KVET (AM)

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KVET
City of license Austin, Texas
Broadcast area Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area
Branding AM 1300 The Zone
Slogan "The Longhorn Station; All Sports, All The Time"
Frequency 1300 (kHz)
First air date October 13, 1946
Format Sports
ERP 5000 Watts (day)
1000 Watts (night)
Class B
Callsign meaning K VETerans
Owner Clear Channel
(Capstar TX, LP)
Sister stations KASE-FM, KFMK-FM, KHFI-FM, KPEZ-FM, KVET-FM
Webcast Listen Live
Website http://www.am1300thezone.com

KVET (1300 AM), branded as "AM 1300 The Zone", is an Austin, Texas, radio station operating a Sports format. It is licensed to Austin, Texas, and is owned by Clear Channel Radio. KVET is directional with 5000 Watts to the northwest over the Texas Hill Country during the daytime and 1000 Watts to the south over central Austin at night from a transmitter site just a few miles north of downtown.

Contents

[edit] History

Shortly after the end of World War II, a group of young men pooled their resources to start a radio station in Austin, Texas. All of them were veterans of the conflict, hence K-VET AM-1300 signed on October 1, 1946. These men included future Texas Governor John Connally, future United States Representative Jake Pickle, future Ambassador to Australia Edward Clark, Jesse Kellam, and Willard Deason.[1]

As was common in the 1940s and 1950s, KVET offered "full service" radio, block programming of music, news, talk, cooking shows, even soap operas. As was not common, KVET also included programming for Austin's minority community. Spanish language news and music on "Noche De Fiesta"; music and news for the African-American community on "The Elmer Akins Gospel Train".

In the 1950s, even more diversity was added to the lineup when Lavada Durst introduced Austin to R&B and "Jive Talk" on KVET's nighttime "Dr. Hepcat Show".

Noche de Fiesta and Dr. Hepcat were phased out in the 1960s, but The Elmer Akins Gospel Train is on the air on KVET[2] to this day.

During most of the 1960s, KVET featured the popular music of the day, plus a strong emphasis on news and sports block programming. The music of Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Dinah Shore, plus Paul Harvey commentary, the Joe Pyne show, and Houston Astros baseball were all part of the mix.

KVET switched formats in 1969 to country music, and the Country Giant was born. Popular celebrity DJs including Arleigh Duff, Penny Reeves, Jerry Gee and Sammy Allred quickly took KVET to the top of the local ratings during the 1970s.

Despite increased competition, KVET continued to prosper in the 1980s by featuring a traditional mix of country music, news and sports, including Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys football.

In 1990, KVET began to also broadcast on 98.1 FM. With the new signal came the creation of the Sammy Allred and Bob Cole Morning Call-In Show. Through the 1990s, KVET has evolved to a sports and talk station, the flagship station of the Longhorn Radio Network. KVET-FM continues to attract audiences with a blend of country music and personality.

[edit] Current personalities

  • The Talk of Austin
    • Bob Cole
    • Bucky Godbolt
    • Eric Raines, Show Producer
    • Ellie Price, Assistant
    • Michelle Roebuck, News Director
    • Chuck Licata, Sports
    • Don Miller, Traffic Reports
    • Troy Kimmel, Chief Meteorologist
  • Jim Rome (Syndicated / Premiere Radio Networks)
  • Craig Way
  • Jon Madani
  • Anne Hudson, traffic reporter.
  • De Hansen
  • A.J. Hoffman
  • Jim Apfelbaum
  • "Music Man" Robert Chambers
  • Chris Mosser

[edit] Current producers

  • Jacob Detamore
  • Matt Butler

[edit] Former personalities

  • Sammy Allred
  • Major Applewhite
  • David Anderson
  • John Connally
  • Kevin Dunn
  • Arleigh Duff
  • Ronald "Trey/Boner/Viper" Elling
  • Jerry Gee
  • T.J. Greaney
  • Chad Hastings (Fired by Clear Channel on Monday, October 26, 2007)
  • Gregg Henson (Fired by Clear Channel on Wednesday, January 9, 2008)
  • Dr. Hepcat
  • Marc Hoenig
  • Erin Hogan
  • Brian "BJ" Jones
  • Hugh Lewis
  • Chuck Meyer (Program Director)
  • Jake Pickle
  • Trey Poston (Program Director)
  • Penny Reeves
  • Bill Schoening
  • Jeff Ward

[edit] Network affiliations

[edit] Station management

  • Program Director - Jon Madani

[edit] Studio Location

3601 S. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704

The Clear Channel Radio Austin studios are in an industrial, yet trendy business complex in "SoCo" south central Austin within walking distance of St. Edwards University. The complex, Penn Field, was Austin's first military air base. The Clear Channel Radio studios are located in the former hangar building.

KVET shares a building with sister stations KASE-FM, KFMK-FM, KHFI-FM, KPEZ-FM, and KVET-FM.

[edit] References

[edit] External links