KFSW

Last updated

KFSW
KFSW Radio logo.jpg
Broadcast area Fort Smith, Arkansas
Frequency 1650 kHz
BrandingThe Cross 98.7
Programming
Format Southern gospel
Ownership
OwnerG2 Media Group
History
First air date
November 10, 1997;26 years ago (1997-11-10) [1]
Former call signs
  • KHFS (1997-2000)
  • KWHN (2000-2008)
  • KYHN (2008-2015)
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 87114
Class B
Power
  • 10,000 watts (day)
  • 1,000 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
 35°24′36″N94°21′30″W / 35.41000°N 94.35833°W / 35.41000; -94.35833
Translator(s) 98.7 K254AM (Fort Smith)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website thecross987.com

KFSW (1650 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a southern gospel format to the Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, area. The station is licensed to G2 Media Group LLC.

Contents

KFSW's signal has one of the largest coverage areas for a Fort Smith AM station, while the broadcast radius from FM translator K254AM (98.7 MHz) reaches as far away from Fort Smith as Spiro and Muldrow in Oklahoma as well as Greenwood and Van Buren in Arkansas.

History

KFSW began as the "expanded band" twin to an existing station on the standard AM band. On March 17, 1997 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with KWHN, also in Fort Smith, authorized to move from 1320 to 1650 kHz. [3]

On November 10, 1997 the new station on 1650 AM was assigned the call sign KHFS. [4] The FCC's initial policy was that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency. [3] However, this deadline has been extended multiple times, and both stations have remained authorized.

In 2000, the stations were acquired by Clear Channel Communications, forerunner to iHeartMedia. On November 22, 2000 the call sign KWHN was transferred from 1320 AM to 1650 AM. [4] (The same day 1320 AM changed its call sign to KYHN). [5] At this time, 1650 AM was simulcasting the 1320 AM programming.

In the spring of 2008, after extensive rain and flooding in western Arkansas, the transmitter site for 1650 AM suffered heavy water damage, and on April 2, 2008 the station filed a 'Notification of Suspension of Operations/Request for Silent STA' with the FCC, stating:

Due to heavy spring rains, localized flooding of a nearby waterway placed the transmitter site, and the transmitter itself under several feet of water. Access to the site to determine damage has only recently been allowed, and a casual inspection has revealed tremendous amounts of damage. In order to be allowed time to decide how to best proceeded (sic) with this facility, the licensee requests Special Temporary Authority to remain silent for up to 1 year. [6]

The next day a callsign swap was made, with KWHN moving back to 1320 AM from 1650 AM, [5] and KYHN transferred from 1320 AM to 1650 AM. [4]

In 2010 Capstar TX LLC proposed including the silent KYHN to be one of four stations to be transferred to MMTC (Minority Media and Telecommunications Council) Broadcasting LLC. However, this was in conflict with the FCC's general policy that original AM band stations and their expanded band counterparts had to remain under common ownership. [7] An exception to this policy was approved, on the grounds that "Capstar's donation of the facility to MMTC, which planned to use KYHN to train women and minority group members in broadcasting and broadcast management, advanced the diversity goals set forth in the pending proceeding Promoting Diversification of Ownership in the Broadcasting Services". [8] [9] Since then, the stations on 1320 AM and 1650 AM have had different owners.

MMTC later reported that KYHN had again gone silent on February 18, 2012, "for financial reasons". [10] That same year the station was sold to Ms. Kim Media LLC (Kim Girdner) for $50,000, [11] who in turn transferred the license the next year to G2 Media Group LLC, owned by her husband, Darren F. Girdner, for "assumption of liabilities". [12]

On October 2, 2015, the station call sign were changed from KYHN to KFSW. [4] The station added FM translator K254AM (98.7 MHz) as a repeater in November 2015. On January 1, 2020, the format was changed from contemporary Christian to southern gospel, branded as "The Cross 98.7". [13]

KFSW station logo.png

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMYA-DT</span> Television station in Arkansas, United States

KMYA-DT is a television station licensed to Camden, Arkansas, United States, serving the Little Rock area as an affiliate of MeTV. Owned by LR Telecasting, LLC, the station maintains studios on Shackleford Drive in the Beverly Hills section of northwestern Little Rock, and its transmitter is located four miles (6.4 km) northwest of El Dorado, along Arkansas Highway 335.

KTVA is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with the digital multicast network Rewind TV. The station is owned by Denali Media Holdings, a subsidiary of local cable provider GCI. KTVA's transmitter is located in Spenard—covering the Anchorage bowl and much of the adjacent Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AM expanded band</span> Broadcast stations between 1600 and 1700 kHz

The extended mediumwave broadcast band, commonly known as the AM expanded band, refers to the broadcast station frequency assignments immediately above the earlier upper limits of 1600 kHz in International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 2, and 1602 kHz in ITU Regions 1 and 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFSM-TV</span> CBS affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas

KFSM-TV is a television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, serving the Arkansas River Valley and Northwest Arkansas as an affiliate of CBS. Owned by Tegna Inc., the station has studios on South 48th Street in Johnson, and its transmitter is located northwest of Winslow, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSRS</span> Radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts

WSRS – branded 96-1 SRS – is a commercial radio station licensed to Worcester, Massachusetts, and serving Central Massachusetts. Owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., the transmitter site and studios are located in the Worcester suburb of Paxton. WSRS broadcasts an adult contemporary format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. The station is the local network affiliate for the Delilah and Ellen K programs.

