KQLA
| 200px | |
| City of license | Ogden, Kansas |
|---|---|
| Branding | Q Country 103.5 |
| Slogan | "Now you have a choice for country music." |
| Frequency | 103.5 MHz |
| First air date | February 14, 1986 |
| Format | Country |
| ERP | 41,000 watts |
| HAAT | 95 meters |
| Class | C2 |
| Facility ID | 33565 |
| Owner | Eagle Communications |
| Website | qcountry1035.com |
KQLA "Q Country 103.5" is a radio station licensed to Ogden, Kansas. It broadcasts to the Junction City-Manhattan-Fort Riley area broadcasting on 103.5 MHz with an ERP of 41,000 watts. The station is owned by Eagle Communications, which also owns stations KJCK and KJCK-FM, as well as 25 radio stations throughout Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
History
KQLA went on the air on the evening of February 14, 1986, with a Top 40 format, and competed against (now sister station) KJCK-FM and KMKF. (The station actually began airing construction sounds on February 12, while also conducting initial transmitter tests and generating curiosity in the community about its unannounced future format). It was owned by Kaw Valley Broadcasting Company. KQLA originally began broadcasting on 103.9 MHz at 3,000 Watts and was branded "Q-104" (an approximation of the original frequency). The station was licensed to Ogden, Kansas, a small community situated between Manhattan and Junction City near Fort Riley. In 1991, KQLA switched frequencies with KNZA, a station in Hiawatha located on 103.5. It switched to a Hot AC format when the station was sold to Platinum Broadcasting (97.5's owners) on August 1, 1997. It featured the "Young AC" programming from ABC Radio, which was satellite-fed. This lasted until 2005 when the owners cut the satellite feed and focused on local DJs and moved towards an adult contemporary format. The same satellite-fed format, known as "Today's Best Hits", could also be heard on Concordia, Kansas, based station, KCKS "94.9 Kiss FM" (which can be reached in the Junction City area), until 2010, when that station went towards a local presentation, changed call letters to KNCK and was renamed "NCK 94-9".
KQLA was the local affiliate for "Intelligence for Your Life" with John Tesh, Tom Kent's programs ("Your Request Show", "The Tom Kent Program", "My 70's Show", and "The Ultimate Party"), "The 70's w/ Steve Goddard", "American Top 10 w/ Casey Kasem", "American Gold w/ Dick Bartley", and "The Retro Pop Reunion w/ Joe Cortese".
During its tenure as an AC station, KQLA played Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
On October 6, 2011, Platinum Broadcasting announced it was ceasing operations, and that the station, along with its sister stations, will be sold to Hays-based Eagle Communications, pending FCC approval.[1] The sale was approved on December 15, 2011.
On July 25, 2013, the station dropped its Adult Contemporary format and began stunting with Christmas music. This plays on certain retail stores such as K-Mart hosting "Christmas in July" sales, which have become common in the past decade. The stunting is a prelude to a possible format change to country music.[2]
On July 29, 2013, at 6 AM, after playing "The Christmas Song" by Al Jarreau, KQLA flipped to country, branded as "Q Country 103.5."
Ratings
Currently, the station is ranked at # 13.
Sister stations
References
- ↑ http://www.eaglecom.net/2011NewsReleases/KJCK-KQLAAcquisitionOct2011.pdf
- ↑ http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/84323/christmas-comes-to-manhattan/
External links
- Official website
- Former satellite-fed Hot AC format, provided by ABC Radio
- Query the FCC's FM station database for KQLA
- Radio-Locator information on KQLA
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for KQLA
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