View source for WWGK

{{Short description|Radio station in Cleveland (1947–2023)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = WWGK
| city = [[Cleveland, Ohio]]
| country = US
| area = [[Greater Cleveland]]
| logo = KNR2 logo.jpg
| branding = ESPN 1540 KNR2
| frequency = {{Frequency|1540|[[Hertz#SI multiples|kHz]]}}
| airdate = {{start date|1947|06|01}}
| format = Defunct (was [[Sports radio]])
| power = 1,000 [[watt]]s (daytime only)
| class = D
| facility_id = 70659
| coordinates = {{coord|41|30|10.00|N|81|37|57.00|W|region:US-OH_type:landmark_source:FCC}}
| callsign_meaning = Good Karma
| last_airdate = {{ubl|{{end date|2021|12|20}}|({{Age in years and days|1947|7|1|2021|12|20}})}}
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WJMO (1947–1959)|WABQ (1959–2006)|WBKC (2006)}}
| owner = [[Good Karma Brands]]
| licensee = Good Karma Broadcasting, LLC
| sister_stations = [[WKNR]]
}}

'''WWGK''' was a commercial [[Clear-channel station#Daytimers|daytime-only]] [[radio station]] licensed to [[Cleveland, Ohio]], that broadcast on {{frequency|1540|[[AM broadcasting|AM]]}} from 1947 until 2022. Last owned by [[Good Karma Brands]], it featured [[ESPN Radio]] programming at the time of closure, co-owned with ESPN affiliate [[WKNR]]. The transmitter [[Radio masts and towers|tower]] for WWGK was located on [[Euclid Avenue (Cleveland)|Euclid Avenue]] at East 81st Street in Cleveland's [[Fairfax, Cleveland|Fairfax]] neighborhood.

==History==

===WJMO (1947–1959)===
{{for|the current iteration of WJMO at 1300 AM|WJMO}}
The station's roots trace back to WJMO, which [[Sign-on and sign-off|went on the air]] on June 1, 1947, licensed to Cleveland as a daytime-only broadcaster at 1540&nbsp;kHz<ref>{{cite news|title=WJMO in Cleveland Started Yesterday|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1947/1947-06-02-BC.pdf|access-date=September 28, 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=June 1, 1947}}</ref> with studios at 2157 Euclid Avenue and a power of 1,000 watts. The owner was Wentworth J. Marshall, formerly head of the Marshall Drug Co. chain, and the general manager was David M. Baylor. When it debuted, WJMO was the only Cleveland radio station without a [[Network affiliate|network affiliation]]. As a result, the station specialized in recorded music. Early staff included Gene Carroll (mornings), Howie Lund (afternoons), and Billy Evans on sports.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=W23 |title=AM 1540's Early Years (Case Western Reserve University) |access-date=November 5, 2006 |archive-date=January 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050120205051/http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=W23 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1948, WJMO carried the football games of [[Case Western Reserve University|Western Reserve College]] Red Cats, both at home from League Park and on the road. In the first broadcast on September 25, Gil Gibbons called the action as Western Reserve met [[Western Michigan University|Western Michigan]] in [[Kalamazoo]].

On June 5, 1952, in an attempt to emphasize music rather than [[DJ]]s Baylor issued an orders to play four songs every 15 minutes. As a result, a number of DJs chose to leave the station. Later than year, Wentworth sold the station on August 20 for $100,000 to Maryland-based United Broadcasting, headed by Richard Eaton. Ownership was later put in the name of Eaton's affiliated company Friendly Broadcasting of Ohio. An FM license was granted for the [[WHLK|106.5 MHz facility]] that was to take the WJMO-FM call sign, but it was slated to sign on by 1959.<!-- Some of the Announcers at WJMO in the 1970s included Rudy Green, Wes Dickenson, Billy Black, Bill Taylor, Lynn Tolliver, John O'Day, J.L. Wright, Mike Payne, Mary Holt and Ken Hawkins to name a few. -->

===WABQ (1959–2006)===
{{for|the current Painesville, Ohio radio station using these call letters|WABQ}}
Meanwhile, WSRS, which was founded by S.R. Sague on December 12, 1947, broadcast 24-hours a day on 1490&nbsp;kHz licensed to suburban [[Cleveland Heights]], and had an FM complement at 95.3 [[MHz]]. On January 14, 1959, [[WJMO]] bought WSRS (at 1490 AM and 95.3 FM) and exchanged respective [[call sign]]s, studios/facilities, and staffs. Both 1540 AM and 106.5 FM were sold off to Tuschman Broadcasting Company with the switch; the 1540 facility immediately became WABQ and the 106.5 facility instead signed on as WABQ-FM before switching to WXEN that next year, carrying an ethnic format.

