KROX-FM

Last updated
KROX-FM
KROX-FM.png
Broadcast area Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area
Frequency 101.5 MHz
Branding101X
Programming
Format Alternative rock
Ownership
Owner
  • Sinclair Telecable Inc.
  • (Waterloo Media Group, L.P.)
KBPA, KGSR, KLBJ, KLBJ-FM, KLZT
History
First air date
November 13, 1984 (as KGID Giddings)
Former call signs
KGID (1984-1990)
KOKE (1990-1995)
Call sign meaning
K ROX (as in Rocks)
The X is used in "101X" brand
Technical information
Facility ID 54659
Class C2
ERP 12,500 watts
HAAT 258.1 m (847 ft)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website 101x.com

KROX-FM (101.5 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Buda, Texas, and serving the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area. It is owned by Sinclair Telecable Inc. (not related to television broadcaster Sinclair Broadcast Group, who owns CBS station KEYE-TV) and broadcasts an alternative rock format. The station has studios along Interstate 35 in North Austin, and the transmitter site is located off Waymaker Way at the West Austin Antenna Farm. [1]

Contents

History

KGID Giddings

On May 10, 1984, Radio Lee County, Inc. received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to build a new FM radio station at 101.7 MHz. It signed on as KGID, licensed to Giddings, Texas. [2]

It broadcast at 3,000 watts, a quarter of its current power, from a tower located between Bastrop and La Grange. That meant it could only cover the southeast communities of the Austin metro area, including the farming communities in and around Lee County. KGID aired a country music format, geared to listeners in this rural area of Texas.

KOKE-FM

The call sign switched to KOKE on April 6, 1990, changing to a Southern Gospel format. Radio Lee County received permission from the FCC to switch the frequency to 101.5 MHz, boost the station's effective radiated power to 38,800 watts from a tower at 560 feet in height above average terrain. This would have extended the station's reach into the more lucrative Austin radio market, however, Radio Lee County lacked the money to invest in the new tower and transmitter.

In 1995, Virginia-based Sinclair Telecable bought the station for $2.73 million. [3] It completed the rebuild, switching the call letters to KROX-FM, and moving the studios and offices to Barton Springs Road in Austin.

101X, Austin's New Rock Alternative

The new station took the moniker 101X. It signed on as "Austin's New Rock Alternative" on June 8, 1995. Its main competition, at the beginning, was "K-Nack" 107.7 KNNC, the Austin market's original Alternative station. Both KROX-FM and KNNC were hampered by poor signals with neither able to achieve significant ratings. KNNC management decided to sell its station in January 1997. The KNNC DJs were dismissed and until July 1997, KNNC simulcast KROX-FM. Eventually, KNNC was sold and became classic rock "107.7 The Hawk." Today it is Latin Adult Contemporary KLJA.

The original DJs on 101X included Sara Trexler, former KNNC personalities Rachel Marisay and Ray Seggern, LA Lloyd Hocutt, Gibby Haynes, a member of the punk rock group The Butthole Surfers, and Austin Chronicle music critic Andy Langer. The morning show, "Jason and Deb," won the 2014 Austin Chronicle "Best Of" Poll. [4]

In the late 1990s, 101X veered into active rock territory at the height of alternative radio's nu-metal period. It has since returned to a broader alternative presentation, closely associated with the local Austin music scene and today's indie rock. In 1997, the station was sold to LBJS Broadcasting. [5] LBJS was originally owned by the family of "L.B.J." or former President Lyndon Baines Johnson. That put KROX-FM into common ownership with KLBJ-FM, Austin's leading rock station, that specialized in mostly harder-edged classic rock.

In 2003, LBJS Broadcasting sold its radio stations to the Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications, including KROX-FM. [6] Although Sinclair Telecommunications continued to own 49.9% of the stations, Emmis was the controlling partner.

In the early 2000s, KROX-FM's city of license changed from Giddings, Texas to Buda, Texas.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmis Communications</span> American media conglomerate

Emmis Communications is an American media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Emmis, based on the Hebrew word for Truth (Emet) was founded by Jeff Smulyan in 1980. Emmis has owned many radio stations, including KPWR and WQHT, which have notoriety for their Hip Hop Rhythmic format as well as WFAN, which was the world's first 24-hour sports talk radio station. In addition to radio, Emmis has invested in TV, publishing, and mobile operations around the United States.

WMGK is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group and broadcasts a classic rock radio format. The broadcast tower used by the station is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia at, while studios are in Bala Cynwyd. The station features popular Philadelphia radio personalities John DeBella and Andre Gardner.

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

KBPA is a commercial radio station licensed to Austin, Texas. Owned by Sinclair Telecable and operated under the name Waterloo Media, it broadcasts an adult hits radio format. Its radio studios and offices are located along Interstate 35 in North Austin.

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

WRXL is a commercial radio station licensed to Richmond, Virginia, and serving Central Virginia. WRXL is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc. WRXL airs an alternative rock radio format.

