overlap with co-owned WIKX, which is also from the Port Charlotte area and thus may have stolen audience from them.

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCKT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.