Oldies 97.9 - WLIK - AM 1270 - Newport, TN

1270 WLIK plays the songs you remember from the 50′s, 60′s and through the 80″s by the stars who made them famous. See our programming ... See more selection for more information. Coverage 1270 WLIK’s 5000 watt signal covers Cocke County and surrounding counties in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina including: Hamblen, Greene, Sevier, Jefferson, Grainger, Hawkins, Madison, Haywood and Swain. WLIK is licensed to Newport, Tennessee. See our coverage map for more details. 1270 AM WLIK is owned by WLIK, Inc., a family owned business for over fifty years. Dwight Wilkerson is principal stockholder. See our history below for more information. History The radio industry was just a babe compared to other media such as magazines and newspapers. It was in 1954, hardly 30 years old as an industry, when a Lenoir City lumberman, Arthur Wilkerson, requested a grant from the Federal Communication Commission to build a radio station in Newport and Cocke County. Radio was still regarded as a novelty by many people. Something that was an interesting sideline to another business. Wilkerson was one of the early pioneers of radio in East Tennessee, WLIK was his third radio venture after putting WLIL on the air in Lenoir City, his hometown and WAEW in Crossville. WLIK began broadcasting in April 1954. The first announcer “on air” was Ray Shirley, a local Church of Christ preacher. WLIK is unique in that radio is a volatile and changing industry and WLIK has been under the same ownership since its inception in 1954 and has had only two managers. First, the late Ira B. Crisp from 1954 through 1962 and Dwight Wilkerson from 1963 to the present. Angie Wilkerson, third generation, joined the business in 2000. WLIK began broadcasting as a 1000 watt radio station. It suffered the misfortune of a fire in 1958 and shortly thereafter went to 5,000 watts. With the advent of television in the ’50′s, many predicted the demise of radio, but the industry as a whole endured and the people of Cocke County supported their new radio station. New technology of the ’60′s brought new life to radio and as the community grew, WLIK felt the need to offer added services. In 1968, WLIK moved its transmitter site to Rock City and began full time operations. With the full time facilities, WLIK has been able to offer live coverage of high school sports, University of Tennessee Sports, election returns, and other services in addition to the regular fare of music, entertainment and news. WLIK’s offices and studios are still located, with it’s imposing tower, on the hill as the intersection of the Knoxville and Morristown highways, which was originally purchased from George Sweeten. WLIK presently operated full time with a daytime power of 5000 watts at 1270 kilohertz. WLIK has four full time employees and two part time employees. WLIK reflects the growth, progress, and strength of Newport and Cocke County and is proud to be able to build on that heritage and work with all segments of our community. ------ Shows: Obituaries, A Moment of Grace, The Radio Bible Hour, Voice of Victory Broadcast, Word Of Truth, In His Presence, Back to the Truth and Holiness, Barnes Valley Missionary Baptist Church, Bat Harbor Log Church, Bluegrass Saturday, Bridgeport Freewill Baptist Church, By Faith Broadcast, By the Way of the Cross Deliverance, Christian Fellowship Church, Cocke County Monument, Costner-Maloy Funeral Home, Dale Campbell Ministries, End Time Messenger, Goddard Real Estate and Auction's, Grace By Faith, Hilltop Baptist Church Broadcast, It's Time to Speak the Word, Jesus is the Answer, Larry wells, Living By Faith Broadcast, Metro Talk, Moment With The Master, New Beginnings, New Life Lunch Cafe, Newport Housing Authority, Newport Old-Time Gospel Church Hour, Newport Tile and Hardwood, Revival Time, Sagebrush Steakhouse Lunchbreak Giveaway, Spirit of Truth Ministries, Spiritual Food, Standing For Jesus, Stokely's Chapel Baptist Church, Swap Shop, The Daily Bread, The Maple Grove Church Hour, The Smokies Oldies Music, Total Lawn Care and Garden Center and Farmers Market, Voice of Deliverance, Voice of Victory, Webb Baptist Church, West End Baptist Church, Wilsonville Baptist Church, WLIK and Food City Bakery Birthday, Young Preachers of Hilltop Baptist Church ----- Hosts: Darlingston G Johnson, Don Smith, Dr. J. Harold Smith, Kenneth Copeland, Dr. Bob Jones Sr., Larry Wells, Dwight Wilkerson, Johnnie Swann, Angie Wilkerson, Rev Gene Gorrell, Rick Brooks, Erika Fullington, Father Al Lauer, Rev. Robert Green, Pastor Frank Bell