KTCK-FM

KTCK-FM (96.7 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to serve the community of Flower Mound, Texas. KTCK-FM, established in 1967 as KDSQ, is managed locally at 2221 East Lamar Blvd., Suite 300 in Arlington, and is currently owned by Cumulus Media. As of October 21, 2013, the station broadcasts a sports/talk radio format to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area as a simulcast of sister station KTCK "The Ticket" (1310 AM).

KTCK-FM
CityFlower Mound, Texas
Broadcast areaDallas-Fort Worth Metroplex/Ardmore/Southern Oklahoma/Bowie/Gainesville
BrandingSportsRadio 1310 & 96.7 The Ticket
Frequency96.7 MHz
First air date1967 (as KDSQ)
FormatSports Talk
(KTCK simulcast)
Language(s)English
ERP93,000 watts
HAAT621 meters (2,037 ft)
ClassC
Facility ID26468
Transmitter coordinates33°15′41″N 97°17′42″W
Call sign meaningThe TiCKet (branding)
(from parent station KTCK)
Former call signsKDSQ (1967–1969)
KSHN (1969–1975)
KIKM-FM (1975–1983)
KZXL-FM (1983–1985)
KIKM-FM (1985–1997)
KDVE (6/1997-10/1997)
KNKI (1997–1998)
KMEO (1998–2003)
KTYS (2003–2008)
KPMZ (2008-2010)[1]
WBAP-FM (2010-2013)
AffiliationsDallas Stars (NHL)
Fox Sports Radio
OwnerCumulus Media
(Radio License Holdings LLC)
Sister stationsKESN, KLIF, KLIF-FM, KPLX, KTCK, KSCS, WBAP
WebcastListen Live (via iHeartRadio)
Websitetheticket.com

History

KDSQ/KSHN/Kick'm Country

The station first started out as KDSQ in 1967 in the Sherman-Denison area on 101.7 FM. Two years later, it changed its callsign to KSHN. Up until 1975, the format was unknown, then the call letters changed to KIKM-FM with a country music format during the day and Top 40 at night (simulcast from sister station KIKM), then to full-time Top 40 a couple years later. In 1983, the call sign changed to KZXL-FM, but two years later the previous call sign was re-established[1] with a 24-hour country music format known as "Kick'm Country".

A decade later, KIKM-FM swapped frequencies with KDVE (also in Sherman), however the station went dark in 1997. During that time, the city of license was changed from Sherman to its current location in Flower Mound, Texas.

Memories 96.7 FM

Memories 96.7 logo from 1998-2003

A couple months later, the KNKI call letters were established, but the station did not sign on until November 1998, under the control of Disney/ABC Radio.[2] After launching on November 23, 1998, as Memories 96.7 FM, playing oldies and easy listening music from the 1950s to the 1970s,[3] it changed call signs to KMEO on December 28, 1998.[1][4] During the overnight hours, KMEO would switch to a live "Memories"/"Unforgettable Favorites" programming from ABC Music Radio. Previously live, local programming was briefly replaced by ABC Radio's corporate "Memories" satellite programming for a full 24 hours on June 26, 2003, until 5pm on June 27, 2003 when the "Memories" format was dropped.

96.7 The Texas Twister

96.7 The Twister logo from 2003 to 2008.

96.7 The Twister (alternately "The Texas Twister") officially "touched down" at 5 pm on June 27, 2003.[5] The last song heard on "Memories" was "Thanks For The Memory" by Bob Hope.[6] This was followed by the first song on the "Twister", being "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson.[6][7] This was the start of 20,000 songs in a row without commercial interruption. Initially jockless, The Twister started adding DJs in September 2003.[8] Its playlist was composed of "today's modern country hits" mixed with Texas country music, thus adopting the slogan "The Most New Country In Texas". The call letters were not officially changed to KTYS until October 21, 2003.[1] On June 12, 2007, 24 Disney/ABC Radio stations, including KTYS, merged into Citadel Broadcasting's portfolio. The KMEO call letters have been reassigned to an American Family Radio-affiliate station in Mertzon, Texas.

Platinum 96.7

Platinum 96.7 logo from 2008 to 2010

On June 30, 2008, at 5:28 a.m., after five years as The Twister, the station ended its tenure as a country station in favor of returning to Oldies as Platinum 96.7.[9] The last song on "The Twister" was "Kiss My Country Ass" by Rhett Akins, while the first song on "Platinum" being "Hello, Goodbye" by The Beatles.[10][11] From there, it broadcast a diverse oldies format, as the playlist was taken directly from the remnants of the former ABC Radio's corporate "Memories" music library; thus, their slogan was "Forgotten Hits Re-Discovered." It also marked a return of a few former "Memories" personalities with Ron Chapman as the station's consultant.[12] The callsign was changed to KPMZ on July 2, 2008[1] (referring to a PlatinuM record and paying homage to "Memories 96.7").[13] The "Texas Twister" format was moved to its sister station KSCS's HD-2 signal. KPMZ ceased transmitting its digital "HD Radio" signal in 2009. Because the license to broadcast digital "HD Radio" is perpetual, the station could resume digital broadcasts at any time.

WBAP simulcast

Former ident of WBAP AM & FM signals used 2010-2013.