KPBI-CA, UHF analog channel 46, was a low-power, Class A MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas. The station was owned by Equity Media Holdings and, like many of Equity's stations, KPBI-CA was controlled remotely via satellite from Equity's headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was relayed via the satellite Galaxy 18. The station's programming was also available on channel 34 from Eureka Springs, which shared the KPBI call sign and was attainable over the air in Fort Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJFV</span> Radio station in Portsmouth, Virginia

WJFV is a commercial radio station licensed to Portsmouth, Virginia, and serving Hampton Roads. It broadcasts a conservative talk radio format and is owned by the Chesapeake–Portsmouth Broadcasting Corporation. The radio studios are on Brightwood Avenue in Richmond.

KOAN is a commercial radio station in Anchorage, Alaska. It is owned by Iglesia Pentecostal Vispera del Fin. Its studios are located on Business Park Boulevard in Anchorage, and its transmitter is located in South Anchorage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBLU (AM)</span> News/talk radio station in Yuma, Arizona

KBLU is a commercial AM radio station in Yuma, Arizona. It is owned by El Dorado Broadcasters and airs a talk radio format. The studios and offices are on West 28th Street in Yuma. The transmitter is off South 20th Avenue in Yuma, at West Main Canal Road.

WXVA – branded as 102.9 Valley FM – is a classic hits formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Winchester, Virginia, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley. WXVA is owned and operated by Winchester Radio Broadcasters, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWHN</span> Radio station in Fort Smith, Arkansas

KWHN is a commercial radio station in Fort Smith, Arkansas, known as "News Talk 1320 KWHN". It airs a talk radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Lexington Avenue in Fort Smith.

KDXE is an FM radio station broadcasting a conservative talk format in Little Rock, Arkansas. The station is currently owned by Salem Media Group, through licensee Salem Communications Holding Corporation. The station's studios are south of downtown near Philander Smith College, and the transmitter tower is located on Shinall Mountain, near the Chenal Valley neighborhood of Little Rock.

WGOD-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands. The station is owned by the North Caribbean Conference of SDA Broadcasting Corporation. The station is simulcast on WIGT, serving as a repeater of WGOD-FM. WIGT is owned by Three Angels Corporation.

WVOI was a radio station that broadcast a Catholic music and talk format. Licensed to serve Marco Island, Florida, United States, the station was last owned by Relevant Radio, Inc. It broadcast between 1975 and 2020 and was the first radio station on Marco Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHJA</span> Radio station in Laurel, Mississippi

WHJA is a radio station licensed to the community of Laurel, Mississippi, and serving the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, area. The station is owned by Donald Pugh, Sr., through licensee Eternity Media Group LLC. It airs a classic hip hop format.

WTTM is a radio station broadcasting a Latin music and Spanish-language talk format to the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The station has its studios and offices in Philadelphia and its transmitter site in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The station is owned by Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, Inc and licensed to Multicultural Radio Broadcasting Licensee, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVNS</span> Radio station in Brownsville, Texas

KVNS is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Brownsville, Texas, the station is currently owned by iHeartMedia and features programming from Fox News Radio, Premiere Radio Networks and Westwood One. It shares studios with its sister stations, KHKZ, KQXX-FM, KTEX, and KBFM, located close to the KRGV-TV studios in Weslaco, Texas, while its transmitter is located near Brownsville, Texas.

KRJO is an American radio station broadcasting a classic country music format. The station is licensed to Monroe, Louisiana and is owned by Holladay Broadcasting of Louisiana, LLC. Studios are located in Monroe, and its single-tower transmitter site is located east of Monroe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KJNB-LD</span> Fox/CBS affiliate in Jonesboro, Arkansas

KJNB-LD is a low-power television station in Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States, affiliated with Fox and CBS. Owned by Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC, the station maintains a small office in the Regions Bank Building in Jonesboro, and its transmitter is located on Highway 91/Southern Avenue in unincorporated Lawrence County, southeast of Walnut Ridge.

References

  1. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2005 , Broadcasting & Cable, 2005. p. D-60. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KFSW". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. 1 2 "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
  4. 1 2 3 4 FCC Call Sign History for 1650 AM (Facility ID: 87114)
  5. 1 2 FCC Call Sign History for 1320 AM (Facility ID: 22099)
  6. ↑ KYHN Notification of Suspension of Operations (Facility ID: 87114)
  7. ↑ "Re: WDDD (AM) Application for Consent to Assignment of AM Broadcast Station License" (August 23, 2010 correspondence from Peter H. Doyle, Chief, FCC Audio Division, Media Bureau. Reference Number 1800B3-TSN)
  8. ↑ "Actions of October 21, 2010: AM Station Applications For Assignment of License Granted", Broadcast Actions: Report No. 47349, October 26, 2010 (FCC.gov)
  9. ↑ "E. Require Surrender of Licenses by Dual Expanded Band/Standard Band Licenses" Federal Communications Commission: First Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, and Notice of Inquiry, MB Docket No. 13-249, Adopted October 21, 2015, Released October 23, 2015, footnote #197, page 32 (FCC.gov)
  10. ↑ "In re: KYHN(AM), Ft. Smith, AR" September 25, 2012 (FCC.gov)
  11. ↑ "MMTC spins Ft. Smith AM" by "RBR-TVBR", August 1, 2012 (rbr.com)
  12. ↑ "Dollarless deals in Alabama, Arkansas" by "RBR-TVBR", April 15, 2013 (rbr.com)
  13. ↑ KFSW Flips to Southern Gospel Radioinsight - January 5, 2020
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.