KISX

Last updated
KISX
KISX 107.3.png
Broadcast area Tyler-Longview area
Frequency 107.3 MHz
Branding107-3 Kiss-FM
Programming
Language(s) English
Format Urban adult contemporary
Affiliations Premiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
July 8, 1982(41 years ago) (1982-07-08)
Former call signs
  • KFML (1982–1984)
  • KEYP (1984–1989)
Former frequencies
99.3 MHz (1982–1989)
Call sign meaning
Kiss FM (station branding)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 72661
Class C2
ERP 50,000 watts
HAAT 148 meters (486 ft)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website 1073kissfmtexas.com

KISX (107.3 FM) is a Townsquare Media radio station licensed to Whitehouse, Texas, serving the Tyler/ Longview market with an urban adult contemporary format. Studios are located in south Tyler; transmitter site is located southeast of Tyler in Smith County.

Contents

History

Early years

The station began broadcasting on 99.3 MHz on July 8, 1982, as KFML. [2] The Class A station had studios and offices at Whitehouse and aired an adult contemporary music format. [3]

In April 1983, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the sale of KFML from Hine Broadcasting Company to Barry Turner and John C. Culpepper Jr., who also owned Tyler AM station KDOK. [4] KFML changed its call letters to KEYP on January 10, 1984, [5] and the station late in the year adopted a contemporary hit radio format. KEYP and KDOK were sold in 1986 to a group from Lawton, Oklahoma, as Turner and Culpepper's company, Broadcast Properties, focused on larger markets. [6]

Kiss 107 FM

In 1988, Tyler Broadcasting Company with KDOK and KEYP was sold for $1.4 million. [7] A regional reallocation of radio frequencies in 1989 saw KEYP upgrade to a new frequency, 107.3 MHz, and an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. Tyler Broadcasting Company wanted to replace the pop format of KEYP with a "superstation" offering a format with regional appeal. As a result, upon changing frequencies on February 21, 1990, it became classic hits "Kiss 107" with the KISX call letters, seeking to appeal to the large baby boomer market. [8]

In December 1990, Broadcasters Unlimited, the owners of KNUE, took over KISX under a local marketing agreement and relaunched the station with a hit radio format. [9] [10] With the new format, the station doubled its market share in Smith County in one year. [11] By 1994, the station was known as Mix 107.3. [12]

The 1990s saw rapid shifts in ownership as the industry consolidated. Broadcasters Unlimited sold itself to GulfStar Communications in 1994 for $12.5 million, which included KNUE and sister stations in Texarkana and Waco. [13] The Hicks brothers, who founded GulfStar, then sold the company and its 54 stations in 1997 to Capstar Broadcasting Partners, which R. Steven Hicks had formed the year prior. [14] Chancellor Media acquired Capstar for $4.1 billion in 1999, changed its name to AMFM, and then merged with Clear Channel Communications in a $23 billion transaction that October. [15] The Kiss branding was restored in 2001. [16]

In 2005, the station flipped to urban adult contemporary branded as "Hot 107.3 Jamz". [16] Clear Channel retained the Tyler cluster until 2007, when it began downsizing and selling off smaller-market stations. The company sold 52 stations in 11 markets in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, including KISX, to Gap Broadcasting, a Dallas-based company owned by George Laughlin. [17] Gap Broadcasting and co-owned Gap West were merged with the former Regent Communications to form Townsquare Media after Oaktree Capital Management, already an investor in the Gap companies, became the majority owner of Regent after its bankruptcy. [18]

KISX reverted to the Kiss moniker, retaining its format, in April 2021. It also changed syndicated morning shows from Steve Harvey to Rickey Smiley. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KETK-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Jacksonville, Texas

KETK-TV is a television station licensed to Jacksonville, Texas, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for East Texas. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Tyler-licensed low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate KTPN-LD ; Nexstar also provides certain services to Longview-licensed Fox affiliate KFXK-TV under a shared services agreement (SSA) with White Knight Broadcasting. The three stations share studios on Richmond Road in Tyler; KETK-TV's transmitter is located near FM 855 in unincorporated northwestern Cherokee County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KYTX</span> CBS/CW affiliate in Nacogdoches, Texas

