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 (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.
KGNC-FM is one of the stations responsible for the activation of the Emergency Alert System in the Amarillo area.
The station conducts an annual "Jude Country Cares Radiothon". [1]
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]