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

WKJS is an urban adult contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Richmond, Virginia, serving Richmond, Mechanicsville, and Midlothian in Virginia. WKJS is owned and operated by Radio One. The station's studios and offices are located just north of Richmond proper on Emerywood Parkway in unincorporated Henrico County, and its transmitter is located in the Southside of Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KGSR</span> Radio station in Cedar Park–Austin, Texas

KGSR is a radio station licensed to Cedar Park, Texas, and serving the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area. Owned by Sinclair Telecable Inc. d/b/a Waterloo Media Group, it broadcasts a rhythmic hot adult contemporary format. KGSR has studios and offices off Interstate 35 in North Austin, and the transmitter site is located off Route 206 in Bertram.

KLBJ-FM is a commercial radio station in Austin, Texas. It broadcasts an album-oriented rock radio format billed as "The Rock of Austin." It is owned by Sinclair Telecable Inc.. KLBJ-FM is licensed under the name Waterloo Media. The station was once owned by the family of President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and still carries his initials as its call letters.

KLBJ is a commercial AM radio station in Austin, Texas, airing a news/talk radio format. It is owned by Sinclair Telecable Inc. and operates under the name Waterloo Media. It is Central Texas' primary entry point station for the Emergency Alert System.

WTAR is a commercial radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads radio market. WTAR is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc. It broadcasts an adult album alternative format as "96.5 The Coast".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KASE-FM</span> Country music radio station in Austin, Texas

KASE-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Austin, Texas. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a country music radio format. It shares studios and offices with four sister stations in the Penn Field complex in the South Congress district of south central Austin within walking distance of St. Edward's University. The transmitter site is off Waymaker Way in Austin, amid towers for other FM and TV stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WROX-FM</span> Radio station in Exmore, Virginia

WROX-FM is an alternative rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Exmore, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. WROX-FM is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc. WROX's studios are located on Waterside Drive in Downtown Norfolk, and its transmitter is located in Cape Charles.

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

KLZT is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format. Licensed to Bastrop, Texas, United States, the station serves the Austin area. The station is owned by Sinclair Telecable Inc. and operated under the name Waterloo Media. The station is also broadcast on HD radio. It bills itself as La Z 107.1. The station has studios along Interstate 35 in North Austin, and the transmitter site is located southeast of Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

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

KJFK and KJFK-FM are a pair of terrestrial radio stations, which serve Austin, Texas, and Llano, Texas, United States respectively. Both facilities are owned by Township Media and broadcast an adult hits format as "96.3 Jack FM", utilizing the nationally syndicated Jack FM licensing. KJFK can also be heard in Austin proper on translator K242DE and in Giddings, Texas on KGID, both of which also operate on 96.3 FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRAZ</span> Radio station in Santa Ynez, California

KRAZ is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Santa Ynez, California and serves the Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara areas. The station is owned by Knight Broadcasting Inc. and broadcasts a country music format from its studios in Santa Ynez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGIR-FM</span> Radio station in Manchester, New Hampshire

WGIR-FM is a commercial radio station in Manchester, New Hampshire, airing a mainstream rock radio format, branded as Rock 101. The station serves the Merrimack Valley area, and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., America's largest owner of radio stations. According to Nielsen Audio, WGIR-FM is usually the #2 rated radio station in the Manchester radio market behind 95.7 WZID. Weekdays begin with the comedy radio show Greg and the Morning Buzz, hosted by Greg Kretschmar. It is shared with co-owned 100.3 WHEB in Portsmouth, and also heard on 104.9 WLKZ in Wolfeboro. The rest of the day, local DJs are heard. On Sunday nights, WGIR-FM carries the syndicated radio show The House of Hair with Dee Snider.

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

KLJA is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish AC format. Licensed to Univision Radio in Georgetown, Texas, United States, it serves the Austin area. The station has a transmitter in Georgetown and has studios along MoPac Expressway in Northwest Austin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRFQ (FM)</span> Radio station in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

WRFQ is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and serving the Charleston metropolitan area and Lowcountry of South Carolina. It broadcasts a classic rock radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station airs the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom morning show. The radio studios and offices are on Houston Northcutt Boulevard in Mount Pleasant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSXY</span> Radio station in Forestville, California

KSXY is an alternative rock formatted radio station licensed to Forestville, California, United States. It is owned by Sinclair Telecable, Inc. DBA Sinclair Communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXAI</span> Air 1 radio station in Odem–Corpus Christi, Texas

KXAI is a radio station broadcasting the Air 1 Christian worship music network. Licensed to Odem, Texas, United States, the station serves the Corpus Christi area and is owned by the Educational Media Foundation.

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

KTSN is a daytimer radio station licensed to Lockhart, Texas, and serving the Austin metropolitan area. It is owned by Township Media, LLC, a non-profit organization. KTSN broadcasts a hybrid Adult Album Alternative / Americana radio format, branded as "Sun Radio." The studios and offices are on Manchaca Road in Austin. Sun Radio seeks listener donations on the air and on its website.

References

  1. Radio-Locator.com/KROX-FM
  2. Broadcasting Yearbook 1985 page B-263
  3. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1996 page B-410
  4. "Best Radio Personality/Radio Show: TIE: JB & Sandy on the Fringe; Jason & Deb on 101X" . Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  5. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2000 page D-437
  6. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2005 page D-492

Coordinates: 30°19′19″N97°48′04″W / 30.322°N 97.801°W / 30.322; -97.801