KILT-FM

KILT-FM
Houston, Texas;
Broadcast area	Greater Houston
Frequency	100.3 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	100.3 The Bull
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	FM/HD1: Country music; HD2: KILT sports radio simulcast; HD3: Texas country "KIKK Country";
Ownership
Owner	Entercom; (Entercom License, LLC);
Sister stations	KHMX, KIKK, KILT (AM), KKHH, KLOL
History
First air date	February 1962 (62 years ago)
Former call signs	KOST (1961-1967); KZAP (1967-1968); KILT-FM (1967-1984); KXAS-FM (1984-1985); KILT-FM (1985-present);
Call sign meaning	Nickname/ethnicity of former owner, Gordon "Old Scotchman" McLendon
Technical information
Facility ID	25439
Class	C
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	585 meters (1,919 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	29°34′34″N 95°30′36″W / 29.57611°N 95.51000°W
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	thebull.radio.com

KILT-FM (100.3 MHz "The Bull 100.3") is a commercial FM radio station in Houston, Texas. It is owned by Entercom and airs a country music radio format. The studios and offices are in Greenway Plaza in Southwest Houston. KILT-FM serves as a co-flagship radio station of the Houston Texans Football team, along with co-owned KILT AM 610.

KILT-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the highest permitted for non-grandfathered FM stations in the U.S.^[1] The transmitter is off Farm to Market Road near Fort Bend Parkway in Southwest Houston.^[2] KILT-FM broadcasts in the HD Radio hybrid format. The HD-2 subchannel simulcasts the sports radio format of sister station AM 610 KILT. The HD-3 subchannel carries a Texas country music format known as "KIKK Country."

History

McLendon Origins

In February 1962, noted radio programmer and owner Gordon McLendon signed on an FM station at 100.3 MHz as the sister station to popular Top 40 KILT 610.^[3] The station originally had the call sign KOST and it carried an easy listening format. The power was only 16,500 watts, a fraction of its current output.

The call letters were changed to KZAP in November 1967, shortly before McLendon sold his Houston properties to LIN Broadcasting. (McLendon moved the KOST call letters to his property in Los Angeles.)

FM 100 KILT Rock

Upon assuming control of KILT and KZAP in 1968, LIN changed the FM station's call letters to KILT-FM. KILT-FM began playing Top 40 music, similar to the successful AM station. But in the late 1960s the Federal Communications Commission began encouraging AM-FM combos to offer separate programming on each station. In the early 1970s, KILT-FM adopted a free-form progressive rock format while "The Big 610" KILT continued with its long-running Top 40 format.

KILT-FM was staffed with young disc jockeys who chose the music for their shows and had the freedom to discuss pop culture and current events during their programs. The station went by the slogan "Radio Montrose", named for the neighborhood in which the station's studios were located. By 1974, the station evolved to a more structured album rock format as "FM 100".

FM 100 KILT Country

KILT-FM flipped to country music on February 16, 1981.^[4]^[5] When 610 KILT switched to country as well on June 1, 1981, its long-running Hudson and Harrigan morning show remained and began to be simulcast on KILT-FM. The rest of the day, the AM had more talk and information and it played some classic country titles along with current songs, while KILT-FM was more contemporary and had its DJs avoid too much chatter.

From its debut in 1967 through 1995, the Hudson and Harrigan morning show had eleven different sets of personalities occupying the personas of Mac Hudson and Irv Harrigan. The show's title remained, regardless of the DJs who staffed the program. Ken Hoffmann of the Houston Chronicle described Hudson and Harrigan as "the longest-running, most successful morning team anywhere in America".^[4] In 1994, KILT 610 AM switched to sports radio, leaving Hudson and Harrigan on KILT-FM only.

