KBEC
Broadcast area | Ellis County |
---|---|
Frequency | 1390 kHz |
Branding | KBEC 99.1 FM - 1390 AM |
Programming | |
Format | Classic Texas Country |
Ownership | |
Owner | Jon Garrett |
History | |
First air date | 1955 |
Former call signs | KELL (1949-1951) KWHA (1952–1953) (These stations never went on the air) |
Call sign meaning | Keep Building Ellis County |
Technical information | |
Class | 1390: B 99.1: D |
Power | 1390: 480 watts (daytime) 260 watts (Nighttime) |
ERP | 99.1: 250 watts |
HAAT | 99.1: 45 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 1390: 32°25′30″N 96°51′56″W / 32.42500°N 96.86556°W 99.1: 32°26′48.50″N 96°48′16″W / 32.4468056°N 96.80444°W |
Translator(s) | K256DE (99.1 MHz, Waxahachie) |
Links | |
Website | kbec.com |
KBEC (1390 kHz) is a commercial AM and FM radio station licensed to Waxahachie, Texas and serving Ellis County. It is owned by Jon and Alyssa Garrett and it carries a classic country and Texas country radio format with some talk and sports shows.
Programming is also heard on 250 watt FM translator K256DE at 99.1 MHz in Waxahachie.
History
KBEC has the distinction of being the longest family-owned station in Texas.[citation needed] It has been family-owned since 1955 when it was founded by Faye and Richard Tuck. The Tuck family came to Waxahachie in 1952 to pursue dream of purchasing a radio station.
KBEC was the third attempt to build a station on 1390 AM in Ellis County. The first was KELL, owned by the Ellis County Broadcasting Company, which received a construction permit in 1949. In early 1950, the Federal Communications Commission denied an extension of its permit because the owners had indicated they wanted to build the station and sell it immediately.[1] In 1952, Cen-Tex Broadcasting received a construction permit for KWHA, which never came to air.
Ellis County Broadcasting Service, owned by W. Richard Tuck, James B. Branch and Roy M. Fish, received the construction permit for KBEC in September 1954 and signed the station on in 1955 (with Tuck buying out the remaining partners in 1956). An adult standards format was in place from 1955 to 1978. The station then switched to a short-lived Spanish language Regional Mexican format, reverting to adult standards music again. In 1988, KBEC made its change to classic country music. In 2011, the format began emphasizing more Texas artists and adopted the programming theme of "Made in Texas, Played in Texas and Born in Texas".
In May 2011 the station was sold to Troubadour Communications. The station was purchased in July 2011 from Jeanne Mosley, Sandra Howell and general manager Ken Roberts. This was a private stock transfer of assets including a 3,650 square feet (339 m2) building, 13.98 acres of land housing the station towers and transmitter, as well as personal property and building contents. The format was also altered to focus on Classic Texas music. Ken Roberts, Barry Wolverton and all key personnel, including now current owner Jon Garrett, were retained.
In February 2022, KBEC was sold to Jon and Alyssa Garrett. Jon started his radio career at the station in 2010. As an all-cash sale, Jon retained all common stock, office building (711 Ferris Ave), and the 13.98 acre tower site from Troubadour Communications for 1.05 million cash. Ken Roberts, Barry Wolverton and other long tenured staff continue their commitment to the station and community as a new chapter began in 2022.
References
- ^ "KELL Request: FCC Denies Extension" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 20, 1950. p. 66. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
External links
- KBEC Facebook
- KBEC station website
- DFW Radio/TV History
- Facility details for Facility ID KBEC ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's AM station database