KLTY

Last updated

KLTY (94.9 FM) is a radio station licensed to Arlington, TX, owned by the Salem Media Group with studios located in Irving, Texas, near Dallas and a transmitter in Cedar Hill. [1]

Contents

KLTY
KLTY 2017.png
Broadcast area Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
Frequency 94.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding94.9 KLTY
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Contemporary Christian
Subchannels HD2: KSKY simulcast
HD3: KWRD-FM simulcast
Ownership
Owner
KSKY, KWRD-FM, KTNO
History
First air date
1957 (as KCLE)
Former call signs
KCLE (1957–1969)
KFAD (1969–1972)
KAMC (1972–1976)
KWJS (1976–1984)
KJIM (1984–1985)
KLTY (1985–1986)
KHYI (1986–1991)
KODZ (1991–1992)
KSNN (1992–1996)
KEWS (1996–1997)
KWRD-FM (1997–2000)
Call sign meaning
Keep Lovin’ Texas Y’all
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 2809
Class C
ERP 99,000 watts
HAAT 508 meters (1,667 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
32°35′22″N96°58′10″W / 32.58944°N 96.96944°W / 32.58944; -96.96944
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website klty.com

The format is similar to other Salem-owned stations with the "Fish" branding and its slogan is: "Your Life...Inspired". The station is considered the number one Adult Contemporary Christian Music station in the country with the largest number of listeners. [1] [3] [4] [5]

History

KLTY began playing a mix of Adult Contemporary Christian music (CCM). KLTY lasted only from early August 1985 as "Light 95" [6] to late September 1986 when station owner Scott K. Ginsburg changed the call letters to KHYI and changed the format to Top 40 as the moniker "Y-95", marking it one of the two simply "alternative" Top 40 station in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Listeners in the far north portion of the metroplex can also receive another Top 40 station, KDSQ-FM, originally licensed in Sherman/Denison (now licensed in Azle), which is a mainstream CHR station in the northern portions of the metroplex, but can be heard only in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Area due to the station's class license serving the Texoma region. Despite it didn't nearly reach the metroplex until 1991 when KDSQ's license was upgraded from A to C1 and its transmitter relocated to Azle that year, Y-95 remains the dominant Top 40 station in the metroplex after Dallas's dominant CHR station KTKS and former Top 40 station KAFM/KZPS in 1987 switched their brandings and formats, while its competitor KEGL still marked as its "rock-flavored" Top 40 format. Right when Y-95 launched in September 1986, the station went towards a rhythmic format before becoming mainstream the following year.

Both KEGL and Y-95 were not simply "CHR-dominant" enough as apparently, Y-95's Top 40 format was differently mainstreamed and was sometimes altered on surveys. This would last until late 1987 when KEGL began extremely slowly fading out of its rock-flavored formula and would, in the middle of the following year, switch its format from Rock 40 to CHR after more contemporary titles were added, but when 1989 rolled along, KEGL began to wobble back-and-forward on transitional songs between the two formats. KEGL became more dominant enough in the DFW market after its playlist became more contemporary in 1990.

The transmitter site back then was not at Cedar Hill, the primary antenna farm for Dallas radio, but instead transmitted from Lillian, Texas with 100,000 watts at 1,140 feet. A few years later, KLTY moved to Cedar Hill as a Class C1 station with 36,000 watts at 1,500 feet. A few more stations were rearranged and then KHYI changed to 100,000 watts effective radiated power at 1,508 feet.

Marcos A. Rodriguez was a fan of the original KLTY and saw potential in the format - especially if a radio station could play it 24 hours a day. He purchased the music library from Ginsburg and began planning the conversion of 94.1 to all CCM. However, he was unable to make a deal for the KLTY call letters because they were held by an FM station in Liberty, Missouri (a suburb of Kansas City).

Before it became 94.1 KOJO, the frequency was used by then-sister station KESS. Elfstrand now leads The Morning Ride team at WMBI Chicago. [7]

KOJO was notable for its commitment to being a "full service" radio station, including a solid news commitment. Morning and afternoon drive newscasts were anchored by former KVIL news director Bob Morrison and Calvin Whitman, and later, Dave Tucker. Morrison moved up to a national network news management position as news and sports director of the USA Radio Network, based in Dallas, for 8+12 years (until USA was sold and moved to Memphis).

