1090 History

[ksradiogeek]

I'm trying to edit the Wikipedia page on KPTK. I know that for many years, it was KING. However, it was tossed around in the mid-90's with tons of call letters and formats. Can someone please post the ENTIRE history of 1090? That'll sort out the confusion for me. Thanks!

 

[DanStrassberg]

I'm trying to edit the Wikipedia page on KPTK. I know that for many years, it was KING. However, it was tossed around in the mid-90's with tons of call letters and formats. Can someone please post the ENTIRE history of 1090? That'll sort out the confusion for me. Thanks!

Can't help (I'm 3000 miles away and never lived in the Seattle area), but I will be interested in the result when you publish it. I note that you avoided the temptation to make references to "biting the bulllet." Wasn't the station owned for many years by a prominent Pacific Northwest family named Bullitt?

 

[Dan Sys]

From the FCC AM database:

Call Sign History
Current Call Sign: KPTK
Facility ID Number: 6387
Call Sign Begin Date
KPTK 10/28/2004
KYCW 12/30/1999
KMPS 07/01/1999
KRPM 09/22/1995

Before that they were KNWX and KINF.

 

[Bongwater]

From the FCC AM database:

Call Sign History
Current Call Sign: KPTK
Facility ID Number: 6387
Call Sign Begin Date
KPTK 10/28/2004
KYCW 12/30/1999
KMPS 07/01/1999
KRPM 09/22/1995

Before that they were KNWX and KINF.

Going deeper into the archeological layers, we uncover KKNG, then the KING Period. Then down to KEVR until we hit bedrock with KVL.

 

[JakeMott]

Was it really KMPS for awhile? I don't remember that. The only AM I remember having the KMPS call letters was 1300.

 

[AAllen]

I recall that 1090 kept the KMPS calls while they were simulcasting Kiss 106, leading to a longer callsign read at the top of the hour.

 

[scott salvatori]

From the FCC AM database:

Call Sign Begin Date
KYCW 12/30/1999
KMPS 07/01/1999
KRPM 09/22/1995

fun and game time kids, its: pin the (call letter) tail, on the (1090) donkey

ironically, 3 of these call letters were country stations, and ownerships in competition on the FM, just a few years prior (93,94,95...?). then CBS/KMPS swallered up KYCW(young country), then KRPM(K106), like a giant corporate pacman game. wasnt much of a loss, programming, and music wise. cept for the liner card readers, and button pushers, who got the layoff notices, i reckon...

 

[ksradiogeek]

Thanks for the help! Do you know when American Radio Systems (Infinity, CBS, etc.) acquired 96.5 and 106.1? I say this because they were both country and I find it odd that with KMPS being owned beforehand, 3 country stations owned by one owner in one market doesn't add up. Did KMPS lean older, because of 96.5 being "Young Country"? What was KRPM's musical direction like?

 

[dadetim]

from an old radio and records clipping i saved from march 22, 1996:

EZ Communications - which already owned market-leading country KMPS AM/FM & recently agreed to buy "Young Country" KYCW from Infinity - completed a clean sweep of the market's Country signals by trading it's New Orleans stations for Heritage Media's KRPM AM & KCIN FM. (EZ promptly simulcasting KMPS on KCIN's frequency after the deal was announced on Monday Mar.18)

it was soon then that KCIN changed format to a classic rhythmic AC, called Kiss 106, and changed call letters to KBKS

 

[ksradiogeek]

What is the full rundown of the frequency swaps, ownership changes, etc. in the mid-90s? I know KRPM (KCIN) went from Heritage to EZ. I heard Bonneville had 1090 for a brief time. When did Infinity get in the picture? I'm so confused!

 

[ksradiogeek]

I'm also wondering why 106.1 had the KCIN call letters? Why give up KRPM for a time, only to get them back, only to flip to a different format in April of 1996?

 

[Bongwater]

In 1995, 106.1, in their last incarnation as country was branded "Kickin' Country", they flipped their calls to KCIN, but kept the KRPM calls on 1090....Just in case.....

Needless to say, they had no idea what was coming just around the corner in the new year of 1996........