Detroit-based Booth Broadcasting took ownership of WABQ and WXEN in the mid-1960s. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, both WABQ and WJMO focused on programming aimed at Cleveland's [[African American]] community, featuring mostly black on-air talent.

It was best known for a [[Top 40 (radio format)|Top 40]]/[[R&B]] format as "Tiger Radio" in the late 1960s (Booth's [[WJLB]] in Detroit used the same "Tiger Radio" slogan at the time), featuring personalities like Lynn Tolliver and Ken Hawkins, Michael "The Lover" Payne and King Curtis Shaw, Jimmy O'jay, Jimmy Stephens, Jim Raggs and Eddie Edwards. Mike Dix, Rich Ford, Chuck Denson, Otis Rush and Duane Jones were just a few of the many news announcers the station featured during the late 1960s and early seventies. The station's popular "Ring-A-Ding" talk show featured Olympic gold medalist Harrison Dillard who also handled sportscasts. Gospel programming in the late weekday morning hours was presented by Cleveland's First Lady of Gospel, Mary Holt. Sundays featured wall-to-wall church programming with Denver Wilborn as host.

Throughout the late 1960s and into the early to mid-1970s, WABQ and WJMO competed for listeners among Cleveland's African-American community with WJMO often enjoying a slight ratings edge due to its ability to remain on the air after local sunset.

In April 1968, WABQ received [[special temporary authority]] from the FCC to stay on the air overnight in an attempt to help inform and comfort the community following the [[assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.]]. The special authority to remain on the air 24 hours a day expired after just a day or two.

WABQ's heyday quietly faded into the 1970s and 1980s, and went through numerous format changes since. Booth Broadcasting sold off WABQ in 1984, and several different ownership changes followed as a result. Eventually, the station assumed a [[gospel music]] format and had local ownership for much of those years since.

===WWGK (2006–2022)===
{{Further|WKNR#Arrival of Good Karma}}
Dale Edwards' D&E Communications sold off WABQ to [[Beaver Dam, Wisconsin]]-based [[Good Karma Broadcasting]], LLC., in July 2006 for $2.5&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|2500000|2006}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="CPD20060731pC2">{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Roger|date=July 31, 2006|title=Indians' ratings striking out, too|page=C2|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1133B5C810EA8930|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 10, 2021|via=NewsBank|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329015052/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news%2F1133B5C810EA8930&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref> The transaction occurred two weeks after [[ESPN Radio]] terminated their affiliation with [[Salem Communications]]-owned [[WKNR]], giving that station a 90-day [[notice]].<ref name="AkronB20060713p C005">{{Cite news|last=Morgan, Jr.|first=David Lee|date=July 13, 2006|title=WKNR radio plans to drop 'Mike & Mike'|page=C5|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85053943/wknr-radio-plans-to-drop-mike-mike/|access-date=September 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910135317/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85053943/wknr-radio-plans-to-drop-mike-mike/|url-status=live}}</ref> The purchase was seen by Good Karma founder and president [[Craig Karmazin]] as "the next logical market" for the chain to expand to; along with an AM/FM duopoly in Beaver Dam, Good Karma's portfolio consisted mostly of [[Sports radio|sports]] stations in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Milwaukee]] and [[West Palm Beach]], all affiliated with ESPN.<ref name="Crains20061204a">{{Cite web|last=Booth|first=John|date=December 4, 2006|title=Building on a 'billion-dollar brand'|url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20061204/SUB/61204004/building-on-a-billion-dollar-brand|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=September 25, 2021|work=Crain's Cleveland Business|location=Cleveland, Ohio|language=en|archive-date=September 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925055032/https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20061204/SUB/61204004/building-on-a-billion-dollar-brand}}</ref> Just before the sale closed, WABQ swapped call signs on October 24, 2006, with [[Painesville]] station WBKC,<ref name="WWGKCallHist">{{Cite web|title=Call Sign History: WWGK|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=70659&Callsign=DWWGK|url-status=live|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=licensing.fcc.gov|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017054615/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=70659&Callsign=WWGK}}</ref> which Dale Edwards retained ownership of and installed a similar gospel format onto.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 17, 2006|title=WBKC NO LONGER SIMULCASTING WCLV|url=http://www.wclv.com/skin/blurb.php?sectionId=178&contentId=224351|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112015620/http://www.wclv.com/skin/blurb.php?sectionId=178&contentId=224351|archive-date=November 12, 2006|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=WCLV}}</ref> Temporarily known as WBKC, {{Frequency|1540|AM}} relaunched as "ESPN Radio 1540" on October 28, 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 15, 2006|title=Bokenyi joins ESPN Cleveland|url=https://staatalent.com/sportscastingjobs/2006-2/|url-status=live|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Sportscasters Talent Agency of America|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017054616/https://staatalent.com/sportscastingjobs/2006-2/}}</ref> adopting the WWGK call sign on November 7.{{r|WWGKCallHist}}

