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
Broadcast areaAmarillo, Texas
Frequency97.9 MHz
BrandingKGNC 97-9
Programming
FormatCountry
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner
KGNC, KXGL, KVWE
History
First air date
December 24, 1958 (65 years ago) (December 24, 1958)
Former call signs
KGNC-FM (1958–1988)
KMLT (1988–1992)
Call sign meaning
Globe-News Company
Technical information
Facility ID63161
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT398 meters (1,306 ft)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitekgncfm.com

KGNC-FM is one of the stations responsible for the activation of the Emergency Alert System in the Amarillo area.

Programming

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The station conducts an annual "Jude Country Cares Radiothon".[1]

History

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1959 advertisement for station contest.[2]

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

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  1. ^ "KGNC Just Keeps On Giving", March 10, 2017 (radioink.com)
  2. ^ "KGNC-FM" (advertisement), Amarillo Globe-Times, October 20, 1959, page 14.
  3. ^ "KGNC-FM Station Goes Into Operation", Amarillo Globe, November 25, 1947 page 23.
  4. ^ a b FCC History Cards for KGNC-FM (FCC.gov)
  5. ^ "Directory of AM and FM Stations in the U.S.: Texas: Amarillo", Broadcasting Yearbook (1961-1962 edition), page B-159.
  6. ^ "KGNC-FM Starts Broadcasting", Amarillo Globe-Times, December 24, 1958, page 14.
  7. ^ "Muzak Subsidiary", Broadcasting, February 15, 1960, page 133.
  8. ^ "Call Sign History" (Facility ID# 63161) (FCC.gov)
  9. ^ "Memorandum Opinion & Order and Notice of Apparent Liability" (Adopted: January 31, 1994. Released February 1, 1994) (Federal Communications Commission)
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