KTCK
| File:Cowboys-announcement2.jpg | |
| Broadcast area | KTCK: Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1310 kHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Sports Radio 1310: The Ticket |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports Talk |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KDBN, KKLF, KLIF, KPLX | |
| History | |
First air date | 1920 as WRR |
Former call signs | WRR (1920-1978), KAAM (1978-1994) |
Call sign meaning | K The Ticket |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 8773 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 9,000 Watts Day 5,000 Watts Night |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°56′41″N 96°56′25″W / 32.94472°N 96.94028°W KTCK *32°28′47″N 96°03′22″W / 32.47972°N 96.05611°W KTDK |
| Links | |
| Website | theticket.com |
KTCK (1310 AM, "SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket"), is a Dallas, Texas based sports talk radio station. The station is known for the irreverent banter and humorous skits (aka "bits", or, when they fail, "failed bits") associated with its shows.
The sometime controversial station has posted strong ratings in the Dallas radio market, especially its Arbitron top-rated shows [1] The Hardline and Dunham and Miller, which have been the anchors of the station's success throughout its existence. Numerous other stations have stolen The Ticket's name, format and even its logo in less-than-successful attempts to duplicate the station's success.
KTCK received the 2007 Marconi Award for "Best Sports Station in America" at the National Association of Broadcasters' annual conference on September 27, 2007. The station and various shows have been Marconi nominees in the past, but this is The Ticket's first win.
The 1310 kHz frequency first began to be used in 1920–1921 when WRR signed on as a communication service for the Dallas police and fire departments. Later, when WRR launched an FM band transmitter, the AM station played popular music while the FM station carried classical. 1310 was split from WRR-FM in 1978 and became the first of several incarnations of KAAM when it was owned by the same company that owned KAFM (92.5 MHz) until gaining its current call sign in 1994.
Formerly owned by Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff, The Ticket was purchased by Cumulus Media on May 5, 2006.[2]
Show Lineup
- Dunham and Miller a.k.a. The Gentle Musers - George Dunham, Craig "Junior" Miller and Gordon Keith, Producer Mike "Fernando" Fernandez, Board Operator "Big Strong" Jeremy Moran, Rich "Dick Hicks" Phillips with Ticket Tickers, and Barb Smith with traffic
- Norm Hitzges Show - Norm Hitzges, Producer Mark "Friedo" Friedman, Board Operator "Big Strong" Jeremy Moran, and Sean "Sea" Bass with Ticket Tickers
- BaD Radio. - Bob "The Sturminator" Sturm, Dan "Big Mac" McDowell, Donovan "Stink" Lewis, Producer Tom "Flakeboy" Gribble, Board Operator Michael "Grubes" Gruber, and Sean "Sea" Bass with Ticket Tickers. (Bob & Dan also do the 'Dallas Stars Post-game Show'.)
- Why Today Doesn't Suck - an extended crosstalk segment between BaD Radio and The Hardline. Also includes an unknown caller named Line 4 Guy.
- The Hardline - Mike Rhyner (the Old Gray Wolf), Greg "8-Ball" Williams, Corby (Snake, Cobra) Davidson, Producer Danny (The Afternoon Cloud) Balis, Board Operator Michael "Grubes" Gruber, Ty Walker with Ticket Tickers, and Barb Smith with "Stick it up your tailpipe" traffic.
- The Ticket Top 10 from 7pm-9pm with host Chris House and Steve Carbone on tickers.
- Train Station Fitness Show - 7am-8am Sat with George DeJohn and Dr X.
- The Teebox - Golf show with Rick Arnett and Craig Rosengarden, Saturdays from 8am-10am.
- The Orphanage - The show features Dave Lane (Gen X Davey) and Danny Balis of The Hardline. Sat from 10am-noon
- Ben & Skin - "Big" Ben Rogers and "Skinny" Skin noon-2pm Saturdays. Mavericks post-game show, "fill-in" duo.
- Raceweek - Seasonal NASCAR show with Rich Phillips, Saturdays from 2pm-3pm.