In the spring of 1989, with a free Michael W. Smith concert, Rodriguez created the first Celebrate Freedom-style event and relaunched the KLTY call letters (becoming available when KLTY in Kansas City became KXXR in July 1988). [8] Marcos A. Rodriguez went on to produce Celebrate Freedom festivals at Southfork Ranch and build the event into one of the biggest Christian Music festivals in America. [8] Rodriguez sold KLTY [9] to Sunburst Media L.P. in 1999 for $63.3 million and retired. After the sale of KVIL it was the highest price ever paid for a Dallas FM. [10]

KLTY was on 100.7 MHz from January 2000 to December 2000, and was owned by Sunburst until it was sold to Salem. Salem swapped the Christian talk format that had been on 94.9 for nearly two and a half years known as "The Word", and placed the popular KLTY on a 94.9 signal while "The Word" went to 100.7. This placed the KLTY callsign back on its original frequency. [11]

KLTY now transmits with 100,000 watts ERP from Cedar Hill, Texas.

While KLTY plays a Contemporary Christian music playlist, it has been classified as Adult Contemporary (AC) according to Mediabase. [12] KLTY served (and can still serve) as the de facto "AC" station for DFW from mid-2013 to late December 2016 due to CBS Radio-owned 103.7 KVIL contemporizing its playlist to focus on 1990s to current product (with an Adult Top 40 lean) before Mediabase moved the station to "Hot AC" a year later (from October 2016 until February 2017 KVIL was a CHR/Top 40 station. Since November 2017 KVIL broadcasts an Alternative Rock format using the moniker Alt 103.7). As of December 26, 2016, KDGE (102.1) in Fort Worth serves as the official "AC" station for DFW. KLAK (97.5) in Tom Bean, Texas was another "AC" station that served areas north and east of the metroplex until it migrated to a "Hot AC" fare themselves in November 2017.

History of 94.9 FM

The 94.9 frequency has a rich history, long predating the current format and ownership. KCLE was established in 1949 in Cleburne, Texas, by owners Jim Gordon and George Marti at 94.3 FM and 1120 AM. Marti was later the inventor of microwave transmitters (known as "Marti Units.") Employees included notables such as Russ Bloxom (later news anchor at WBAP/KXAS-TV,) Don Harris (personality at WBAP-AM) and Mike Ambrose (later with KLIF-AM, and a San Diego TV weatherman for 28 years.) The station moved to 94.9 in 1957.

In 1960, Gordon and Marti ended their partnership; Marti continued Marti Electronics, Inc. and Gordon, the AM and FM. In the mid sixties KCLE (AM) was sold to Earle Fletcher (manager of KXOL Ft. Worth and concurrently owner of KBAN Bowie). Gordon flipped the FM to KFAD, with an underground/progressive rock format. Notables included Jon Dillon (now at KZPS), writer Phillip Cook, Dave Thomas and Joe Nick Patoski (later the senior editor of Texas Monthly magazine.

On January 1, 1972, Dick Osburn took ownership of the station, and reimaged it as KAMC ("K-Mac") while continuing the underground music format. By 1974, the format flipped to "Progressive Country" when former KFAD talent Biff Big Johnson convinced Dick Osburn and Program Director Ken Bateman to mix country and rock with a show called "The Country Sunday". It worked so well that the station dropped the underground rock and became the first 24-hour Progressive Country station in America. Biff had been the first jock when KSCS went Country the year before. KAMC was the only station in Dallas - Ft. Worth to play Outlaw Country artists like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. A notable employee of KAMC was Bill Merrill, who did play-by-play for the Texas Rangers.

On June 19, 1976, with the station now licensed to Arlington, it was sold to Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and became KWJS (the Word of Jimmy Swaggart) and to new KJIM calls in 1984. (The KJIM calls were resurrected from KJIM-870 AM, who used them from 1957 to 1984.)

After the first incarnation of KLTY (1985–86) and then KHYI (1986–91) (which aired a Top 40 format, first as "Y95", then "Power 95"), [13] 94.9 was home to KODZ "Oldies 94.9", starting on October 28, 1991. After one year, it flipped to classic country as KSNN "Sunny 95" at 12:11 p.m. on October 12, 1992. [14] It then flipped to KEWS - "The First All-News FM Station in America, Made in Texas" on February 27, 1996. [15] Religious talker KWRD was established at 94.9 on January 11, 1997, after a trade with KEWS-FM. As a result of the trade, KDFX-1190 AM became KWRD-FM, while KEWS-FM became KOOO-1190 AM.