While ESPN's cancellation notice included that the network was planning to have a 24-hour presence in the market—something WKNR was unable to provide{{r|AkronB20060713p C005}}—WABQ's daytime-only status equally prevented such a presence.<ref name="AkronB20061205p C001">{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=George M.|date=December 5, 2006|title=With sale comes advice for WKNR|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85060998/with-sale-comes-advice-for-wknr-p2/ C5]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85060958/with-sale-comes-advice-for-wknr/|access-date=September 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910135314/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85060958/with-sale-comes-advice-for-wknr/|url-status=live}}</ref> Speculation existed about a possible [[Timebroker|time-brokerage agreement]] with Good Karma purchasing nighttime hours on [[WJMO|WERE]], but it was never consummated.<ref name="CPD20061009pC2">{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Roger|date=October 9, 2006|title=Gannon's throws on target in TV booth|page=C2|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F114BC4C3CDADA5E0|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 9, 2021|via=NewsBank|archive-date=September 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921203120/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/114BC4C3CDADA5E0&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref> This also meant that a weekday program hosted by Craig Karmazin and Steve Politziner was unable to be carried in Cleveland throughout the winter months.{{r|Crains20061204a}} Undeterred, Karmazin moved to Cleveland in order to help oversee the launch of WWGK,<ref name="CPD20061206pC3">{{Cite news|last=Washington|first=Julie E.|date=December 6, 2006|title=WKNR sports-talk station sold: Good Karma Broadcasting buys AM/850 to join its AM/1540|page=C3|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F115DE8A086DEE170|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 9, 2021|via=NewsBank|archive-date=September 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921203120/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/115DE8A086DEE170&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref> a practice he had done at other sports station launches in the Good Karma chain.<ref name="MJS20120728a">{{cite web|last=Glauber|first=Bill|date=July 28, 2012|title=Good Karma's Karmazin scores talking up sports|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/good-karmas-karmazin-scores-talking-up-sports-ga68t77-164145926.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 10, 2021|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|language=en|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031524/http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/good-karmas-karmazin-scores-talking-up-sports-ga68t77-164145926.html}}</ref> Karmazin also predicted that WWGK could have a positive [[cash flow]] within 18 months even with the station's technical limitations.{{r|Crains20061204a}}

