KRFX
 | |
| City | Denver, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Denver metropolitan area |
| Branding | 103.5 The Fox |
| Slogan | Denver's Classic Rock |
| Frequency | 103.5 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | June 1, 1961 (as KOA-FM) |
| Format |
Classic rock (Analog/HD1) Sports (KDSP simulcast) (HD2) |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 346 meters (1135 ft) |
| Class | C0 |
| Facility ID | 29731 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 39°43′59.00″N 105°14′10.00″W / 39.7330556°N 105.2361111°W |
| Callsign meaning | KoloRado FoX |
| Former callsigns |
KOA-FM (1960–1974) KOAQ (1974–1989) |
| Affiliations | Denver Broncos |
| Owner |
iHeartMedia, Inc. (Citicasters Licenses, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | KBCO, KBPI, KDSP, KHOW, KOA, KPTT, KTCL |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | TheFox.iheart.com |
KRFX (103.5 MHz) 103.5 The Fox) is a commercial FM radio station in Denver, Colorado, serving the Denver metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a classic rock radio format. The KRFX studios and offices are located on South Monaco Street in Denver.
The station transmitter is atop Lookout Mountain, near Golden, more than 7000 feet (2256 m) above sea level and 1135 feet (346 m) in height above average terrain. Its effective radiated power is 100,000 watts, the maximum permitted for non-grandfathered FM stations, giving KRFX a wide broadcast area.
HD Channels
KRFX broadcasts in the HD Radio format, with its HD2 subchannel simulcasting the programming of co-owned sports radio station AM 760 KDSP.[1] KRFX can also be heard online via iHeartRadio.
Programming
Weekdays begin with the Rick Lewis Show with co-host Kathy Lee, Robyn Hart, Tom Mettier and Producer Dragon, plus Mike Evans' Hollywood Reports. Other DJs include Susie Wargin middays, Gregg Stone afternoons, and Shark at night. On Sunday evenings, the station carries the regionally syndicated Strictly Blues with host Kai Turner.[2] KRFX also holds the local FM rights for the Denver Broncos, sharing the games with sister station AM 850 KOA.
History
Early Years
On June 1, 1961, the station first signed on as KOA-FM.[3] It was the FM counterpart to AM 850 KOA. Both stations were owned by the Metropolitan Television Company.
The two stations simulcast a full service middle of the road (MOR) format, with CBS Radio News at the beginning of most hours. KOA-AM-FM shared broadcast facilities at 17th & California Street with their co-owned television station, Channel 4 KOA-TV (now KCNC) this ended in 1984 when NBC moved KCNC to its current facilities at 1044 Lincoln St.
Beautiful Music and Top 40
After several years, the simulcast ended, and KOA-FM aired a beautiful music format. In July 1968, KOA-AM-FM-TV were purchased by General Electric Broadcasting. By 1974, KOA-FM flipped to Top 40 as "Q103" KOAQ. As listening to hit music switched from AM to FM, Q103 became one of Denver's top-rated stations during the 1980s. Jack Regan was the station's long-time program director and morning DJ. Alan Sledge was music director, and mid-day DJ. He later added assistant PD duties.
In late 1983, General Electric sold KOA and KOAQ to the A.H. Belo Corporation of Dallas for $22 million.[4] Lee Larson was selected as the new General Manager. He came to Denver from KLOS in Los Angeles. With KOAQ competing with two rival Top 40 stations in 1986, the station segued to an Adult Contemporary music format.
Switch to Classic Rock
In 1987, Jacor Communications purchased KOA and KOAQ for $24 million. After nearly 14 years playing some kind of pop music format, on January 18, 1989, KOAQ flipped to classic rock. It took the new call sign KRFX, becoming "103.5 The Fox," one of several stations in the U.S. using the brand "The Fox".
In late 1995, when sister station 106.7 KBPI began playing mostly new active rock, KRFX added some more recent hard rock titles. At the same time, air personality Steve Cooper of KBPI replaced Tom Little at night.[5]
In May 1999, Clear Channel Communications acquired KOA and KRFX when Jacor stations were absorbed by the company.[6] In 2008, Clear Channel switched its name to iHeartMedia, Inc.