- Ticket Sports Saturday - 3pm-6pm with Pete Stein and one of the following: Ty Walker, Stu Cedar, or Tommy Daniels. Producer Dave Wilson
- The Mark Elfenbein Show- Mark Elfenbein, with Producer Stewart Cedar, Mike Sirois with Ticket Tickers, and Jaron Neihart Technically Directing. Airs on Sunday mornings 8-11 or during Dallas Cowboys season which they have a Noon CST kickoff he goes from 7-10
- Quack & Black - fill-in show comprising of Rich Phillips (Quack) of the Musers and Donovan Lewis (Black) of BaD Radio.
- The Ranch Report - With Mickey Spagnola airs daily during each of the weekday shows during football season.
Notable current and past personalities
- Doug Anderson - Host of The Ender- Now doing HS basketball in Dallas on KTXA-21
- Chris Arnold - The Chris Arnold Show
- Skip Bayless - Skip Bayless Show (spoke the first words ever heard "live" on The Ticket)
- Kevin Blanford - The Hot Spot
- Jimmy Christopher - former Ticker guy and long-time member of the station. Also known as Jimmy "The Saint" Christopher.
- Chuck Cooperstein - Chuck Cooperstein Show
- Kate Delaney (aka Sports Princess) - The Sports Princess. Went on to host a National Talk Show/America Tonight after a stint at WFAN in New York City
- Mark Followill (aka Kickball Head - former Ticket Ticker man for The Hardline, host of The Ender, and current play-by-play announcer for the Dallas Mavericks on Fox Sports Southwest and on KTXA 21.
- Kevin "Expo" Fox (aka "Gravy Belly" or "Gravy Tits") - former board operator for The Hardline
- Dale Hansen - Dale Hansen Show, often controversial DFW sports journalist.
- Richard "Big Dick" Hunter - The P-1 Wild Ass Circus, now on Live 105.3 Saturdays from 7-9pm and Monday thru Friday 10pm to Midnight.
- "Psycho" Dave Martin - board operator for The Hardline and BaD Radio, now selling insurance.
- Timm Mathews - TV Timm Mathews Show
- Max Miller - Max Miller Show
- Curt Menefee - Curt Menefee Show "Current host of Fox NFL Sunday"
- Justin Neeley- Former Board-op for The Hardline
- Rocco Pendola - Rocco Pendola Show
- Steve Porcari- Formerly of Toto, former engineer and board operator
- David Robinson "Also". He was the co-host of the Hot Spot with Kevin Blanford. .
- Kevin Scott- Former Ticker guy for "The Hardline"; Former Co-Host of "The Throwdown"; Former Co-Host of "The Beatdown" on ESPN radio in Austin. Now doing Cowboys Pre-pre game show; and guest hosting "The Hardline" on Friday, September 6th 2007.
- Mike Turley - producer for "The P-1 Wild Ass Circus"
- "Sports" Leila - former Ticket Ticker chick and current tv reporter
- Alexi Wall - former weekend board-op.
- Robert Wilonsky - frequent guest on The Hardline
P-1's
The station's fans are known as "P-1's". P-1 is a is a radio industry term defining a person who listens to one station almost exclusively. (The 'P' stands for preference.) Both The Hardline and Dunham and Miller started using the term on-air early in the station's existence and it eventually made its way to other shows and even onto some Ticket merchandise. Some of the original P-1's were part of a group The Hardline called "The Subculture". Members of The Subculture were "John C", "Delwin R", "R.O. from Cokeville", "Paul The Damn Viking", "Big Dave", "Mexican Junior", "Sideshow Bob", "Emperor's Son", "Dog in Parker County", "Chicken Fried", "Matt the Kneecap", "Troy the T-Sip" (now known as "Cowboy Troy"), Ahmit ("Skip @ SMU"), "Dr. Matt", "Herman in Mesquite", "Pittsburgh Dave"(who Mr. Rhyner won't allow back on the air), "Greekman", "Naked In Bed", "Big Anthony","India in Plano", "Garris in Hurst", and "Johnboy".
Dallas Cowboys football
On March 6th, 2006, the station announced that it will be the flagship affiliate of the Dallas Cowboys. This success was followed up by Arbitron ratings which showed a 60% increase in listeners.[1]
Dallas Cowboys games are simulcast on KTCK's sister station, 93.3 KDBN "The Bone" and on 104.1 FM KTDK
References
- [2] Dallas Morning News article showing a 60% increase in listeners.
- [3] Dallas Morning News article in which rating numbers for KTCK and their chief rival are summarized.