WKZY-FM 106.9 Cross City

History Of WKZY
Thanks to Marc Tyll for this history of WKZY.
WKZY began operations in 1987 as WDFL-FM 106.3 from Cross City, approximately 50 miles West of Gainesville. The station was constructed and owned by long time Lakeland resident and broadcaster Duane F. McConnell. The original WDFL-FM operated on 106.3mhz with 3,000 watts from a 180 foot tower located about 5 miles South of Cross City. WDFL-FM was co-owned with WDFL-AM 1240 which re-broadcast all programming from WDFL-FM. The programming consisted of 24-hours of mainstream country provided by the Satellite Music Network and the station covered most of Dixie and Levy counties. In 1989, McConnell and his consulting engineer, Jim Johnson, determined WDFL-FM could get a power upgrade from 3,000 watts to 100,000 watts as a class C1 by moving the frequency from 106.3 to 106.9. Plans went in to action and a petition was filed with the FCC to amend the FM Table of Allotments. Ben Dickerson, who owned WEAG-FM 106.3 in Starke, filed a petition to deny McConnell’s request and asked that the FCC grant the frequency 106.9 as a Class 2 station to Starke. The FCC denied Dickerson’s petition and granted McConnell’s petition for Cross City. McConnell and Johnson made plans to move the WDFL-FM tower to Trenton, located about 25 miles West of Gainesville. A new 469 foot tower was constructed at the WDJY-FM 101.7 Trenton location and the power was increased to 100,000 watts in the year 2000.

Robert Young, who had previously worked at WAPE and WIVY in Jacksonville, was hired as WDFL' s General Manager. The call letters were changed to WKZY to reflect "Cozy" for "Cozy 106.9." The WKZY call letters had previously been associated with FM 92.5 in LaBelle. The new WKZY format was changed to Westwood One’s Adult Standards featuring artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, and many others. The new "Cozy 106.9" also featured top of the hour world news from CNN Radio.
McConnell sold WKZY-FM along with WDFL-AM to Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd, headed by James Morrell, in 2000. The studios were moved to the WLUS-AM 980 building located off Kincaid Road in Gainesville, known as the Radio Ranch. The format was changed to Soft Adult Contemporary known as "Lite Rock 106.9". Former WHTQ-FM 96.5 personality and WFKS-FM 99.9 Program Director Bruce Cherry was hired as WKZY's Program Director and Operations Manager. The Lite Rock format only lasted about a year, unable to effectively compete against WKTK’s superior signal. In 2002 WKZY modified its programming to Classic Hits of 70s, 80s, and 90s. Bruce Cherry left WKZY in 2005 to become Program Director at WKTK, while former WKTK Program Director, Briton Jon Rice, replaced Cherry at WKZY. The new on air slogan is "106.9 KZY with the hits of the 70s, 80s, 90s and whatever we want."

* Pamal Sells Gainesville/Ocala Cluster 4-19-11
Pamal Broadcasting Ltd. of Latham, NY has agreed to sell its seven radio stations in the Gainesville-Ocala market. The deal is between Pamal subsidiary 6 Johnson Road Licenses, Inc. and MARC Radio Group of Winter Park, Florida. MARC includes broadcasters Mike Schweitzer, Bob Longwell, and Tom Hauff. Shawn Portmann will serve as President of the Gainesville-Ocala Market Cluster. MARC does not own any other stations. The deal includes; WTMG-FM 101.3, Williston, WHHZ-FM 100.5, Newberry, WKZY-FM 106.9, Cross City, WDVH-FM 101.7, Trenton, WRZN-AM 720 licensed to Hernando, WDVH-AM 980 and WTMN-AM 1430, both licensed to Gainesville. The final sale price was $2,550,000.

Pulse 101.7 Simulcasting On 106.9 10-4-12
Bill Watson lets us know that Marc Radio's WPLL-FM 101.7 "The Pulse", is now simulcasting their Contemporary Christian format on WKZY-FM 106.9. Bill also says "...at some point Pulse will be only on 106.9 and something new will be on 101.7." We'll keep you posted.

Names In WKZY History

Duane F. McConnell-1987-President-Women in Florida Broadcasting

Henry Hays-circa-2001-5:30AM-10AM-Pamal Broadcasting Ltd.

