| Broadcast area | Lafayette metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.5 MHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | News-Talk |
| Network | Fox News Radio |
| Affiliations | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Premiere Networks Westwood One Compass Media Networks KATC-TV Weather |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KFTE, KHXT, KMDL, KPEL, KROF, KTDY | |
| History | |
First air date | May 1, 1993 (as KFTE) |
Former call signs | KFTE (1992–2010) |
Call sign meaning | PELican State |
| Technical information [1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 59288 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 42,000 watts |
| HAAT | 163 meters (535 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kpel965.com |
KPEL-FM (96.5 FM) is a radio station in the United States. Licensed to Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, KPEL-FM serves the Lafayette metropolitan area with a news/talk format. It is owned by Townsquare Media.
Initially signing on with call sign KFTE in 1993, KPEL-FM was a music station for its first 17 years. After having easy listening and oldies formats, KFTE had an alternative rock format branded "Planet Radio 96.5" until changing to KPEL-FM and news/talk in 2010. Since 2001, KPEL-FM has been owned by Townsquare Media and its predecessor Regent Communications.
A construction permit was first issued for a new 96.5 MHz FM station on April 19, 1991. [2] JBC Inc. (doing business as ComCorp of Lafayette License Corporation) was the owner. [3] Licensed on November 15, 1992, the station first signed on with call sign KFTE on May 1, 1993. Its format was easy listening. [4] [5]
In July 1993, the Mid-Acadiana Broadcasting Corporation purchased KFTE. The price tag was $517,750 plus debt cancellation from ComCorp. [6] KFTE began using the brand "Cool 96.5" in 1994. [7]
Beer wholesale company Schilling Distributing Company purchased KFTE and KMDL for a combined $1.55 million in 1994. [8] [9] In 1996, Schilling changed the format of KFTE from easy listening to 1970s oldies. [10] [11]
In 1996, ComCorp bought back KFTE, along with KMDL, from Schilling Distributing. The total price was nearly $4.5 million. [12] On January 22, 1997, ComCorp flipped KFTE's format to alternative rock, with the brand "Planet Radio 96.5". [13] [11]
On August 29, 2001, Regent Communications (later Townsquare Media) reached an agreement to buy KFTE and six other radio stations from ComCorp. The price was over $39 million. [14]
On June 25, 2010, KFTE switched call signs and formats with KPEL-FM at 105.1 MHz. KFTE's rock format moved to 105.1, while KPEL-FM's news/talk format moved to 96.5 MHz. [15]
In June 2020, early afternoon host Carol Ross decided to end her program and leave the station. [16] On March 15, 2025, KPEL-FM began carrying Erick Erickson on weekdays from WSB Atlanta. [17]
KPEL-FM has local news and talk shows during the daytime, in addition to national news updates from Fox News Radio and nationally syndicated programs including The Erick Erickson Show , The Mark Levin Show , and The Ramsey Show . [18]
Weekends feature specialty lifestyle shows, such as The Kim Komando Show and The Car Doctor, and paid programming. [19] KPEL-FM also broadcasts Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball and baseball games. [20] [21]
Licensed to Breaux Bridge, KPEL-FM broadcasts from a 167.6-meter transmitter located in Youngsville at 42 kW of effective radiated power. [2]