WDPC signed on in September 1979 as WKRP. At first, the FCC denied the call sign to the new station, stating that MTM Enterprises, the producers of the popular CBS television series WKRP in Cincinnati, had a 'hold' on the call letters. When the station's lawyer told the FCC that "MTM is neither a licensee, nor a permittee. Therefore, MTM has no legal basis to reserve the WKRP callsign", the FCC allowed the assignment. In August 1989, the station switched to WDPC, meaning Dallas/Paulding County.