KXYZ

Last updated

KXYZ
Broadcast area Greater Houston
Frequency 1320 kHz
BrandingHouston's BIN 1320
Programming
Language English
Format News
Network Black Information Network
Ownership
Owner
KBME, KODA, KPRC, KQBT, KTBZ-FM, KTRH
History
First air date
August 24, 1926;98 years ago (1926-08-24)
Former call signs
KTUE (1926–1930)
Former frequencies
    • 1140 (1926–1927)
    • 1410 (1927–1928)
    • 1420 (1928–1932)
    • 1440 (1932–1941)
    • 1470 (1941)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 95
Class B
Power 8,400 watts day
2,800 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
 29°54′56.8″N95°27′42.8″W / 29.915778°N 95.461889°W / 29.915778; -95.461889
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen live (via iHeartRadio)
Website houston.binnews.com

KXYZ (1320 AM) is a radio station in the United States. Licensed to Houston, Texas, it is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts an all-news radio format as an affiliate of iHeartMedia's Black Information Network.

Contents

The station first signed on in 1926 as KTUE before taking on its current call sign KXYZ in 1930. In 1938, KXYZ became the first radio station in the Southern U.S. with a 24-hour broadcast schedule. From 1968 to 1979, KXYZ was owned by ABC Radio. A MOR station for much of that time, KXYZ enjoyed significant success under ABC ownership. Its news department won recognition from the American Bar Association and Associated Press in 1971. In spring 1976, the station had a top-ten Arbitron ranking in Houston. From 1976 to 1978, KXYZ was the radio home of Houston Rockets basketball.

History as KTUE (1926–1930)

KXYZ was first licensed on August 24, 1926, with call sign KTUE. Owned by Uhalt Electric, KTUE broadcast with five watts, starting with a frequency of 1140 kilocycles, then 1410 kc starting June 1, 1927; and 1420 starting December 21, 1928. [2] : 3  In its early years, KTUE usually played music from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. [3] By 1928, it began broadcasting weekdays at 2 to 3 p.m. and Saturday nights. [4]

Beginning in December 1929, KTUE broadcast with 100 watts and an expanded lineup of programming featuring local musicians. [2] : 3  [5]

KTUE moved into multiple different studios across Houston, such as the Chronicle Building in 1929 and Texas State Hotel from 1929 to 1935. [2] : 3  [6] [5]

Following authorization from the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), KTUE shut down on July 31, 1930. [7]

History as KXYZ (1930–present)

On August 8, 1930, the Harris County Broadcasting Company obtained the KTUE broadcast license from Uhalt, and the Federal Radio Commission changed KTUE's call sign to KXYZ. [8] [2] Broadcasting from the Texas State Hotel, KXYZ first signed on with test programs on October 3, 1930. [9] In the 1930s, KXYZ was an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network. [10]

In 1932, KXYZ absorbed another station, KTLC, and moved to 1440 kHz at 250 watts. [2] : 5  Station power increased to 500, then 1,000 watts, in 1935. [2] : 5 

In 1938, KXYZ became the first radio station in the Southern U.S. to broadcast 24 hours a day. [10]

With the enactment of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), the station relocated to 1470 kHz in 1941. When KTRH moved to 740 kHz, KXYZ took over the former KTRH transmission site and began broadcasting with 5,000 watts on 1320. [2] : 7 

Ownership changes

On June 17, 1948, the Federal Communications Commission approved the purchase of Harris County Broadcasting Company by Shamrock Broadcasting Company, owned by Glenn H. McCarthy, for $75,000. [11] [12] Under Shamrock ownership, KXYZ was part of the ABC Radio network and featured Frederick Ziv shows such as The Cisco Kid . [13]

The Houston Broadcasting Corporation bought KXYZ in 1957. During the late 1950s, the station aired a top 40 format. [14] However, it was unable to remain competitive against KLIF and then KNUZ (now KCOH).

In July 1961, the station switched to a beautiful music format. [15]

ABC ownership (1968–1979)

ABC bought KXYZ AM and FM in 1968; this purchase helped ABC reach its maximum level of 14 owned radio stations. [16] KXYZ became part of ABC's American Entertainment Network on July 31 that year. [17]

KXYZ's news department won national honors in 1971, an Associated Press Broadcasters honorable mention for editorials about Houston's regulations on handing out flyers and American Bar Association Certificate of Merit for programs about the United States Bill of Rights. [18] In July 1974, the format changed to middle of the road (MOR) music as "13K", aimed towards listeners aged 25 to 34. [19]

The spring 1976 Arbitron ratings ranked KXYZ ninth in Houston, finding about 15,600 listeners every 15 minutes. [20] From 1976 to 1978, KXYZ was the radio home for Houston Rockets basketball games. [21] [22] [23] In October 1978, the station adopted a disco format as "Studio 13". [24]

Religious and ethnic formats (1979–present)