Monica Hart-circa 2001-5:30AM-10AM-Pamal Broadcasting Ltd.

Klevelan with a K (Derek Williams)-2005-2008-Production Director-Jablamo, LLC

Briton Jon (Rice)-2005-2008--10AM-3PM/Program Director-Jablamo, LLC/Pamal Broadcasting Ltd./6 Johnson Road Licenses, Inc. In Memory

James Morrell-2006-Chairman/CEO-Pamal Broadcasting Ltd

Matt "the Brat" Derrick-2007-Program Director/Middays-Jablamo, LLC

Kevin McKay (Kevin Mangan)-2008-Middays/Nights/Assistant Program Director/Mornings /2010-Program Director/ Afternoons-Jablamo, LC/2012-Program Director-Marc Radio Gainesville, LLC

Kidd Kraddick-2010-2013-Mornings-Syndicated-Jablamo, LLC

Billy Bush-2010-2012-7PM-11PM Weeknights-Syndicated-Jablamo, LLC

Andrew (Silanskas)-2010-2012-Middays/Producer "Kidd Kraddick in the Morning"/2012-Weeknights -7PM-11PM /Producer "Kidd Kraddick in the Morning"-Jablamo, LLC/Marc Radio Gainesville, LLC

Mike Schweitzer-2011-CEO-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Crash Davis-2012-2013-Weeknights 7PM-10PM/Sat 3PM-6PM-Marc Radio Gainesville, LLC

Wally-2012-Mornings-"The Wally Show"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Katie Rose-2012-Co-Host / Producer-"The Wally Show"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Zach-2012-Producer-"The Wally Show"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Betty Rock-2012-"The Wally Show"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Richard a.k.a. Preach-2012-Intern-"The Wally Show"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Ryan a.k.a. Ryan The Temp-2012-Intern-"The Wally Show"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Jeff Connell-2012-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Melissa-2012-"Melissa and Matt"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Mike Gilland-Program Coordinator/Middays 9AM-2PM-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Theresa Ross-2PM-7PM-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Matt-"Melissa and Matt"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Stacy-"Melissa and Matt"-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Stu Gray-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Marcia-syndicated-MARC Radio Group, LLC

Kathy Aparo

Bruce Cherry-Program Director

Eric Jewell

Jim Brand In Memory

Tom Hunt

Leeza Gordon-6AM to 10AM-"Leeza and Tara Morning Show"

Tara Madison-6AM to 10AM-"Leeza and Tara Morning Show"

Pacman-3PM to 7PM

Kory-Co-host of " The Morning Rush"

Jack Weston-Co-host of " The Morning Rush"

Dawson McAllister

Jagger

Lovingood

Rebecca

Matt Harris-Co-host "Matt and Ramona Show" (syndicated)

Ramona Holloway-Co-host "Matt and Ramona Show" (syndicated)

Original Call Letters: WDFL
Originally Licensed: 1987
Original City of License: Cross City
Original Frequency: 106.3
Origin of Call Letters: Sounds like; Cozy
Original Power: 3,000 watts
Original Location: Trenton
Original Format: Adult Standards
Network Affiliation(s):	Satellite Music Network
	Westwood One

Owner(s):	1986-Florida Radio Partners, Inc.
	1997-Pinnacle FM Broadcasting, Inc.
	2000-Pamal Broadcasting, Ltd.
	2004-Jablamo, LLC ($8 million seven station cluster sale*)
	2006-Pamal Broadcasting Ltd.
	2007-6 Johnson Road Licenses, Inc.
	2011-Marc Radio Gainesville, LLC ($2,550,000 seven station cluster sale*)

History of Call Letters and Formats:	WDFL-1987-Country "Stereo Country 106" (On 106.3)
	WKZY-1998-Adult Standards "Kozy 106.9"
	WKZY-2001-Soft Adult Contemporary "Lite Rock 106.9 KZY"
	WKZY-2003-Classic Hits of the 70s, 80s, 90s "106.9 KZY"
	WKZY-2006-AC "The 80's The 90's Whatever We Want"
	WKZY-2007-Hot AC
	WPLL-2012-Country