On-air staff

Notable weekday hosts include Bonnie and Jeremiah in the morning [16] , middays with Tony Lopez [17] , afternoons with Dave Moore [18] , and nights with Penny [19] . Traffic was covered on morning and afternoon drive by Gail Lightfoot before retiring in 2020. [20] Saturdays include Marc Anderson, Maryrose, Ben Bradshaw, and Kally. [21] Sundays include Frank Reed and Ben Bradshaw. [22]

On June 10th, 2024, KLTY parted ways with Starlene Stringer and John Hudson, the former morning hosts. [23] Bonnie Curry moved from afternoons to morning, with Dave Moore taking over the afternoon slot.

Awards and recognition

For years KLTY has been one of the leading radio stations in America. [10] The National Association of Broadcasters has awarded KLTY a Marconi Award for being a "Top Major Market Station Of the Year" in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2012. [24] In 2014 and 2016 KLTY was awarded the Marconi Award for "Religious Station of the Year". [25] [26]

In 2004 KLTY earned the GMA Awards for Major Market Station of the Year and the Music Station of the Year award from National Religious Broadcasters. [3]

KLTY has the highest number of listeners for a radio station in the Adult CCM format. [3] According to figures produced from the Arbitron survey released in 2013, KLTY now boasts more than a million listeners. [27]

KLTY HD channels

As of April 2018, KLTY now broadcasts on HD Radio.

HD2

KLTY's secondary channel (HD2) was initially launched as a simulcast of KLTY with a 60-second delay for signal testing. Days later, it was a simulcast of KWRD-FM "The Word". On June 5, 2018, it started airing Spanish Contemporary Christian music as "El Pez" (translates to "The Fish" in Spanish). As of November 2023, it currently simulcasts conservative talk-formatted KSKY "The Answer" which had previously been available on its HD3 channel.

HD3

KLTY's third channel (HD3) simulcasts KWRD-FM.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KKDA-FM</span> Radio station in Texas, United States

KKDA-FM, known on air as K104, is a radio station in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex broadcasting an urban contemporary format. It is owned by Service Broadcasting Corporation alongside KRNB. Its studios are located in Arlington, Texas, and the transmitter site is in Cedar Hill.

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

KBFB is a commercial radio station with an urban-leaning rhythmic contemporary radio format, known as "97.9 The Beat." It is licensed to Dallas, Texas and serves the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. KBFB is owned by Urban One. The studios and offices, along with sister station KZMJ, are in the Galleria Area in North Dallas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWRD-FM</span> Radio station in Highland Village–Dallas, Texas

KWRD-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Highland Village, Texas, and serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and broadcasts a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The call sign represents the station's moniker, "The Word," as in The Word of God. KWRD-FM is not co-owned with KWRD (AM) in Henderson, Texas.

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

KZZA is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Muenster, Texas, and serving northern communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is owned by Estrella Media and it broadcasts a gold-based Regional Mexican radio format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHKS</span> Contemporary hit radio station in Denton–Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas

KHKS is a Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex radio station broadcasting a contemporary hit radio format, branded "KISS-FM." It is licensed to Denton, Texas, and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. It is the home of the nationally syndicated Kidd Kraddick Morning Show. Its studios are on Dallas Parkway in Farmers Branch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFXR (AM)</span> Radio station in Dallas, Texas

KFXR is a commercial AM radio station in Dallas, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a conservative talk radio format. Its studios and offices are located along Dallas Parkway in Farmers Branch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDGE</span> Adult contemporary radio station in Fort Worth–Dallas, Texas

KDGE is an iHeartMedia adult contemporary commercial radio station dually licensed to both Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas. Star 102.1 switches programming to Christmas music during the months of November and December.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBAP-FM</span> Radio station in Haltom City, Texas

WBAP-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Haltom City, Texas, and serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and the broadcast license is held by Radio License Holding SRC LLC. It broadcasts a news/talk radio format, as a simulcast of WBAP in Fort Worth. The studios and offices are in the Victory Park district in Dallas just north of downtown.

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

KDMX is a radio station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in Texas. It is currently owned and operated by iHeartMedia, and airs a hot adult contemporary format. The station's studios are located along Dallas Parkway in Farmers Branch, and the transmitter site is in Cedar Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KEGL</span> Mainstream Rock radio station in Fort Worth, Texas

KEGL is an iHeartMedia commercial radio station licensed to Fort Worth, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The station's studios are located along Dallas Parkway in Farmers Branch, although it has a Dallas address.

KSPF is a commercial radio station licensed to Dallas, Texas, and serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. KSPF is owned by Audacy, Inc., and airs a classic hits radio format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMVK</span> Regional Mexican radio station in Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas

KMVK, is a commercial radio station licensed to Fort Worth, Texas and serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The station is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc. KMVK broadcasts in Spanish and airs a radio format featuring regional Mexican music. The station's studios are located along North Central Expressway in Uptown Dallas and the transmitter site is in Cedar Hill.