ABC sold KXYZ AM in 1979 to Slater Broadcasting Company for $1.8 million effective March 14, in order to buy an AM station in a different market. [25] [26] Slater immediately changed KXYZ's format from disco to Christian upon obtaining the station. [27] The Houston Chronicle observed in June 1979 about KXYZ's new format: "About half the air time at KXYZ is devoted to Christian music and the other half is devoted to speakers and preachers." [28]

On December 1, 1981, KXYZ changed to a Spanish language format, becoming the fifth Houston-area station to broadcast in that language. [29] Branded "Radio 13", [30] KXYZ had a format listed as "contemporary Spanish music" by the Houston Chronicle on December 6, 1981. [31]

In the Arbitron ratings for the first quarter of 1982 (January 7 to March 17), KXYZ had a 2.9 rating, 14th place in the Houston ratings. [32] But in the second quarter (March 18 to June 9), KXYZ's ratings declined to 20th at 1.3. [33] There was slight improvement in the first quarter of 1983, with KXYZ ranking 15th at 2.6. [34]

On April 21, 1983, Slater Broadcasting sold KXYZ to 13 Radio Corporation, a subsidiary of Infinity Broadcasting (later CBS Radio), for $1.5 million. [35] [36]

KXYZ attracted local attention in early 1984 for Incest: The Ultimate Crime, a 10-hour special series broadcast from 10 p.m. to midnight from January 23 to 27. Partially inspired by the made-for-TV movie Something About Amelia , the series featured interview guests such as a child psychiatrist, Catholic priest, and local prosecutors. [37] However, KXYZ had only a 0.8 share in the Arbitron first quarter 1984 ratings (January 5 to March 28) for Houston. [38] For the third quarter (June 21 to September 12), KXYZ had a 1.3 share. [39]

Despite the low ratings, KXYZ did earn local honors for 1984, with two advertising awards from the Houston Association of Radio Broadcasters. [40] KXYZ also brought Spanish-language pop stars to Houston, for instance interviewing the boy band Menudo in 1984, [41] or sponsoring a free José José concert at the Sam Houston Coliseum on Cinco de Mayo 1985. [42] In October 1985, KXYZ sponsored a benefit concert that raised nearly $125,000 towards relief efforts for the Mexico City earthquake; the concert included such performers at Little Joe y la Familia and René y René. [43]

Beginning on August 8, 1986, KXYZ began broadcasting Houston Astros baseball games in Spanish. [44]

Following the 1986 San Salvador earthquake, KXYZ held special 24-hour broadcasts from El Salvador's consulate in Houston. [45] These broadcasts helped raise nearly $100,000 in donations to the consulate. [46]

Beginning January 7, 1989, KXYZ became the Spanish radio home for Houston Rockets basketball games. [47] KXYZ previously was the English-language flagship for the Rockets from 1976 to 1978.

On July 28, 1998, Radio Unica bought KXYZ from Infinity/CBS for $160,000; KXYZ began broadcasting the Radio Unica network with news, talk, and music in Spanish. [48] [49] Among Unica's stations in 1998, KXYZ represented the sixth largest media market in Houston/Galveston. [50]

Biz Radio left KXYZ for KTEK in Alvin, Texas. Multicultural purchased KTEK and began signal testing in November 2007 simulcasting with KXYZ until December 11, 2007. KXYZ returned to Spanish language programming at that point.

On November 4, 2019, KXYZ began airing brokered programming in four different languages: Texas Chinese Radio (Mandarin language); DTHT Radio (Vietnamese language); Radio Gracia (Spanish); DATT Performing Arts (Hindi language); Geetanjali Radio (Hindi); and Radio Me Hang Cuu Giup (Vietnamese).

On December 17, 2020, after the station was acquired by iHeartMedia, KXYZ flipped to the African-American oriented all-news radio format of the Black Information Network. The sale of KXYZ by Multicultural Broadcasting to iHeartMedia was consummated on March 31, 2021 at a price of $1.4 million.

Technical information

From a directional antenna in north Houston, KXYZ broadcasts with 8.4 kilowatts of daytime power and 2.8 kilowatts at night. [51] KXYZ's studios are located at Uptown Houston, in the iHeart Houston building near Interstate 610. [52]

