KTXT-FM
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| KTXT | |
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| Broadcast area | Lubbock, Texas |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.1 FM MHz |
| First air date | 1953 |
| Format | College rock, eclectic |
| Callsign meaning | K TeXas Tech |
| Owner | Texas Tech University |
| Sister stations | KOHM-FM |
KTXT (88.1 FM), also called "The Couch'", is a college radio station playing alternative music, housed and licensed by Texas Tech University through the Department of Student Media and based in Lubbock, Texas, USA.
88.1 FM claims to be one of the most powerful student-run radio stations in the United States, transmitting roughly 35,000 Watts of power to Lubbock and the surrounding South Plains of West Texas. As a college radio station, KTXT is non-commercial, non-profit. KTXT-FM is not to be confused with KTXT-TV, the PBS station of the same call letters, also owned by Texas Tech. 88.1 FM broadcasts around the clock, all year long. Every single employee, from the station manager to the sub-DJs, are all students, usually working at the radio station around their class schedules.
Some of the one-liners used by many of KTXT's DJs include: "Lubbock's Only Alternative", "The Couch", "Keep it locked to the left" and "Music your parents warned you about!" Or one from the 1980's, "You're all the way to the left at 88.1 KTXT-FM".
88.1 has, since the early 1980s, offered an eclectic mix of alternative programming ranging from oldies, new wave-80s, Reggae to house/trance, rock, country and indie. The 1980s led the way to the introduction of Reggae music to the South Plains area. Reggae bands were booked in local clubs as a result and Lubbock experienced a boom in world music influence locally. As with all college radio during the 1980s, KTXT-FM was responsible for expanding the minds and opening the ears to the sounds of up in coming bands like REM, U2 and The Clash. Whilst other stations in Lubbock stuck with the CHR (Chart Hits Radio) format, KTXT-FM drew many listeners away from commercial radio with their alternative programming thus forcing the commercial stations to pay attention to KTXT's playlists and DJs. Many veteran DJs can claim KTXT-FM as their first home on the air and are currently employed throughout the US as a result. Lastly, KTXT-FM is a student run and supported Radio station. And that was never more evident when in 1983 the then faculty adviser unilaterally changed the programming to fulltime Classical music. This didn't last long as the the Student DJs rallied at the a student Union. Critical funding for the station would have been recinded as student groups protested to the University stating the station's new programming was not meeting the needs of the student body. Faced with a fiscal nightmare and staff walkout the Faculty reversed the change in program and KTXT-FM flourished thoughout the 1980's "hands-off" Student run only station.
In February 1999, 88.1 became the first Lubbock FM station to broadcast on the Internet via a live audio feed, and currently runs streaming audio from their own in-house server. (Currently under maintenance.)
 Photo of the KTXT studio. "This is where the magic happens." |
 Photo of the KTXT logo, painted in the lobby. |
[edit] History
Texas Tech had operated a closed circuit/carrier current station (Called KTTC) since at least the early fifties. The FM went on air in April 1961 as KTXT-FM. It had a power of ten watts on a frequency of 91.9 MHz. It is not known where the original antenna was located, though it is reasonable to think it was central to the built up parts of the campus. It is known that studios were once in the speech building and after the late seventies in the journalism building.
The antenna and transmitter moved to the channel five KTXT-TV at the west end of the campus sometime after TV's inception in 1962. Power remained low, but the antenna was 272 feet up.
In the late sixties, early seventies the station applied for and received a construction permit for an increase to 18,500 watts at 340 feet, proposing the KTXT tower. This was extended a number of times, because of changes in plans, changes in budgets (which mostly the station did not have) and the discovery (after the big Lubbock Tornado of 5-11-70) or realization that the tower was too light ot too damaged to carry the additional weight and wind load of the bigger FM station antenna. In late 1978 the station relocated to the 98th and University tower owned by Ray Moran interests (101.1 KTEZ in those days, now ch 34 KJTV).
The new facility included a 5,000 Watt Gates FM-5H2 transmitter donated by Pat Patillo (old and long time chief engineer of KTXT-TV), new feed line, and an eight bay antenna. The old frequency of 91.9 could not be used for a very high power level because it would conflict with the use of another channel assigned to Lubbock (102.5) that was open for applications in those days. The new frequency used was 88.1. This proved to be a good news/bad news combination. Sister station KTXT-TV was carried on cable tV on channel 6 where the sound frequency is about 87.7 MHz. At some locations near the new FM tower there was KTXT-FM audio heard where the KTXT-TV sound should have been. The FM operated a reduced power for a time as negotiations between the sister stations went on.
Much later, KTXT-TV put up a taller tower, and the KTXT-FM antenna was moved back to the Tech campus. When Tech assumed control of the KOHM facility, it to moved to the campus.
[edit] External links
- KTXT 88.1 FM
- KTXT audio stream
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KTXT
- Radio Locator information on KTXT
- Query Arbitron's FM station database for KTXT
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