KVIL is a commercial radio station dual-licensed to Highland Park and Dallas, Texas. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and it serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in North Texas. The station's studios are located along North Central Expressway in Uptown Dallas. The station is branded as "Alt 103.7" and airs an alternative rock radio format.

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

KZPS is an iHeartMedia classic rock formatted commercial radio station licensed to Dallas, Texas, and serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its studios are located along Dallas Parkway in Farmers Branch.

KVDT is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Allen, Texas, and serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth radio market. It is owned by VCY America, Inc., and it airs a Christian radio format. Most programming comes from studios at VCY America's headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. KVDT schedules Christian talk and teaching shows in the daytime, while Christian music is heard at night. SRN News provides hourly news updates.

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

WSKZ is a commercial radio station in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The station operates under a classic rock format and is branded as KZ106. The station is one of four stations operating in the Chattanooga broadcast area by Cumulus Media. Its studios are located on Pineville Road in Chattanooga, and its transmitter is located in Signal Mountain.

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

KDXX is a Uforia Audio Network Spanish-language contemporary hit radio formatted commercial radio station serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas. The station is licensed to Lewisville, Texas, and is simulcast with 107.1 KESS-FM Benbrook. The studios are located in the Univision 23 Studios in the Arts District in Downtown Dallas.

KBDT is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Highland Park, Texas, and serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The station is owned by Charles Kim, through licensee Pacific Star Media LLC. It broadcasts an Asian format.

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

KHYI is a radio station with an alternative country music format, focusing on Texas music. The station's city of license is Howe, Texas; it serves the areas between the Metroplex and the Sherman/Denison area, making it a rimshot station. Studios are located along Greenville Avenue in north Dallas, and the transmitter site is northwest of Gunter in Grayson County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcos A. Rodriguez</span> Cuban-American entrepreneur

Marcos A. Rodriguez is a Cuban-American entrepreneur, movie producer, businessperson and investor. He is the founder and CEO of numerous American media outlets including KLTY, KUUR, an FM radio station serving the Carbondale, Colorado area and "TV Aspen" KCXP-LP, a television station in Aspen, Colorado. These radio and television stations represent the only locally owned stations in Aspen.

References

  1. 1 2 "Salem Communications' 94.9 KLTY-FM Sets Ratings Record" . Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  2. "Facility Technical Data for KLTY". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. 1 2 3 "Celebrate Freedom: America's Largest Free, Single-Day Concert Set for July 3rd; 94.9 KLTY-FM Sponsors Event at South Fork Ranch". 9 June 2004. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  4. "Deep in the Heart of Texans: Jon Rivers, the music man". Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  5. Laura Castaneda (13 May 1995). "Catching a Wave: KLTY-FM became nation's most successful Adult Contemporary Christian radio station". The Dallas Morning News. p. 1G. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  6. "Dallas-Fort Worth-FM Station History" . Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  7. "The Morning Ride with Mark Elfstrand" . Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  8. 1 2 Parish Perkins, Ken (May 6, 2009). "Religious experience: Christian radio learns to live in a secular world". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  9. John Austin (27 June 1999). "Country show moves deep into the heart of Cowtown". Radio Active. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Radio power". Dallas Business Journal. 21 March 1999. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  11. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  12. Maverick Dallas Outlet Achieves Benchmark
  13. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1991/RR-1991-05-03.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  14. "KODZ-FM switches to classic country". Dallas Morning News. 1992-10-14.
  15. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-03-01.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  16. "Mornings". 94.9 KLTY. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  17. "Middays". 94.9 KLTY. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  18. "Afternoons". 94.9 KLTY. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  19. "Nights". 94.9 KLTY. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  20. Reese, Alice (2021-01-24). "A career meant to be: Lightfoot retires after 48-year career in broadcasting". Herald-Banner. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  21. "Program Guide - Saturday". 94.9 KLTY. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  22. "Program Guide - Sunday". 94.9 KLTY. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  23. "KLTY Shakes Up Morning Show". HisAir.Net. 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  24. "KKOB, Albuquerque (770) wins this year's Marconi for "Legendary Station"". Radio-Info.com. September 24, 2009. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  25. "2016 NAB Marconi Award - HisAir.Net". 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
  26. "About Us | 94.9 FM KLTY - Irving, TX". www.klty.com. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
  27. "Christian KLTY Dallas Tops One Million Listeners". January 23, 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.