103.7 FM, Atlantic, IA (Omaha)

Through the Years

• 1966

  KJAN FM signs on at 103.7 FM, with 26,000 watts at 115 feet, atop co-owned KJAN-1220 AM tower.  Studios and transmitter are located a quarter mile north of the Atlantic city limits.   Programming duplicates KJAN AM.

• 1970

  Station power is increased to 52,000 watts.

• 1971

  Station power is increased to 100,000 watts.

• 1975

  KJAN FM tower height is increased to 240 feet.

• 1985

  Nishna Valley Broadcasting is sold to Carl and Robert Seldon, Brent Slay and Robert Bebensee for $1.1million, including KJAN AM.

• 1987

  November, 1987-Station is sold to Valley Broadcasting (Bob Greenlee, Bob Dean) for $1.825 Million. A new 1100-foot tower is constructed near Hancock, Iowa, 30 miles east of downtown Omaha, however signal problems in the metro area plague the station for the next nine years.   Studios/office are located at 1108 Dodge Street in Omaha.

• 1988

  February, 1988-   Valley Broadcasting buys KOIL 1290 AM for $900,000.

  March, 1988- Call letters are changed to KOMJ “Omaha’s Magic” and station launches a three-day computer countdown to debut Oldies-based Adult Contemporary format.  Mark Evans returns to Omaha as Program Director.

• 1989

  Format is adjusted to Hit Music/Oldies.

  November, 1989-A deal is reached to sell KOMJ and KOIL to Ovation Broadcasting (Phoenix, AZ) for $5.575 million but the deal fails to close.

• 1990

  March, 1990- Format flips to CHR and call letters change to KXKT, The Kat, starting a CHR battle with KQKQ.

  G. (Gary) Rockett Phillips starts on mornings and former KQKQ Program Director Mark Evans returns from a stint in Birmingham, AL to be Program Director and leaves the market in 1994.

• 1992

  Rockett leaves to do mornings on KQKQ 98.5FM  Jeff Jackson and John Bell (TJ) take over mornings.  The format flips to Alternative Rock resulting in the worst ratings ever.  Station fires up an in-city on-frequency booster from the North 72nd and Crown Point tower farm, at 17,000 watts at 944 feet to compensate for the Iowa main tower signal issues, with mixed results.

  October, 1992-  Station flips format to Country, KT-103.

• 1993

  Co-owned 1290 AM KOIL is spun off to Mitchell Broadcasting for $470,000.

• 1995

  September, 1995- Valley receives approval to move the Community of License from Atlantic, IA to Glenwood, IA

• 1995

  Station is sold to Triathlon Broadcasting (San Diego, CA) for $8.125 million.  Studios are moved to now co-owned KRRK FM at 88th and F Streets in Omaha.

  New owners move the Hancock, IA transmitter to the Omaha television tower farm at 72nd & Crown Point, on the WOWT tower at 880 ft.  ( Transmitter is moved to the KETV tower some time after 2003).

  Station returns to The Kat moniker.  With the improved signal, The Kat reaches #1 in the ratings.

• 1998

  Triathlon is sold to Capstar, which in turns with Chancellor Media resulting in the formation of AM/FM, Inc.

• 1999

  October, 1999- Clear Channel Communications buys AM/FM Inc, and station becomes a part of the company that owns 830 radio stations.

• 2004

  April 1, 2004-  Veteran morning air personality Steve Lundy returns to Omaha after a stint at KLIN, Lincoln, NE  and is paired up with Gina Melton for “Steve & Gina” in the morning on KXKT.