KTHR
Encyclopedia
KTHR is a radio station
operating in Wichita, Kansas
. The station runs a rock music
format.
(or back then known as Beautiful Music
) as KARD, later evolved into an Adult Contemporary format. By the early 1980s the station's call letters changed to KKRD, but maintained its Adult Contemporary format.
By 1983, KKRD changed its format to Top-40 to compete with crosstown Top-40 KEYN (Now Classic Hits
) at the time. Then Program Director Jack Oliver hired Wichita's number one morning show host, Tim Peters and in just one book KKRD and KEYN literally switched rankings making KKRD an overnight success as it became the #1 station in Wichita forcing KEYN out of the format in 1989. In early 2000, Rhythmic Top 40 KDGS
"Power 93.9" dethroned KKRD by becoming the highest rated Top 40 station in Wichita under the ownership of Entercom.
In 2004, Clear Channel made changes by having KKRD swap frequencies with Classic Rock sister station KRZZ (See KZCH
) moving the CHR format to 96.3 at 50 kW and re-branding as KZCH "Channel 9-6-3". The displaced Classic Rock format on KRZZ was moved to 107.3 and was re-branded as 107.3 The Road with call letters KTHR. On Friday, October 30, 2009, KTHR-FM dropped "THE ROAD" brand, and the mainstream classic rock format, and launched a new rock-spectrum format called "THE BREW." The Brew differs from traditional classic rock stations in that it features a mix of music with a pop lean, that's appealing to both men and women.
Bob & Tom, a syndicated morning show based in Indianapolis, air weekdays from 5am - 9am and Saturdays 6am - 10am.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
operating in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. The station runs a rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
format.
History
KTHR's format history includes Easy ListeningEasy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
(or back then known as Beautiful Music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
) as KARD, later evolved into an Adult Contemporary format. By the early 1980s the station's call letters changed to KKRD, but maintained its Adult Contemporary format.
By 1983, KKRD changed its format to Top-40 to compete with crosstown Top-40 KEYN (Now Classic Hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
) at the time. Then Program Director Jack Oliver hired Wichita's number one morning show host, Tim Peters and in just one book KKRD and KEYN literally switched rankings making KKRD an overnight success as it became the #1 station in Wichita forcing KEYN out of the format in 1989. In early 2000, Rhythmic Top 40 KDGS
KDGS
KDGS, also known as Power 93.9, is a rhythmic contemporary hits outlet serving the Wichita, Kansas market. The station is licensed to Andover, Kansas, is owned by Entercom and broadcasts at 93.9 MHz with an ERP of 25 kW...
"Power 93.9" dethroned KKRD by becoming the highest rated Top 40 station in Wichita under the ownership of Entercom.
In 2004, Clear Channel made changes by having KKRD swap frequencies with Classic Rock sister station KRZZ (See KZCH
KZCH
KZCH "Channel 96.3" is a Mainstream Top 40 station serving the Wichita area. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 96.3 MHz with an ERP of 50 kW and is licensed to Derby, Kansas.-History:...
) moving the CHR format to 96.3 at 50 kW and re-branding as KZCH "Channel 9-6-3". The displaced Classic Rock format on KRZZ was moved to 107.3 and was re-branded as 107.3 The Road with call letters KTHR. On Friday, October 30, 2009, KTHR-FM dropped "THE ROAD" brand, and the mainstream classic rock format, and launched a new rock-spectrum format called "THE BREW." The Brew differs from traditional classic rock stations in that it features a mix of music with a pop lean, that's appealing to both men and women.
Bob & Tom, a syndicated morning show based in Indianapolis, air weekdays from 5am - 9am and Saturdays 6am - 10am.