Weeks after WWGK's launch, Good Karma purchased WKNR from Salem for $7&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|7000000|2006}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) on December 4, 2006, putting both stations under one roof.<ref name="Crains20061204b">{{cite news|last=Booth|first=John|date=December 4, 2006|title=Good Karma buys WKNR|work=Crain's Cleveland Business|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061204/FREE/61204019/1025|url-access=subscription|access-date=December 27, 2006|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927180003/http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20061204%2FFREE%2F61204019%2F1025|url-status=live}}</ref>{{r|AkronB20061205p C001}} The sale caught Karmazin partially off guard, as he did not anticipate owning both WWGK and WKNR until Salem agreed to sell at the last minute.<ref name="Crains20080121a">{{cite web|last=Booth|first=John|date=January 21, 2008|title=New affiliation rejuvenates local sports radio stations|url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20080121/FREE/203401721/new-affiliation-rejuvenates-local-sports-radio-stations|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=September 7, 2021|work=Crain's Cleveland Business|location=Cleveland, Ohio|language=en|archive-date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911193703/https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20080121/FREE/203401721/new-affiliation-rejuvenates-local-sports-radio-stations}}</ref> While Good Karma immediately took over management of WKNR via a [[local marketing agreement]], ESPN programming remained exclusive to WWGK but Karmazin hinted at moving the affiliation back to WKNR, saying "that's part of the great conversation we're having now."{{r|CPD20061206pC3}} Such a realignment took place on February 23, 2007, with WKNR regaining the ESPN affiliation full-time and WWGK adding some [[Fox Sports Radio]] programming, rebranded "KNR2".<ref name="AkronB20070224p C007">{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=George M.|date=February 24, 2007|title=New beginning for sports talk radio station|page=C7|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85061133/new-beginning-for-sports-talk-radio/|access-date=September 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911193655/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85061133/new-beginning-for-sports-talk-radio/|url-status=live}}</ref> Both stations relocated to a $500,000 studio facility at the [[Galleria at Erieview]] that opened late in 2007.<ref name="Crains20061226a">{{cite news|last=Booth|first=John|date=December 26, 2006|title=Good Karma for downtown|work=Crain's Cleveland Business|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061226/FREE/61226009/1025&Profile=1025|url-access=subscription|access-date=January 4, 2007|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927181938/http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20061226%2FFREE%2F61226009%2F1025&Profile=1025|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the 2007 consolidation into WKNR, WWGK largely operated as a "pass-through" for ESPN programming as a complement to WKNR's locally based lineup.{{r|CPD20200805a}} One notable exception was ''[[Formation (American football)|X's and O's]] with The Pros'', an hour-long show hosted by [[LeCharles Bentley]] and [[Je'Rod Cherry]]<ref name="CPD20140429a">{{Cite news|last=Petkovic|first=John|author-link=John Petkovic|date=April 29, 2014|title=Money, power, lack of black media voices helped NBA sweep Donald Sterling under the rug for years|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F14D8273423CFE090|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 11, 2021|via=NewsBank|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121012614/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/14D8273423CFE090&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref> that debuted on WWGK in 2009 and moved to WKNR the following year.<ref name="CanRep20150911a">{{cite web|last=Oller|first=Rob|date=September 11, 2015|title=Q&A with former Buckeye Dustin Fox|url=https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20150911/SPORTS/309119988|url-status=live|access-date=September 11, 2021|work=The Repository|location=Canton, Ohio|language=en|archive-date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911211220/https://www.cantonrep.com/article/20150911/SPORTS/309119988}}</ref> All Fox Sports programming was dropped on August 29, 2011, when [[WKRK-FM]] switched from [[alternative rock]] to a sports format of their own.<ref name="CPD20110902a">{{cite web|author=Yarborough, Chuck|date=September 2, 2011|title=WKRK FM/92.3 The Fan Replaces Rock with Sports Talk|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/09/wkrk_fm923_the_fan_replaces_ro.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20111002171748/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2011/09/wkrk_fm923_the_fan_replaces_ro.html|archive-date=October 2, 2011|access-date=March 10, 2012|work=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio}}</ref> ''[[The Jim Rome Show]]'', a fixture on WKNR since 1998, was displaced onto the WWGK lineup by July 2013 after WKNR's increased commitment to [[Cleveland Browns]]-produced programming included a daily program that aired in Rome's time slot.<ref name="CPD20130713pD3">{{Cite news|date=July 19, 2013|title=New time for Browns radio show|page=D3|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F147A9F2E45093328|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 11, 2021|via=NewsBank|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121012653/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/147A9F2E45093328&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref> Previously, the first hour of Rome's show aired on WWGK after additional hours were given to Tony Rizzo's late-morning program on WKNR.<ref name="AkronB20130713p C001">{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=George M.|date=July 13, 2013|title=Former Indians star takes swing at houses|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85118524/former-indians-star-takes-swing-at/ C3]|newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal|location=Akron, Ohio|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85118506/former-indians-star-takes-swing-at/|access-date=September 11, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=September 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911222046/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85118506/former-indians-star-takes-swing-at/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the onset of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], WWGK temporarily switched to a relay of [[Sirius XM]]'s "[[Doctor Radio]]" channel and related COVID-19 information programming on April 22, 2020;<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 21, 2020|title=WWGK-AM (1540 ESPN)/Cleveland To Air SiriusXM Doctor Radio And Coronavirus Channel|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/195778/wwgk-a-1540-espn-cleveland-to-air-siriusxm-doctor-|url-status=live|access-date=September 25, 2021|website=All Access|language=en|archive-date=September 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925055033/https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/195778/wwgk-a-1540-espn-cleveland-to-air-siriusxm-doctor-}}</ref> this followed a similar move by Good Karma's [[WAUK]] in Milwaukee.