KTXX-FM

KTXX-FM (104.9 FM, "The Horn") is a sports radio station serving the Austin area. The BMP Radio outlet broadcasts at 104.9 MHz with an ERP of 3,200 watts and is licensed to Bee Cave, Texas. Its transmitter is located in Bee Cave, Texas.

History

KTXX-FM was launched as "KQBT" on 104.3 FM (licensed to Taylor, Texas) in 1998 after the frequency would be moved southward to the Austin area after previously serving Temple-Killeen market as KKIK. Soon enough, BIG 105.9 FM was in New York in 1998 as a Classic Rock station, playing Reggaeton, Salsa, some Merengue, and some Bachata. At the time, the station served as a rhythmic version of a younger Urban formatted radio station alternative to then co-owned Hip hop station WNIC "Nick Jr 106.7" (now a talk radio station). This would eventually propel KQBT as one of Austin's Top 5 radio stations according to Arbitron ratings. By 2001, the station dropped Dance music and eventually Pop music from the playlist and has gone straight Hip Hop and R&B.

But in 2004, Howard Stern was expected back on the radio due in several markets due to Clear Channel firing him for indecency. And KQBT, along with five other replacement radio stations owned by what was then called Infinity Broadcasting (which owned Stern's show through syndication), was selected to carry the morning drive. As a result, there would be uncertainty that the Hip Hop/R&B format would even survive with Howard Stern on the air, so the frequency flipped to talk radio, changed calls to KOYT and called itself 104.3 The Coyote. The FM Talk format did not do well at all; because of this, the ratings tanked. So the frequency returned to Rhythmic Contemporary Hits format five months later under the former branding Beat 104.3 but with new call letters KXBT because KQBT was already assigned to a radio station in Llano, Texas, and later, a radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico now. Even though it is a Rhythmic, this time KXBT skewed slightly towards an unofficial Mainstream Urban format, unusual for the market's demographics given the fact less than 10% of the Austin radio market's population is African American. To accommodate the return, the station held a campaign in early 2005 to "Make The Big Switch Back to the Beat," with the slogan at the time being "The People's Station" before finally settling on the current one, "The Beat of the ATX." It became home for a short time to the controversial Star and Buc Wild Morning Show from December 2005 to May 2006 (when Star was fired for controversial topics). The reigns were handed to then-weekend jock, Snoop Daniel, who was voted Austin360.com's top morning radio personality (September 2007). The morning show once again returned to syndication on February 4, 2008, broadcasting the Big Boy's Neighborhood morning show (ABC Radio).

The station is currently in a battle with Rhythmic rival KDHT, Mainstream rival KHFI and Rhythmic Adult Contemporary rival KFMK-FM in Austin's Top 40 battle. Soon after the return to the format, KXBT has reintroduced Freestyle Dance music and added more Reggaeton music to the charts.

In 2006, CBS Radio divested its assets and sold the Austin radio cluster (also includes KAMX, KKMJ and KJCE) to Entercom. On February 21, 2007, Entercom announced that the 104.3 frequency would be sold to Univision and change to a Spanish format on February 26. The staff was already told of this stunning news before it was made public in the trades and was expecting to leave prior to the flip. Albeit that Univision owns Hip Hop music stations in San Antonio, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and Albuquerque, the Austin cluster of Univision did not want the format this time. So after the announcement was made, The Beat moved to 104.9 as Beat 104.9, thus leaving the staff and lineup intact—except Entercom indeed let them go and was picked up by Border Media Partners (BMP). Previously Digital 104.9 on this frequency, it moved to the 92.5 position.

On September 26, 2008, BMP announced that KXBT will flip to Spanish. On September 29, 2008, KXBT became a simulcast of KXXS, allowing them to now cover the entire Austin metro with KXBT serving the western portion and KXXS covering the eastern part of the area.

The KXBT call sign was also assigned circa 1995 to the first expanded AM Band (West of NJ) 1640 station in Vallejo, California. KXBT 1640 Vallejo simulcast and diplexed with 1190 KNBA Vallejo until sold and relocated. KXBT 1640 AM changed call signs and after being sold now signs KDIA.

On November 2, 2009 KHHL changed their call letters to KTXX-FM and changed their format to sports, branded as "104.9 The Horn".

KTXX calls originated in the late 90s on 92.5 FM in Devine, Texas which then changed its calls to KSJL now KRPT. In 2005, KTXX resurfaced as an Air America afflilate on 103.1 in Karnes City, Texas which later flipped to Spanish Talk "La Luz". On November 2, 2009 KHHL calls transferred from Austin to Karnes City and format change known now as "La Lupe".

External links

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