KATO-FM

Last updated
KATO-FM
KATO-FM Logo 2022.jpg
Broadcast area Mankato, Minnesota
Frequency 93.1 MHz
Branding93.1 KATO Hits
Programming
Format Classic hits
Ownership
Owner
KXLP, KDOG, KXAC, KTOE, KFSP
History
First air date
November 21, 1966;57 years ago (1966-11-21) (as KNUJ-FM)
Former call signs
KNUJ-FM (1966–1982)
KXLP (1982–2007)
Call sign meaning
ManKATO
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 30120
Class C1
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 149 m (489 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 44°07′44″N94°11′17″W / 44.129°N 94.188°W / 44.129; -94.188
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website katohits.com

KATO-FM (93.1 MHz) is a radio station in Mankato (licensed to New Ulm) and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station airs a classic hits radio format. KATO is owned by Linder Radio Group. [2]

Contents

History

This station was originally KNUJ-FM, and paired with KNUJ in New Ulm. By the early 1980s, as the station increased its power, it moved its broadcasting studios and its primary focus to the larger city of Mankato. It was run by Brennon Andrew Harris-Williams.

As KXLP, they aired an album-oriented rock format on and off from 1982 to 2007. They flipped to adult contemporary in 1986 as "Lite Rock 93 KXLP" amid a large outcry from loyal listeners. A few years later, they flipped back to rock, shifting toward classic rock in 1995. For many years, they were co-owned with KYSM-FM and KYSM, first by James Ingstad (as Pro Radio Group), then Cumulus Broadcasting, then Clear Channel Communications.

The station was purchased in August 2007 from Clear Channel by Linder Radio Group, a.k.a. Minnesota Valley Broadcasting Co., which also acquired sister station KYSM. Current sister stations include KTOE, KDOG, KXAC and a new sign-on at 94.1 FM.

At 5:00 p.m. on September 21, 2007, KXLP's call sign, on-air staff and format moved from 93.1 FM to the new sign-on at 94.1 FM, which made its on-air debut as the new KXLP. KXLP's former frequency changed call letters to KATO-FM, which launched a country music format (branded as "Minnesota 93") three days later.

On September 2, 2022, KATO-FM's country format was moved to sister station KXAC as Minnesota 100, and the station began stunting with a loop of “Macarena” by Los del Rio over the Labor Day weekend. On September 6, KATO-FM flipped to classic hits as 93.1 KATO Hits, with the first song being "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley; the station primarily focuses on hits from the 1980s and 1990s. With the format change, the morning show from sister station KDOG moved to KATO-FM. [3] KATO-FM competes with Alpha Media’s KRBI), which runs a '70s-'90s-based classic hits format. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQQL</span> Radio station in Anoka–Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota

KQQL is a commercial radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul radio market and is licensed to suburban Anoka. It plays classic hits and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Utica Avenue South in St. Louis Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZFT</span> Radio station in Maryland, United States

WZFT, known on-air as "Z104.3", is a Top 40/CHR radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is currently owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Its studios are located at The Rotunda shopping center in Baltimore, and the transmitter is based atop Television Hill in the city's Woodberry district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFSP</span> Radio station in Mankato, Minnesota

KFSP is a radio station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota and serving the greater Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley with a sports format. The station is an affiliate of the regional KFAN Sports Radio Network and Fox Sports Radio. Founded in 1938 as KYSM, KFSP is the oldest radio station in Mankato.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPBZ-FM</span> US radio station in Rensselaer, New York

WPBZ-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Rensselaer, New York, and serving the Capital District, including the Albany-Schenectady-Troy radio market. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and airs a hot adult contemporary radio format. The studios and offices are on Kings Road in Schenectady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRWK</span> Radio station in Fargo, North Dakota

KRWK (101.9 FM, known as "101.9 Jack FM", is a radio station serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1983 under the call sign KRRZ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRBI-FM</span> Radio station in St. Peter, Minnesota

KRBI-FM is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of St. Peter, Minnesota and broadcasting to the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. It currently airs a classic hits music format.

