KNIX-FM
 | |
| City | Phoenix, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Branding | 102.5 KNIX |
| Slogan | Today's Best Country & All Time Favorites |
| Frequency |
102.5 MHz (also on HD Radio) 102.5 HD2 KFYI AM 550 102.5 HD3 Total Traffic Network |
| First air date | December 25, 1961 |
| Format | Country |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 494 meters (1,621 ft) |
| Class | C |
| Facility ID | 7698 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 33°19′59″N 112°03′54″W / 33.333°N 112.065°WCoordinates: 33°19′59″N 112°03′54″W / 33.333°N 112.065°W |
| Callsign meaning | K PhoeNIX |
| Owner |
iHeartMedia (CC Licenses, LLC) |
| Sister stations | KESZ, KFYI, KGME, KMXP, KOY, KYOT, KZZP |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | knixcountry.iheart.com |
KNIX-FM is a country music radio station in Phoenix, Arizona owned and operated by iHeartMedia. Its studios are located in Phoenix near Sky Harbor Airport and its transmitter is in South Mountain Park. The station's frequency is 102.5 MHz.
History
The station originally signed on the air on December 25, 1961 as a beautiful music station. Its owners, John and Donna Karshner, also served as on-air staff and programmers. Their son, John P. Karshner II, became one of the youngest DJs in America at age 16. In 1968, singer Buck Owens bought the station and its AM sister in separate transactions. The AM station was country music KTUF and the FM station changed to progressive rock in August 1968. In early March 1969, KNIX-FM switched to the country format and the two stations began simulcast operations. Station bumper-stickers proclaimed "K-TUF/KNIX, We Stamped Out 3-Letter Radio". In 1998 Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) acquired the FM from Owens and continues as a country station.
KNIX-FM led not only the Phoenix radio market, but was considered one of the premier country radio stations in the United States. Under the leadership of General Manager Michael Owens and Programming/Operations Manager Larry Daniels, KNIX-FM was consistently number one in the Phoenix market. In addition, the station won many prestigious awards including honors from the Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music, Billboard Magazine, and the Marconi Award for excellence in broadcasting.
HD Radio
KNIX-FM's HD Radio signal is multiplexed. The main signal is a simulcast of KNIX's country programming. On April 25, 2006, Clear Channel announced that KNIX's HD2 subchannel would carry a format focusing on music from new and up-and-coming Country artists. The second channel has now switched to carrying KFYI AM 550, a valley AM news/talk radio station. The third channel carries iHeartMedia's Total Traffic Network (TTN), a data only service broadcasting real-time traffic streaming to GPS devices with HD Radio receivers, providing accident, traffic flow, and road construction information. Devices capable of receiving traffic data are available from manufactures such as Garmin or Cydle.
Former staff
- Charlie Ochs (mornings)
- W. Steven Martin (mornings)
- J.D. Freeman (afternoons)
- "Layback" Lenny Roberts (afternoons)
- John Buchannon (evenings then midday, also Music Director)
- [Brian McNeal] (Evenings)
- [Buddy Alan] Buddy Alan (Music Dir. - midday)
- George King
- Steve Harmon
- Jim West
- Steve Wood
- Bill Kramer
- Brian Kelly
- John Michaels
- RJ Curtis
- Susan Geary
- Bobby Lewis
- Steve Goddard
- Tim & Willy (mornings)
- Dick Leighton (traffic)
- Bill Denny (sports)
- Larry Clark (news)
- Mary Ganier (news)
- Stephan Kaufman (news)
- Marti McNeil (news)
- Gwen Foster
- Scott Fisher
- Russ Knight
- Larry Daniels (midday)
- Red Skyler
- Bobby Butler
- Mike Scott (afternoon drive & Music Director)
- Camille Wood (traffic & voice work)
- Robin Lee (overnights)
- Gary Gardner (weekends)
- Carolyn Coffey (mornings)
- Garry D (Creative Imaging/Voice)