Summary
KGNC-FM (97.9 MHz) is a radio broadcast station in Amarillo, Texas, United States. It is the oldest FM station in the Amarillo region. KGNC-FM airs a country music format. The station is owned by Alpha Media LLC. Studios for it and its partners are located in southwest Amarillo near the former Western Plaza shopping center.
 | |
| Broadcast area | Amarillo, Texas |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.9 MHz |
| Branding | KGNC 97-9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KGNC, KXGL, KVWE | |
| History | |
First air date | December 24, 1958 |
Former call signs | KGNC-FM (1958-1988) KMLT (1988-1992) |
Call sign meaning | Globe-News Company |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 63161 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 398 meters (1,306 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | kgncfm.com |
KGNC-FM is one of the stations responsible for the activation of the Emergency Alert System in the Amarillo area.
Programming edit
The station conducts an annual "Jude Country Cares Radiothon".[1]
History edit
The current KGNC-FM is the second station to hold that call sign. The first KGNC-FM, also located in Amarillo, debuted on November 25, 1947, at 104.3 MHz, as the first FM station broadcasting in the Texas panhandle.[3] Licensed to the Plains Broadcasting Company, this station ceased operations in 1950.
On October 1, 1958, an application by Plains Broadcasting for a new FM station was granted, for operation with a power of 14.6 kilowatts and an HAAT (Height Above Average Terrain) of 441 feet (134 meters), transmitting on 93.1 MHz. The new station was assigned the call letters KGNC-FM.[4]
KGNC-FM began broadcasting on December 24, 1958, initially simulcasting its AM sister station, KGNC.[5] Its first day of broadcasting included an early example of stereo transmission, with the sending of a demonstration phonograph record's right-channel audio over KGNC-FM, and the left-channel audio over KGNC.[6]
In 1960, the station began broadcasting programming that was separate from KGNC's.[7]
On February 15, 1972, an application was granted to move to 97.9 MHz, with a maximum power of 45.5 kilowatts, and a HAAT of 1,285 feet (392 m).[4]
The station's call letters were changed to KMLT on February 14, 1988, but then back to KGNC-FM on November 2, 1992.[8]
In 1994 the Federal Communications Commission found the Equal Employment Opportunity policies of KGNC and KGNC-FM to be deficient. The stations were notified of a fine of an apparent liability of $25,000, and given shorter than usual license renewals.[9]
References edit
- ^ "KGNC Just Keeps On Giving", March 10, 2017 (radioink.com)
- ^ "KGNC-FM" (advertisement), Amarillo Globe-Times, October 20, 1959, page 14.
- ^ "KGNC-FM Station Goes Into Operation", Amarillo Globe, November 25, 1947 page 23.
- ^ a b FCC History Cards for KGNC-FM (FCC.gov)
- ^ "Directory of AM and FM Stations in the U.S.: Texas: Amarillo", Broadcasting Yearbook (1961-1962 edition), page B-159.
- ^ "KGNC-FM Starts Broadcasting", Amarillo Globe-Times, December 24, 1958, page 14.
- ^ "Muzak Subsidiary", Broadcasting, February 15, 1960, page 133.
- ^ "Call Sign History" (Facility ID# 63161) (FCC.gov)
- ^ "Memorandum Opinion & Order and Notice of Apparent Liability" (Adopted: January 31, 1994. Released February 1, 1994) (Federal Communications Commission)
External links edit
- KGNC-FM website
- KGNC in the FCC FM station database
- KGNC in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- FCC History Cards for KGNC-FM (covering 1958–1981)