WVBW-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, and broadcasting to the Hampton Roads area. WVBW-FM airs an urban adult hits radio format and is owned and operated by Max Media. The studios and offices are on Greenwich Road in Virginia Beach.

WJJS is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Salem, Virginia, and serving the Roanoke metropolitan area. WJJS has a rhythmic Top 40 radio format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc. Programming is simulcast with co-owned 102.7 WJJX in Appomattox, Virginia, serving the Lynchburg metropolitan area. The radio studios and offices are on Old Forest Road in Lynchburg and its transmitter is located on Luckett Street near Shenandoah Ave in Roanoke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KEEZ-FM</span> Adult contemporary radio station in Mankato, Minnesota

KEEZ-FM is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Mankato, Minnesota, and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format. The station is owned by Alpha Media, through licensee Alpha 3E Licensee LLC, along with sister stations KYSM-FM, KRBI-FM and KMKO-FM.

KYSM-FM is an American radio station licensed to Mankato and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station currently airs a country music format.

KMKO-FM is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, United States, the station serves the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The station airs an active rock format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDOG</span> Radio station in North Mankato–Mankato, Minnesota

KDOG is a radio station serving Mankato, Minnesota. The station airs a Top 40 (CHR) format. They are licensed to North Mankato, Minnesota and serves the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. KDOG is owned by Linder Radio Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXLP</span> Radio station in Eagle Lake–Mankato, Minnesota

KXLP is a radio station in Mankato, Minnesota and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The 94.1 FM frequency went on the air September 21, 2007, airing a classic rock format that migrated from a sister station at 93.1 FM. KXLP's license is owned by Radioactive, LLC and the station is operated by Linder Radio Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXAC</span> Radio station in St. James–Mankato, Minnesota

KXAC is a radio station in Mankato, Minnesota serving south central Minnesota with a Country music format. The station is licensed to St. James and serves the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The station is owned by Linder Radio Group.

KNUJ is a radio station in New Ulm, Minnesota. The station airs a full service news/talk format and is owned by James Ingstad. KNUJ also has a sister station, KNUJ-FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNUJ-FM</span> Radio station in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

KNUJ-FM is a radio station in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. The station airs a classic hits format, as "SAM 107.3", and is owned by James Ingstad. KNUJ also has an AM sister station, KNUJ 860 AM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KGLB</span> Radio station in Glencoe, Minnesota

KGLB is a radio station licensed to Glencoe, Minnesota. The station, which previously aired an oldies format based in St. Peter, Minnesota, returned to the air on July 15, 2009, with a Classic Country format. The station had been off the air for about a year.

Linder Radio Group is a media company based in Mankato, Minnesota, USA. It owns and operates 19 radio stations in southern Minnesota. The company is owned by the family of John Linder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQZQ</span> Radio station in Goodlettsville, Tennessee

WQZQ is a radio station licensed to Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and serving the Nashville metropolitan area. The station is owned by Cromwell Radio Group, through licensee WYCQ, Inc. It airs a classic hits radio format, calling itself "Classic Hits 93.3." The dial position is a reference to the WQZQ's FM translator, W227DC in Nashville, which broadcasts at 93.3 MHz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRRW (FM)</span> Radio station in Winthrop–New Ulm, Minnesota

KRRW is a radio station broadcasting a classic country format in New Ulm, Minnesota. The station serves the New Ulm area, as well as the Mankato metropolitan area with a fringe signal. KRRW is owned by Linder Radio Group.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KATO-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "93.1 KATO Hits". radiostationusa.fm. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  3. ↑ "KATO Hits Launches after Macarena Stunt in Mankato". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  4. ↑ "Subarctic Upgrades Mankato Classic Hits Format, Moves Country". NorthPine. Retrieved 2022-09-04.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.