At Noon CT on March 12, 2010, after playing "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam, the station briefly reverted to its previous "Texas Twister" country music format. Two hours later, a stunt known as "Reagan Radio" began, exclusively featuring sound clips from former president Ronald Reagan.[14] The station began simulcasting sister station WBAP on Monday, March 15.[15][16] Although broadcasting on a rimshot frequency, the staff at WBAP claims that this station will provide "crystal-clear FM fidelity" for their listeners in 96.7's pre-determined coverage area.[17] The station changed call signs to WBAP-FM effective March 19, 2010.[1][18] Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[19] With the simulcast in place, the station was responsible for activation of the North Texas Emergency Alert System (alongside sister stations WBAP-AM and KSCS) when hazardous weather alerts, disaster area declarations, and AMBER Alerts are issued.[20]

KTCK/The Ticket simulcast

The Ticket broadcasting from a 2014 Dallas Stars fan-event at the Galleria Dallas

On October 7, 2013, Cumulus announced the discontinuation of the simulcast of WBAP on 96.7, and would be changed to a simulcast of KTCK (AM). Talk show host Mark Davis (formerly of WBAP, now on KSKY) took to Twitter with the news saying, "I'll always remember the March '10 debut." Later, Dan Bennet, the vice president/market manager of Cumulus has confirmed this move, citing they have "seen no ratings increase since adding the FM." Bennett added, "WBAP at 820 AM still covers 114 counties in the day and has been heard in up to 38 states at night and early morning before the sun comes up. WBAP at 820 is one of the biggest radio signals in America." The WBAP simulcast moved to KPLX 99.5 HD2, formerly The Ticket's radio spot. The format change took place on October 21.[21] A callsign change to KTCK-FM took effect on October 27, 2013.[18]

Former on-air staff

  • John LaBella: morning host 1998–2002 (deceased)[22][23]
  • Chaz Mixon: 1999–2004 (most recently with KKHJ-FM in Pago Pago, American Samoa)[24]
  • Becky Wight: DJ & "Memories Scrapbook" host 1998–2003
  • Randy Fuller: 1998–2003
  • Mike Young: 1998–2003
  • Bob Lawrence: 1998–2003
  • Susan Edwards: 1998–2003
  • Sammi Gonzales: 1998–2003
  • Tori Logan: 1998–2003
  • Pamela Steele: 1998–2003
  • Bob Eliot: 1998–2003
  • Tyler Cox: 1998-2003, 2008–2010
  • Vic Thomas: 1998-2003 (via satellite), 2008–2010
  • Blake Barret: nighttime host 2004–2005, now morning show host for Radio Disney nationwide.
  • Carletta Blake: nighttime host 2008
  • Scott Gaines: midday & nighttime host 2003–2006
  • Hondo: overnight host & weekends; host of Club Twister 2006–2008
  • Lorri Leigh: nighttime host 2006–2008, now part-time on New Country 96.3 KSCS
  • Angie Michaels: nighttime Host 2008-2009
  • Allan Peck: afternoon host 2003–2008, now morning show producer on The Big 96.3 KSCS
  • Crash Poteet: morning host 2004–2008
  • Jeremy Robinson: midday & nighttime host 2005–2008
  • Wendy Westbrook: afternoon host 2008-2009

Signal

Unlike most of the area's FM stations like sister stations KSCS, KPLX and KLIF-FM, which transmit their signals from Cedar Hill and Southwest Dallas, KTCK-FM transmits its signal from an unincorporated area within the county borders of Cooke, Montague, and Wise. Therefore, KTCK's FM signal is much stronger in the Northwestern parts of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex as well as the cities of Decatur, Bowie, Gainesville, and Sherman, to as far north as Ardmore, Oklahoma, but is considerably weaker in Dallas and areas Southeast of the city itself.

References

  1. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  2. Brumley, Al (November 29, 1998). "Barbra and Neil, together again (but he still won't bring her flowers)". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  3. "Memories 96.7: Doze were the days". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 29, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  4. Weitz, Matt (May 30, 1999). "Station finds success with new, 'non-kinky' format". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  5. Brumley, Al (July 6, 2003). "'Memories'fades into new country; ABC hopes 'The Twister' will help KSCS by hurting 'The Wolf'". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  6. "New radio show in Arlington". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. June 28, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  7. Memories 96.7 Becomes The Twister
  8. "Peck picked for first DJ slot on the Twister". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 8, 2003. p. 7. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  9. "KTYS switches format, Chapman returns". Dallas Business Journal. June 30, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  10. "'The Twister'changing to 'The Twist'". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. June 30, 2008. p. B10. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  11. The Twister Becomes Platinum 96.7
  12. "KTYS/Dallas Flips To 'Platinum 96.7'; Chapman Consults". Radio Ink. June 30, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  13. "Pop Culture District: Twisting Into Platinum". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. June 30, 2008.
  14. Wilonsky, Robert (March 12, 2010). "You Know, What Dallas Has Always Needed Is An All-Ronald Reagan Station". Unfair Park. Dallas Observer. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  15. "WBAP/Dallas Gets FM Simulcast With Flip Of KPMZ". All Access Music Group. March 12, 2010.
  16. Philpot, Robert (March 13, 2010). "96.7 FM changes format from oldies to WBAP simulcast". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  17. "WBAP-AM/Dallas Gets an FM Simulcast". Radio Ink. March 12, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  18. "Pending call sign requests". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  19. "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  20. "Dallas Fort Worth Local Plan" (PDF). Texas Association of Broadcasters. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  21. ‘SportsRadio 1310 the Ticket’ to also air on 96.7 FM Archived 2013-10-13 at the Wayback Machine - DFW.com (released October 7, 2013)
  22. "John LaBella". Radio Daily News. March 6, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  23. "Radio station plans tribute to LaBella". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 8, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  24. "Chaz Mixon". KKHJ - 93KHJ American Samoa. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
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