KCUL (AM)

KCUL (1410 FM, "Fox Sports") is an American radio station licensed to serve Marshall, Texas. The station is owned by Access.1 and the broadcast license is held by Access.1 Texas License Company LLC. It broadcasts a Sports Talk format from Fox Sports format which is simulcast with sister station KFRO.

History

1410 KCUL first signed on the air in 1957 as KADO, and was owned by the Caddo Broadcasting Company. 1410 was built along I-20 and highway 59 south on the feeder road. 1410 was a complete Gates turn-key facility, including a BC-1H transmitter.

In 1967 1410 was sold and the call letters were changed to KDOX.

In 1977, 1410 changed formats and call letters to become KKYR "Kicker 1410". KKYR was a country music station, but only lasted six years due to saturation by the FM country stations.

On November 11, 1983, 1410 changed call letters again to KCUL when it acquired 92.3 KCUL-FM. For 20 years the KCUL stations played oldies (50s and 60s rock and roll).

The KCUL call letters were originally on 1540 (now KZMP) in University Park, Texas from 1949-1967.

In 2005 (with the acquisition of the Waller Media stations by Access.1) the live, local oldies programming ceased. Access.1 created a trimulcast of 104.1 KKUS Tyler and 1370 KFRO Longview, "The Ranch" (Classic Country).

KCUL has now switched to Christian Talk from the Moody Bible Institute.

1410 KCUL is still at its original transmitter site along I-20 at the Hwy 59 exit. The studios are also still there although the station is programmed from Tyler, Texas.

Current programming

Presently KCUL is simulcasting Fox Sports Radio with its sister station 1370 KFRO Longview.

Former programming

Prior to May 2013 KCUL aired a Christian talk format from the Moody Bible Institute called "The Word"

The on-air staff includes Gary P. Walker, Don Jones, Mandee Montana, Dave Rousseau, and Tom Perryman. In the late 1940s Perryman started his career at 1400 KEBE "The KEBE Corral" in Jacksonville, Texas. In the mid 1950s Tom was at KSIJ (now KEES) 1430 in Gladewater, Texas. It was at KSIJ that Perryman brought Elvis to East Texas, and gave Elvis some of his first work. It was also at KSIJ that Tom met Jim Reeves, Floyd Cramer, and Johnny Horton. Then Tom went on to host the Opry Star Spotlight on The Air Castle of the South 650 WSM in Nashville, as well as becoming one of the most famous Opry announcers of all time. Before leaving WSM he hired his replacement, Ralph Emery. Tom and Jim Reeves then bought KGRI AM/FM in Henderson, Texas. Later Tom and Mary Reeves bought WMTS AM/FM in Murfreesboro, TN. The Perrymans and Mary Reeves sold WMTS AM/FM in the early 80s, and Perryman went into retirement. Perryman was convinced to come back to East Texas by Dudley Waller (former owner of KKUS) and Rick Guest (former GM of Waller and Access.1), to boost the ratings of the fledgling classic country station (The Ranch). Tom agreed to join the Ranch, and has kept "The Ranch" consistently at the top of the ratings.^{[citation needed]}

1410 KCUL along with 1370 KFRO and 104.1 KKUS are the radio home of the Longview Lobos High School football team.

Engineering

1410 KCUL is licensed for 500 watts day with a two-tower directional pattern, and 90 watts night with a two-tower directional pattern.

1410 KCUL has only had two transmitters: a 1957 Gates BC-1H and a 1977 Harris MW-1A.

Sister stations

1410 KCUL is owned by Access.1 of New York, its East Texas sister stations are: 92.3 KCUL-FM Marshall, 1370 KFRO Longview, 104.1 KKUS Tyler, 105.7 KYKX Longview, 96.7 KOYE Frankston, and 106.5 KOOI Jacksonville.

References

External links

• Query the FCC's AM station database for KCUL
• Radio-Locator Information on KCUL
• Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for KCUL

Coordinates: 32°29′30″N 94°21′52″W / 32.49167°N 94.36444°W / 32.49167; -94.36444