WKRK-FM

WKRK-FM
Broadcast area
Frequency92.3 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingSports Radio 92.3 The Fan
Programming
FormatSports radio
Subchannels
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
December 19, 1947 (1947-12-19)
Former call signs
  • WSRS-FM (1947–1959)
  • WJMO-FM (1959–1960)
  • WCUY (1960–1971)
  • WLYT (1971–1983)
  • WRQC (1983–1990)
  • WJMO-FM (1990–1994)
  • WZJM (1994–2001)
  • WXTM (2001–2006)
  • WXRK (2006–2007)
  • WKRI (2007)
Former frequencies
95.3 MHz (1947–59)
Call sign meaning
former "K-Rock" branding
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID74473
ClassB
ERP
  • 40,000 watts (horizontal)
  • 36,000 watts (vertical)
HAAT167 meters (548 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°26′32″N 81°29′28″W / 41.44222°N 81.49111°W / 41.44222; -81.49111
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via Audacy)
Websitewww.audacy.com/923thefan

WKRK-FM (92.3 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States, known as "Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan" and carrying a sports format. Owned by Audacy, Inc., WKRK-FM serves Greater Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio as a co-flagship for the Cleveland Browns Radio Network and an affiliate of Westwood One Sports. WKRK-FM's studios are located at the Halle Building in Downtown Cleveland and the station transmitter resides in the Cleveland suburb of Warrensville Heights. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WKRK-FM broadcasts over three HD Radio channels and is available online via Audacy.

The station originated in 1947 as WSRS-FM, the FM adjunct to WSRS, and initially broadcast at 95.3 FM. When WJMO (1540 AM) owner United Broadcasting purchased WSRS AM/FM, it transferred the WJMO calls and format to the AM facility and relaunched the FM as WCUY with jazz music, followed by a frequency move to 92.3 FM. WCUY became WLYT in 1971 and was subject to frequent format and personnel changes over the next 13 years, concurrent with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigating United Broadcasting and WJMO over various issues. In 1983, the station became WRQC, initially with the "Rock of the 80s" new wave format, then switched to contemporary hits (CHR) several months later. WRQC combined programming with WJMO in 1990 to become "Jammin' 92", with a hybrid urban/CHR format. A contested sale of WJMO AM/FM saw WJMO-FM go to a group led by WZAK personality Lynn Tolliver and owner Lee Zapis and become WZJM in 1994.

Sold as part of a combined buyout of three local groups to Chancellor Broadcasting in 1998, WZJM switched format in May 1999 to urban oldies as "92.3 The Beat". Sold to Infinity Broadcasting in 2000 after a larger sequence of mergers involving Chancellor successor AMFM and Clear Channel Broadcasting, WZJM became active rock WXTM "Xtreme Radio" in 2001; as WXTM, the station launched Rover's Morning Glory, which became regionally syndicated, then was selected in 2006 as one of several replacements for The Howard Stern Show while "Xtreme" adopted the WXRK calls, "K-Rock" name and a more mainline alternative format. Following Rover's departure for WMMS in 2008, the station became WKRK "radio 92.3" with a jockless presentation. The current sports format and "The Fan" branding was adopted in August 2011, and since 2014 has been a co-flagship for the Cleveland Browns.