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KXYZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "KXYZ history cards". FCC. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  3. ↑ "What's Doing in Radio" . Houston Post. December 3, 1926. Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Daily radio program" . Houston Post. March 8, 1928. Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Our City" . Houston Chronicle. December 23, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Glimpses inside Texas State Hotel studios of radio station KTUE" . Houston Chronicle. December 23, 1929. Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Station KTUE Here Ceases Broadcasts" . Houston Chronicle. August 1, 1930. Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "KTUE Gets Permit to Assign Radio License" . Houston Post. August 9, 1930. Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Whispering Wires" . Houston Chronicle. October 6, 1930. Retrieved July 12, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "KXYZ to 24 Hours; First in South" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 50, no. 3. January 15, 1938. p. 7. Retrieved July 15, 2025– via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ "McCarthy Completes Purchase of KXYZ" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 34, no. 26. June 28, 1948. p. 38B. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Stations in Rush To Sell As Prices Hold to Peak; 150G for Fla. 250-Watter" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 60, no. 8. February 21, 1948. p. 10. Retrieved July 15, 2025– via World Radio History.
  13. ↑ "Houston Station Sells Six Ziv Package Shows" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63, no. 8. February 24, 1951. p. 5. Retrieved July 15, 2025– via World Radio History.
  14. ↑ Bundy, June (December 2, 1957). "Vox Jox" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 69, no. 49. p. 50. Retrieved July 15, 2025– via World Radio History.
  15. ↑ "KXYZ Style Switches" . Houston Chronicle. July 23, 1961. p. 47, TV Pullout. Retrieved July 11, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "ABC gains full radio allotment" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 74, no. 20. May 13, 1968. p. 48 – via World Radio History.
  17. ↑ "ABC adds 11 stations to radio networks" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 75, no. 6. August 5, 1968. p. 31. Retrieved July 11, 2025– via World Radio History.
  18. ↑ Hodges, Ann (June 12, 1971). "Price Conquers Pride for Star Pitchmen" . Houston Chronicle. p. 34, Section 1. Retrieved July 11, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Hodges, Ann (July 2, 1974). "KXYZ Getting New Style, Sound and Name" . Houston Chronicle. p. 10, section 1. Retrieved July 10, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "The top 25 formats in radio" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 91, no. 13. September 27, 1976. pp. 44, 46. Retrieved December 24, 2022– via World Radio History.
  21. ↑ Hodges, Ann (October 6, 1976). "Frank blasts debate organizers" . Houston Chronicle. p. 4, Section 7. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Hodges, Ann (September 22, 1978). "ABC's 'Apple Pie' sure to be an early loser" . Houston Chronicle. p. 7, Section 6. Retrieved July 6, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ Barron, David (June 27, 2012). "Rockets shift radio allegiance from KILT to KBME". Ultimate Rockets. Chron.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  24. ↑ Skipper, C.W. (October 6, 1978). "'Lifeline's' real-life drama couldn't have a better cast" . Houston Post. p. 7F. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 96, no. 6. February 5, 1979. p. 67. Retrieved July 11, 2025– via World Radio History.
  26. ↑ "KXYZ sale announced" . Houston Post. March 7, 1979. p. 9AA. Retrieved July 11, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ Asker, Jim (March 17, 1979). "KXYZ goes commercial Christian" . Houston Post. Retrieved July 11, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Christian program era at KFMK ends Tuesday" . Houston Chronicle. June 23, 1979. Retrieved July 11, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Station break" . Houston Post. November 19, 1981. p. 14D. Retrieved July 20, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ Advertisement in the July 14, 1982 Houston Chronicle.
  31. ↑ "Radio stations" . Houston Chronicle. December 6, 1981. Retrieved July 20, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ Grace, Bob (April 17, 1982). "KNUZ adds 'Shadow', 'Hornet' to old-time drama" . Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ Grace, Bob (July 10, 1982). "KMJQ leads pack in latest Arbitron ratings race" . Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ Grace, Bob (April 9, 1983). "KODA, KMJQ barely outpull KIKK in latest Arbitron ratings" . Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 104, no. 20. May 16, 1983. p. 79. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via World Radio History.
  36. ↑ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1984 (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. 1984. p. B-252. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via World Radio History.
  37. ↑ Randerson, Middy (January 21, 1984). "Spanish radio station to air 5-part series on incest" . Houston Chronicle. p. 6C. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ Grace, Bob (April 21, 1984). "KKBQ, KIKK neck and neck for No. 1" . Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ Grace, Bob (October 6, 1984). "Majic 102 hits no. 1 in latest Arbitron ratings" . Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ Frank, Jay (January 26, 1985). "Competition on horizon for KKBO's Top 40 audience?" . Houston Post. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "Menudo mania" . Houston Post. October 24, 1984. p. 8C. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "Celebrating Cinco de Mayo" . Houston Post. May 3, 1985. p. 4E. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ "Concert raises $125,000 to aid quake victims" . Houston Post. October 13, 1985. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  44. ↑ "Bass' streak at 14 games" . Houston Post. August 8, 1986. p. 5C. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  45. ↑ "Consulate is deluged with calls" . Houston Chronicle. October 12, 1986. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  46. ↑ "City seeking aid for Salvadorans" . Houston Chronicle. October 15, 1986. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  47. ↑ "Rockets report" . Houston Chronicle. January 4, 1989. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  48. ↑ "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 128, no. 27. June 29, 1998. p. 80. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via World Radio History.
  49. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. 1999. p. D-436. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via World Radio History.
  50. ↑ "Radio Unica: Out to build a nationwide niche in Spanish radio" (PDF). Radio & Records. Vol. 15, no. 35. September 7, 1998. p. 13. Retrieved July 21, 2025– via World Radio History.
  51. ↑ "KXYZ". FCC Data. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  52. ↑ "Members-Only Media Tour with iHeart Media". PRSA Houston. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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