Locally Owned and Operated WFTL-AM 850… Member of the James Crystal Radio Group

50,000-watt WFTL and its five sister stations are owned and operated by the James Crystal Radio Group, the largest locally owned and operated radio station group in South Florida.

James C. Hilliard, owner of the James Crystal Radio Group is a long-time radio executive and South Florida resident. Mr. Hilliard began his radio career in the 1950s as an on-air DJ. He was successful in several large markets including Seattle, Dallas and Indianapolis. In the 1960s he moved into program management at Philadelphia's then fledging WFIL, and brought that station to #1 in the market.

As C.O.O of Fairbanks Communications he acquired South Florida radio stations WRMF, WJNO, and WJNA for the company. Hilliard soon became a full-time Florida resident.

In 1997, Richard Fairbanks divested his radio stations and the James Crystal Radio Group was formed, named after Hilliard's children. As President of the James Crystal Radio Group, Mr. Hilliard purchased WRMF, WRLX, WDJA, and WJNA from Mr. Fairbanks.

In 2002, Mr. Hilliard's continuing interest in AM radio lead him to sell WRMF and concentrate strictly on building a group of AM stations in South Florida.

Today, the James Crystal Radio Group owns and operates WFTL-AM 850, WJNA-AM 640, WLVJ-AM 1040, WDJA-AM 1420, WJBW-AM 1000, WFLL-AM 1400, as well as KCKN-AM-1020 in Roswell, NM, KNIT in Dallas; and stations in the Turks & Caicos Islands .