KQOB

KQOB (96.9 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Enid, Oklahoma, and serving the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It is owned by Champlin Broadcasting and calls itself 96.9 The Eagle. KQOB and sister station KZLS 1640 AM simulcast a talk radio format. Most of the schedule is made up of nationally syndicated conservative talk hosts, including Hugh Hewitt, Mike Gallagher, Dave Ramsey, Joe Pags and Todd Schnitt. Most hours begin with world and national news from Townhall Radio News.

KQOB has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for non-grandfathered FM stations. The transmitter is on North 2980 Road in Crescent, Oklahoma, about 25 miles north of Oklahoma City.^[1]

History[]

KCRC-FM and KMMZ[]

The station signed on the air on May 1, 1967; 54 years ago (1967-05-01). The original call sign was KCRC-FM. It was the FM counterpart to KCRC 1390 AM. KCRC-FM was separately programmed with a beautiful music format, playing quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumental cover versions of popular songs. It later switched its call letters to KNID and had a mostly country format until 2000. On July 12, 2000, the station changed its call sign to KMKZ.

On November 24, 2000, its call sign became KMMZ, moved to a tower closer to Oklahoma City, changed its slogan to "Memories 96.9", and began using the ABC Network’s “Memories” network for its programming.

The Bull and BOB FM[]

KMMZ began stunting on November 13, 2002, and adopted the slogan “The Bull's Oklahoma Christmas” playing Christmas music by country artists. On December 26, 2002, the station adopted “The Bull” slogan and Red Dirt Country format from then-KQBL (104.9 FM). The station began using the KQBL call sign on September 1, 2003.

The station began stunting again at 9 a.m. on November 3, 2003 with a brief all-comedy format. At 10:45 that morning, the station became "96.9 BOB FM" with an adult hits format. The station switched calls to KQOB on December 8, 2003.

On June 10, 2015, KQOB dropped the "Bob FM" branding and rebranded as "Classic Rock 96.9".^[2]

Classic Hits[]

On November 23, 2015, at 7 p.m., after playing "That's All" by Genesis, KQOB began stunting with Christmas music as simply "96.9" (the first song on the stunt was "Christmas All Over Again" by Tom Petty). In addition to the change, Jack Elliott and Ron Williams, formerly of KYIS, became morning hosts beginning December 3.^[3]

Logo as Fun 96.9, from 2015 to 2017.

On December 28, 2015, at 6 a.m., after playing "A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Alan Jackson, KQOB flipped to classic hits as "Fun 96.9." The first song on "Fun" was "Old Time Rock & Roll" by Bob Seger.^[4] Cumulus touted the station as "the right mix of pop and rock hits from the '60s, '70s, and '80s, plus legendary Oklahoma City on-air talents, including Jack and Ron each morning." Program Director Jeff Couch, midday host Leo Cage and afternoon duo Inzinga and Spinozi remained in place. Joining the on-air weekend staff in middays was Fred Hendrickson, who had been at direct classic hits competitor KOMA for the past 25 years.

On December 31, 2017, at Midnight, KQOB flipped back to adult hits as "Alice 96.9." All of the DJs were let go with the change.^[5]

The Eagle[]

On December 3, 2021, Cumulus Media announced it would end its local marketing agreement (LMA) with KQOB on January 1, 2022. Champlin in turn announced it would flip KQOB to a simulcast of conservative talk station 1640 KZLS as "96.9 The Eagle".^[6]

Just before midnight, after playing "Maneater" by Hall & Oates, KQOB began stunting with a "free preview" of sister station KNAH. The stunting ended January 3 at 5 a.m., when the talk radio simulcast began.^[7]

References[]

External links[]

• KQOB station website
• KQOB in the FCC FM station database
• KQOB on Radio-Locator
• KQOB in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

Coordinates: 35°58′52″N 97°41′42″W / 35.981°N 97.695°W / 35.981; -97.695