KYTX is a television station licensed to Nacogdoches, Texas, United States, serving East Texas as an affiliate of CBS and The CW Plus. Owned by Tegna Inc., the station has studios near Loop 323 in the southeastern portion of Tyler, and its transmitter is located near State Highway 110 in rural east-central Cherokee County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFXK-TV</span> Fox affiliate in Longview, Texas

KFXK-TV is a television station licensed to Longview, Texas, United States, serving East Texas as an affiliate of the Fox network. It is owned by White Knight Broadcasting, which maintains a shared services agreement (SSA) with Nexstar Media Group owner of Jacksonville-licensed NBC affiliate KETK-TV and Tyler-licensed low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate KTPN-LD, for the provision of certain services. The stations share studios on Richmond Road in Tyler; KFXK-TV's transmitter is located near FM 125 in rural northwestern Rusk County. It is rebroadcast by KFXL-LD in Lufkin, from a transmitter northwest of the city on SH 103 near Loop 287.

WBIG-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. It has a classic rock radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are in Rockville, Maryland.

WKSF is a country music station licensed to Old Fort, North Carolina, serving the Asheville area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and broadcasts from a tower on Mount Pisgah, southwest of Asheville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGNA-FM</span> Country music radio station in Albany, New York, United States

WGNA-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Albany, New York, and serving the Capital District. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a country music format.

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

KGME is a commercial radio station in Phoenix, Arizona, featuring a sports format known as "Fox Sports 910." Owned by iHeartMedia, the station's studios are located in Phoenix near Sky Harbor International Airport, and broadcasts with 5,000 watts—directional at night—from a transmitter site at the intersection of 30th and Maryland Avenues in north Phoenix. In addition to a standard analog transmission, KGME is relayed over the third HD Radio subchannel of KESZ and is available online via iHeartRadio.

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

WKFS is a radio station in the Cincinnati, Ohio, market, licensed to nearby Milford. It broadcasts a gold-based Top 40 format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The WKFS studios are located in Kenwood Towne Centre, and the station transmitter is located in Mount Auburn, a neighborhood northeast of downtown Cincinnati.

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

KZII-FM, known as "102-5 Kiss FM" is a Top 40 (CHR) formatted radio station serving Lubbock, Texas. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. Its studios and transmitter are located in south Lubbock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KZIA</span> Radio station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

KZIA, known as "Z 102.9", is a radio station based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It has a Top 40 (CHR) format primarily staffed with local personalities, including morning DJs Dancin' Eric Hanson, Clare Duffy, and Producer Ben, known as “The Morning Scramble.” Eric and Clare were recognized as the Iowa Broadcasters of the Year in 2022 by the Iowa Broadcasters Association. Other hosts include Lady J, Those Girls in the Afternoon with Destiny and Taylor, and Jaidyn on the Night Show. The station's transmitter is located in Hiawatha, Iowa, and its signal reaches most of eastern Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Waterloo, and the Quad Cities area. It also reaches Prairie du Chien, and Platteville, both in Wisconsin.

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

KNUE is a Townsquare Media radio station, licensed to Tyler, Texas, United States, serving the Tyler-Longview-Jacksonville area with a contemporary country music format. KNUE operates with an ERP of 98 kW from a transmitter site near Overton in western Rusk County. Studios are located on Brookside Drive in south Tyler in a building shared with Townsquare's other Tyler stations.

KRNA (94.1 FM) is a classic rock-formatted radio station licensed to Iowa City, Iowa. The station is currently owned by Townsquare Media. KRNA's studios located in the Alliant Energy Building in Downtown Cedar Rapids, and their transmitter is located west of Oxford.

WMEZ is a radio station in the Pensacola, Florida, market owned by Cumulus Media Inc. through licensee Cumulus Licensing LLC. It broadcasts a rhythmic CHR format using the name "Hot 94.1". Its studios are in Pensacola, and its transmitter is near Robertsdale, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBBD</span> Radio station in West Virginia, United States

WBBD is a commercial radio station licensed to Wheeling, West Virginia, United States, carrying a sports format. Owned by iHeartMedia, WBBD serves both the Wheeling metropolitan area and nearby St. Clairsville, Ohio, as the market's Fox Sports Radio affiliate. WBBD's studios are currently located at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Wheeling, while its transmitter resides in the city's northern end. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WBBD is relayed over low-power FM translator W280EW and is available online via iHeartRadio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KKTX-FM</span> Radio station in Kilgore, Texas

