KTTU-FM

KTTU-FM (104.3 FM), known as "Double T 104.3", is a Sports formatted radio station owned by Ramar Communications of Lubbock. The station's community of license is Brownfield, Texas, and it serves the greater Lubbock area at 104.3 MHz with an ERP of 50kW. KTTU-FM is Lubbock's first FM sports station.

History

KSTQ, which aired a Rhythmic music format until July 23, 2009, was one of four contemporary stations in the market, the other three being KBTE, KZII and KMMX.

The station began as KKTC in early 1985. The founder-partners were Billy B. Reynolds, Curcey H. "Bud" Andrews, Jr. , Charles "Charlie" Wilson, and DRA, Inc. composed of Brownfield Texas lawyers named D_____, Rudd, and Anderson.) in the Brownfield, Texas FM now known as 104.3 KTTU-FM. The application had been filed in mid 1980 ^[1] and granted after a hearing in 1984. The station signed on as KKTC and the company was known as BBC Brownfield Broadcasting Company. Andrews and Reynolds had worked at KFYO (AM) and had noticed that the former news director of KLVT (AM) Del Kirby had started a station called KHOC (FM) in Levelland (now KJDL-FM). The two broadcasters made an offer to buy the station but were not successful. Other staff at KFYO (Roger Hiveley or Chuck Kinney, or perhaps David Stewart who is known to have worked at KFYO in this timeframe.) made them aware of other FM channels available in other towns (at the time Ralls, Floydada and Brownfield were available) and that Brownfield appearred to be the largest.

KKTC went on air with a country format and studio on the square in Brownfield. The initial ownership was Bud Andrews 26%, Bill Reynolds 26%, Charlie Wilson (electronics teacher at Lubbock Independent School District founder of KLSD (now KOHM) and the engineer who knocked nearby KJAK and KHOC together) 24% and DRA, Inc. (composed of partners of local law firm, including Jim Rudd a State representative 24%.

The station was not an instant success. Costs of start-up were much higher than expected. Partners expected to come up with start up equipment underperformed, and perhaps worst of all, the two partners who actually worked at the station disagreed on how to run the station, whether to live in the town, and one how to actually sell ads on the station. In short order Reynolds bought out Andrews, and Wilson was bought out by Mr. Denison whose son worked at the station and had a car dealership in Hobbs, NM. About a year later Dennison bought out Reynolds and ended up with about 3/4 of the station.

In 1996 Paul R. Beane purchased 104.3, and broadcasted as Classic Rock 104.3, KLZK. The studios were co-located with KRFE radio at 6602 Quirt Ave, in the old "Buddy Holly" studio. Music director Chris Holley was the night shift air-talent, along with Bobby Gonzales on days.

Later call letters were KLZK until March 30, 2008 when KLZK moved from 104.3 to 97.3, while KSTQ moved from 97.3 to 104.3.

Hot 104.3's on-air positioning included "#1 for Hip-Hop, R&B y mas," when it was on the 97.3 frequency. The slogan for KSTQ after moving from the 97.3 frequency was "Lubbock's hottest hits!"

Ramar Communications obtained the rights to Texas Tech sports from GAP Broadcasting. As a result, Ramar announced via Tech Talk on Fox Talk 950 AM that Hot 104.3 will change to an all sports station sometime in the Summer of 2009. On July 23, 2009, at 1 p.m., 104.3 began stunting with the top 15 Texas Tech Football games from the past 10 years (around the start of the Mike Leach era) until 6 a.m., July 27, 2009. The name of the station, "Double T 104.3" refers to Texas Tech's Double T logo. The KSTQ call letters were also dropped and changed to KTTU to associate itself with Texas Tech University. This station also became the flagship station for Red Raider sports.

In addition to Texas Tech sports, KTTU also became the home for Texas Rangers baseball and the Dallas Cowboys.

References

External links

• Query the FCC's FM station database for KTTU
• Radio-Locator information on KTTU
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for KTTU