The 1980's

Gary Edens followed as the president of the radio group in early March 1981. He continued as KOY’s General Manager. On April, 1 1982 KOY affiliated with the NBC Radio Network.

Stereo broadcasting began in early 1983, using the Kahn system. R. Michael Horne became KOY station manager in early June 1983, after serving as General Manager of a co-owned station. In December 1984, KOY was acquired from Harte-Hanks Radio Inc. by Edens Broadcasting Inc. (Gary D. Edens, chairman of the board and president). In 1987 Michael D. Osterhout was named President of Edens Broadcasting Inc., while Mr. Edens continued as the owner and board chairman; the station dropped its NBC affiliation and joined the ABC Entertainment Radio Network.

More changes occurred in early 1989 when KOY switched to satellite-delivered programming and it added Transtar’s “AM Only” adult standards music format. Mike Horne was transferred to an Edens owned AM and FM in St. Petersburg and Nancy L. Reynolds replaced him as Vice President and General Manager of KOY in mid-September. KOY had weathered all the fad and phenomenon that have come along – from prohibition and flappers to the Great Depression, wars, television, rock and roll, disco and more. Yet it continued to beam news, information and entertainment to more people than any radio station in the state.