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94.5 FM, Hastings

City of License: Hastings

First Air Date: February, 1965

Operating Power: 3,000 watts

Original Call Letters: KICS FM

General Manager: James A. Lambros, Jr.

Issued To: K Baar J Inc.

Tagged:

Bob Templeton Brian Griffey Craig Eckert Dave Nixon David Oldfather Dean Sorenson E. Euguene McCoy Jr Edward H. Tricker Jack Dinsdale James DePalma James Lambros Jr Jerry Hinrikus John McMillan Richard Chapin Robert D. Hanna Roy Crocker

Through the Years

  • 1965

    February, 1965- KICS FM signs on.  3,000 watts at 155 feet.  Programming separate from co-owned KICS AM, Hastings.  Transmitter/studio- 500 J. Street, Hastings.

  • 1967

    September, 1967- KICS AM & FM are sold to Hastings Broadcasting, Inc. (Jack Dinsdale, President) for $80,000.  VP/GM- Dave Nixon.

  • 1968

    ABC Network.  KICS FM duplicates KICS AM programming 100%.

  • 1969

    General Manager- John McMillan.  KICS FM duplicates KICS AM programming 50%.

  • 1970

    General Manager- Bob Templeton.  Format-Contemporary.

  • 1975

    February, 1975- KICS AM and KICS FM are sold to Apache Broadcasting Corporation for $160,000.  KICS FM format- Progressive Rock.

  • 1978

    December, 1978-Apache Broadcasting sells KICS AM/FM to Highwood Broadcasting Company for $475,000.  President/General Manager- James DePalma.

  • 1980

    KICS FM changes call letters to KEZH, upgrades to 250 feet, still at 3,000 watts.  Format flips to Beautiful Music.

  • 1983

    January, 1983- KEZH FM, KICS AM sold to Tri-Cities Broadcasting, Inc ( Robert D. Hanna, President, Edward H. Tricker). for $800,000.  General Manager- Jerry Hinrikus.

  • 1984

    General Manager- Brian Griffey.

  • 1985

    Transfer full ownership from half partner Robert D. Hanna to Edward H. Tricker for assumption of liabilities.  Sale includes KEZH FM, KICS AM, Hastings and KROX 1260 AM, Crookston, MN.

  • 1988

    KEZH FM goes to 50,000 watts at 265 feet, format flips to Adult Contemporary.

  • 1990

    September, 1990- KEZH FM & KICS AM are sold to Heartland Radio, Inc. ( E. Eugene McCoy, Jr) for $570,000.  General Manager- Roy Crocker.

  • 1991

    KEZH flips to Country format.

  • 1997

    July, 1997-Osage Radio Inc. (E. Eugene McCoy, Jr) sells to Three Eagles Communications as part of a package that includes KICS, KEZH, plus KZEN Central City, NE and KNJP, Sargent, NE for $2.1 million for stock.

  • 1998

    KEZH FM changes calls to KROR FM.

  • 1999

    KROR address is 311 West 11th Street, Hastings.   Format to Classic Rock.

  • 2000

    January, 2000-  KROR FM is sold by Three Eagles Communications to Eternal Broadcasting (51% Dean Sorenson, Sioux Falls, SD;  49% Richard Chapin, Lincoln, NE) for $750,000.  Format-Classic Rock.  Address- 3532 West Capital Avenue, Grand Island, NE.
    (Eternal Broadcasting purchased KCRO 660 AM from Radiomaha, Inc. a year later for $2 million.)

  • 2004

    KROR FM is upgraded to 100,000 watts at 1004 foot tower- 30 miles West of Hastings, near Skeeter Creek Road and W road, adjacent to the South Channel Platte River.

  • 2005

    October, 2005- NRG Media buys KROR from Eternal Broadcasting for $270,000 plus KLIQ 94.5, Hastings.  Eternal plans to sell KLIQ to Platte River Broadcasting (David Oldfather, Craig Eckert) for $700,000.  No Format or staff changes.

     

  • 2022

    Control sold to Flood Communications as part of a package that includes, KKPR 98.9 FM, KXPN 1460 AM, Kearney, NE, KHAS 1230AM and KICS AM, Hastings and KLIQ 94.5 Grand Island and associated translators.  Seller Platte River Radio receives $1.08 million for the package while retaining 45% ownership of the stations.