WJOK
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| Broadcast area | Green Bay-Appleton-Oshkosh |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1050 kHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian radio |
| Network | Relevant Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | September 25, 1965 |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning |
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| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 19879 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
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Transmitter coordinates | 44°14′51″N 88°18′0.4″W / 44.24750°N 88.300111°W |
| Translators |
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| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | relevantradio |
WJOK (1050 AM) is a Roman Catholic Christian formatted radio station licensed to Kaukauna, Wisconsin, that serves the Green Bay and Appleton-Oshkosh areas. The station is owned by the Green Bay-based Relevant Radio network. To improve its local reach, the station broadcasts via FM translators W239CV (95.7 FM) in Oshkosh and W300CM (107.9 FM) in Appleton.
History
The station first signed on the air on September 25, 1965, using the call letters WKAU.[2] During this era, it operated with a Top 40 format and was frequently associated with its FM sister station, WKAU-FM. [3] In 1984, Milwaukee-based broadcaster Quinn Martin purchased the station and changed the call letters to WQWM (reflecting his initials) to launch an oldies music format.[4]
Ownership changed again in 1993, at which point the call sign was updated to WSGC to accommodate a "Positive Country" music format.[5] By 1999, the station pivoted to an all-sports identity branded as "1050 The Jock" under the call letters WJOK.[6] During its time as a sports station, it carried syndicated programming from the Sports Fan Radio Network and served as the local affiliate for Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball.[7]
In 2000, the station was acquired by Starboard Broadcasting, a group of Catholic businessmen that included Bob Atwell and John Cavil.[8] On November 26, 2000—the Solemnity of Christ the King—WJOK broadcast a Catholic Mass from the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier in Green Bay, marking the official start of the Relevant Radio network.[9] The station is often cited as the "birthplace" of the network, which has since grown to more than 200 stations across the United States. [10][11]
After switching to Catholic programming, the station owners re-designated the "WJOK" call sign to stand for "Jesus Our King," a religious interpretation of the letters originally chosen for the former "Jock" sports format.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WJOK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WJOK Facility Details". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "Radio & Records: June 3, 1983" (PDF). World Radio History. June 3, 1983. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ Klister, Eric (November 29, 2000). "Kaukauna radio station is sold, switches formats". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "The M Street Journal: January 2001" (PDF). World Radio History. January 2001. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "National Radio Club DX News: Volume 91, Issue 6" (PDF). National Radio Club. March 10, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "WJOK - Sports Format Archive". Zippia. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "Changing Hands: May 2001". Broadcasting+Cable. May 27, 2001. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "Relevant Radio History". Relevant Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "Relevant Radio and Immaculate Heart Radio complete merger". Angelus News. July 5, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ Klister, Eric (November 29, 2000). "Kaukauna radio station is sold, switches formats". Appleton Post-Crescent. ProQuest 437128553.
External links
- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 19879 (WJOK) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WJOK in Nielsen Audio's AM station database