Nebraska Broadcasters Association Archive logo
edit

100.3 FM, Central City (Columbus)

City of License: Central City, NE

First Air Date: September 22, 1985

Operating Power: 100,000 watts

Original Call Letters: KZEN

Format: Country

Network Affiliation: ABC

General Manager: Gene McCoy

News Director: Gary Wulf

Program Director: Gordon Palfrathe

Sales Manager: Gene McCoy

Chief Engineer: Larry Nelsen

Date of FCC Issue: July 26, 1985

Issued To: Osage Radio, Inc.

Tagged:

Bob Cook Dave Gustafson Don Clonch Gary Buchanan Gene McCoy Greg Wells Lisa Cherry Paul Coates Rolland Johnson

Through the Years

  • 1984

    KRVN (Nebraska Rural Radio Association) had been competing with Osage Radio, Inc (Gene McCoy) for the construction permit for 100.3 FM, but they settled out of court, with KZEN paying $35,000 to KRVN.

    Construction permit is then issued by the FCC.

    August 24, 1084-  Call letters KZEN approved.

    McCoy says that the construction cost of the station was over $300,000.

  • 1985

    July 22, 1985-  KZEN signs on.  Owner:  Osage Radio, Inc, Gene McCoy, President, General Manager & Sales Manager.   100,000 watts at 1,848 feet, offering the largest FM coverage in Nebraska.
    Studio:  1608 16th Street, Central City, NE in what was then the Central City Police Station, prior to the station moving to another location.  Tower & Antenna:  43182 310th Street, Monroe, NE, north and east of Genoa, NE.   programming country and western music, branded as KZ100.

  • 1997

    KZEN is sold to Three Eagles -Columbus from Osage Radio. Three Eagles owns several stations in Columbus and is owned by Rolland Johnson, Chairman.  Gary Buchanan, CEO.     Studio is moved to 1415 24th Street in Columbus, co-locating with KLIR FM, KISK AM, KTTT AM and KKOT FM.  Greg Wells is named General Manager. (Other Managers in subsequent years include Don Clonch 2002-2003, Paul Coates 2003-2004 and Greg Wells returned as GM for a time before Lisa Cherry took the helm.)

  • 2014

    September 15, 2014- Three Eagles sells KZEN along with the other Columbus stations, as well as all other Three Eagles properties in a group sale to Alpha Media, through licensee Digity 3 E License, LLC., Portland, OR.