KKTX-FM is a Townsquare Media commercial radio station licensed to Kilgore, Texas, serving the Longview/Marshall/Tyler area with a classic rock format. Studios are located in south Tyler, Texas, and the transmitter site is located in Kilgore, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTYL-FM</span> Radio station in Tyler, Texas

KTYL-FM is a Townsquare Media radio station, licensed to Tyler, Texas, serving the Tyler-Longview-Jacksonville area, with a top 40 format, featuring charted hits from the 2000s to current hits. KTYL operates with an ERP of 82 kW from a transmitter site near Overton in western Rusk County. Studios are located on Brookside Drive in south Tyler in a building shared with Townsquare's other Tyler stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOYE</span> Radio station in Frankston-Tyler, Texas

KOYE is an Alpha Media radio station, licensed to Frankston, Texas, United States, serving the Tyler-Longview market with a Regional Mexican format in full simulcast with sister station KTLH Hallsville. KOYE's signal covers the western half of the Tyler-Longview market. Studios are located on Broadway Avenue in downtown Tyler; the transmitter site is located northwest of Jacksonville, Texas.

KYZS is a terrestrial radio station licensed to Tyler, Texas, paired with an FM translator, and simulcast with sister station 1240 KDOK Kilgore, serving the Tyler-Longview market with a classic hits format. The station, and translator, are owned by Charles Conrad, through licensee Chalk Hill Communications, LLC.

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

KRWR is a commercial FM radio station in Tyler, Texas. It is owned by Paul Gleiser through licensee ATW Media, LLC, and it serves the Tyler-Longview radio market. It broadcasts a sports radio format as a network affiliate of Fox Sports Radio and CBS Sports Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTLH (FM)</span> Radio station in Hallsville, Texas

KTLH is an Alpha Media radio station, licensed to Hallsville, Texas, United States, serving the Longview area with a Regional Mexican format as a simulcast with KOYE in Frankston, Texas. Studios are located on Broadway Avenue in downtown Tyler; transmitter site is located in unincorporated Harrison County, northeast of Ashland, Texas.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for KISX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "Radio Station KFML On Air". Tyler Morning Telegraph. July 14, 1982. p. 4:7. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Part Delays Whitehouse Station Opening". The Tyler Courier-Times. July 4, 1982. p. 3:15. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Radio Station Given Okay". Tyler Morning Telegraph. April 21, 1983. p. 2:8. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Radio Station Has New Call Letters". Tyler Morning Telegraph. January 10, 1984. p. 1:11. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "2 Tyler Stations Bought". The Tyler Courier-Times—Telegraph. January 19, 1986. p. 4:3. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Transactions". Radio & Records. April 22, 1988. pp. 8, 10. ProQuest   1040255769.
  8. "New Tyler Station Goes On Air Feb. 21". Tyler Morning Telegraph. February 14, 1989. p. 3:10. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Tyler radio stations sign agreement". Longview News-Journal. December 23, 1990. p. 3-C. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  10. Hvezdos, Mike (January 14, 1991). "Only stamped mail may be put in mailbox". Longview News-Journal. p. 2-A. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  11. Floyd, Tony (July 21, 1991). "Arbitron: Tyler Is 'Country' Country". The Tyler Courier-Times. pp. 4:1, 6 . Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "#1 In East Texas". The Tyler Courier-Times. April 20, 1994. p. 5:41. Retrieved June 16, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Austin-Based Group To Purchase Tyler Radio Stations". Tyler Courier-Times. January 13, 1994. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  14. Tomich, Jeff (July 10, 1997). "Capstar To Run 3 Tyler Radio Stations After Buying GulfStar". Tyler Morning Telegraph. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  15. Shweder, Jeremy (October 8, 1999). "Clear Channel-AMFM: What A Deal!" (PDF). Radio & Records. pp. 3, 40. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 Venta, Lance (April 22, 2021). "KISX Rebrands As 107.3 Kiss-FM". RadioInsight.
  17. "Clear Channel Culls Empire" (PDF). Radio & Records. April 13, 2007. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  18. "Townsquare To Buy-Out Oaktree Capital's Stake In The Company". Inside Radio. January 25, 2021. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

32°17′20″N95°11′56″W / 32.289°N 95.199°W / 32.289; -95.199