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Venta|first=Lance|date=April 21, 2020|title=1540 WWGK Cleveland To Add SiriusXM's Coronavirus Programming|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/186287/1540-wwgk-cleveland-to-add-siriusxms-coronavirus-programming/|url-status=live|access-date=September 25, 2021|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|via=Radio BB|archive-date=September 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925055022/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/186287/1540-wwgk-cleveland-to-add-siriusxms-coronavirus-programming/}}</ref> Conversely, WKNR's programming was largely unaffected, with all locally based and network programming remaining in place, even as all but two of the duopoly's personnel were forced to [[work from home]].<ref name="CPD20200409a">{{Cite news|last=Morona|first=Joey|date=April 9, 2020|title=How the coronavirus crisis is impacting Cleveland radio|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F17A3D9FF42571F00|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 25, 2021|via=NewsBank|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121012626/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/17A3D9FF42571F00&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref> WWGK quietly reverted to ESPN programming full-time by the end of the summer.<ref name="CPD20200805a">{{Cite web|last=Morona|first=Joey|date=August 5, 2020|title=ESPN Cleveland 850 to replace Mike Golic's morning show with 'Keyshawn, Jay and Zubin'|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/08/espn-cleveland-850-to-replace-mike-golics-morning-show-with-keyshawn-jay-and-zubin.html|url-status=live|access-date=September 24, 2021|work=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|language=en|archive-date=September 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925055033/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/08/espn-cleveland-850-to-replace-mike-golics-morning-show-with-keyshawn-jay-and-zubin.html}}</ref> WWGK's lineup onward included the entirety of ESPN's morning show ''[[Keyshawn Johnson|Keyshawn]], [[JWill]] and [[Max Kellerman|Max]]''<ref name="CPD20210825a">{{Cite news|last=Morona|first=Joey|date=August 25, 2021|title=ESPN moves Max Kellerman from 'First Take' to morning radio show|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1849BA58327659A8|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 12, 2021|via=NewsBank|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121012615/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/1849BA58327659A8&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref> while ''The [[Paul Finebaum]] Show'' aired in afternoon drive.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESPN Cleveland|url=https://goodkarmabrands.com/espn-cleveland/|url-status=live|access-date=October 17, 2021|website=Good Karma Brands|language=en-US|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017145122/https://goodkarmabrands.com/espn-cleveland/}}</ref> The station also aired [[Notre Dame College]] football play-by-play.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://notredamefalcons.com/sports/2013/9/4/FTBL_0904130441.aspx |title=Falcon Football Game Day - Notre Dame College |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021133817/https://notredamefalcons.com/sports/2013/9/4/FTBL_0904130441.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 21, 2021, Good Karma Brands filed paperwork with the FCC to suspend WWGK's on-air operations for one year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Application Search Details|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1829573|access-date=December 25, 2021|website=licensing.fcc.gov|archive-date=December 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225060308/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1829573|url-status=live}}</ref> In the letter, Good Karma cited "technical complications making it difficult to maintain on-air status" at the current transmitter site and the intention to find "a financially viable technical solution".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Venta|first=Lance|date=January 2, 2022|title=FCC Report 1/2: Wichita Operator Fined & Granted Limited License Renewals|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/217777/fcc-report-1-2-wichita-operator-fined-granted-limited-license-renewals/|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=January 3, 2022|website=RadioInsight.com|language=en-US|via=RadioBB|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102181337/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/217777/fcc-report-1-2-wichita-operator-fined-granted-limited-license-renewals/}}</ref> Good Karma surrendered the license for cancellation on August 16, 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=License to Cover for an AM Station Application- File Number:BL-19911129AA |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=b40ac4b499d445cd9717c1b6063ebeb7&id=b40ac4b499d445cd9717c1b6063ebeb7&goBack=N |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> but it was made effective on April 21, 2023, after the FCC inadvertently sent a letter requesting further information on the station's operating status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=April 22, 2023 |title=FCC Report 4/23: Translator Transfer Nixed For Lack Of Common Ownership With AM Parent |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/251336/fcc-report-4-23-translator-transfer-nixed-for-lack-of-common-ownership-with-am-parent/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US |via=RadioBB}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url= https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=70659|title=License Cancelled|work=Federal Communications Commission Licensing and Management System|date=April 21, 2023|access-date=September 15, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=70659 Facility details for Facility ID 70659 (WWGK)] in the FCC Licensing and Management System
*{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=46285 |title= FCC History Cards for WWGK|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}} <!--Converted from {{FCC letter}}--> (covering 1946-1980 as WJMO / WPGT / WABQ)

{{Cleveland Radio}}
{{Daytime-only radio stations in Ohio}}
{{Good Karma Broadcasting}}

[[Category:1947 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1947]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Cleveland|WGK]]
[[Category:Daytime-only radio stations in Ohio|WGK]]
[[Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2023]]
[[Category:2023 disestablishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Defunct radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct mass media in Ohio|WGK]]