Their run finally ended when KILT-FM announced the show's termination on March 23, 2010. Fred Olson and Randy Hames, who hosted as Hudson and Harrigan for the last 28 years, were released. Longtime KILT-FM afternoon personality Rowdy Yates, Erin Austin, and Cowboy Dave were subsequently named the new morning show hosts.^[6]

After switching to country, KILT-FM competed directly against KIKK-FM, the other major FM country music station in Houston. According to the Houston Chronicle, "after initial success, KILT-FM struggled through an aborted change of call letters (KXAS-FM in 1984) and the lack of a strong identity with listeners".^[7] In the spring of 1989, KILT-FM finally pulled ahead of KIKK-FM in the Arbitron ratings. KIKK-FM maintained the lead position for the next two ratings periods, and at the end of the year, Radio and Records magazine rated KILT-FM as the second most-listened-to country radio station in the United States in terms of market share. It had an estimated 542,600 listeners tuned in for at least 15 minutes each week. KIKK-FM was fourth on the nationwide list, with an estimated 508,700 listeners.^[7]

"The Bull"

On January 10, 2013, at 5 p.m., after playing "Give It All We Got Tonight" by George Strait, the station relaunched as "The Bull @ 100.3". The station shifted its playlist to include more current and recent music, avoiding most hits recorded before 2000. The first song on "The Bull" was "Drink in My Hand" by Eric Church.^[8]

Ownership changes

KILT-AM-FM had been owned by LIN Broadcasting Corporation since 1968.^[9] In an effort to divest itself of all of its radio stations, in late 1986, LIN Broadcasting Corporation sold KILT and KILT-FM to Legacy Broadcasting Inc. for $36.75 million.^[10] Less than three years later, KILT-AM-FM were sold, along with seven other radio stations, by Metropolitan-Legacy to Westinghouse Broadcasting. At the time, the $360 million deal was considered the largest ever in radio. To meet federal regulations on radio ownership, Westinghouse sold its Houston station 99.5 KODA.^[11]

In 1993, Westinghouse purchased KILT-FM's country rival, KIKK-FM, as well as 650 KIKK. At the time, KILT-FM was first in the Arbitron ratings, with KIKK-FM second in the Houston market. A single general manager was assigned to run both stations. According to Dan Mason, president of Westinghouse Radio Broadcasting, "'As they have been fierce competitors in the past, our two Houston radio properties will now join hands to create one of Houston's most unique country music powerhouses, each with its own programming and sales team.'"^[12] On November 4, 2002, KIKK-FM stopped playing country music and switched to a Smooth Jazz format as KHJZ (now KKHH). This left KILT-FM as again one of only two Houston country stations (competing against KKBQ-FM owned by Clear Channel Communications). Some of the KIKK-FM promotions, including the 10 Man Jam concerts, were moved to KILT-FM.^[13]

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom.^[14] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on the 17th.^[15]^[16]

KILT-FM was the last Houston FM radio station to maintain a full-service news department. The department was disbanded in 2004 when KILT-FM dropped its afternoon newscasts to go with a more-music approach.^[17]

References

^ FCC.gov/KILT-FM
^ Radio-Locator.com/KILT-FM
^ Information from the Broadcasting Yearbook 1963 page B-179
^ ^a ^b Hoffman, Ken (August 2, 1995), "Hudson and Harrigan: Is their reign on the wane?", Houston Chronicle, p. Houston section, p. 2., retrieved 2007-11-19
^ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1981/RR-1981-02-20.pdf
^ Barron, David (March 24, 2010), "Hudson & Harrigan era ends at KILT", Houston Chronicle, retrieved 2010-03-31
^ ^a ^b Mitchell, Rick (February 25, 1990), "They' fightin' for the country: Radio stations KIKK and KILT go toe-to-toe for Houston listeners", Houston Chronicle, p. Zest, p. 8., retrieved 2007-11-19
^ http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/80441/bull-revamp-coming-to-houston/
^ Parks, Louis B. (April 27, 1987), "Stations take cautious approach to new radio rules", Houston Chronicle, p. Houston section, p. 1., retrieved 2007-11-19
^ "LIN to sell KILT radio stations for $36 million", Houston Chronicle, p. Business, p. 2., December 18, 1986, retrieved 2007-11-19
^ "Business briefs", Houston Chronicle, p. Business, p. 4., December 8, 1989, retrieved 2007-11-19
^ Hassell (July 9, 1993), "KIKK corralled by KILT's owner Westinghouse", Houston Chronicle, p. Business, p. 1., retrieved 2007-11-19
^ Pugh, Clifford (November 5, 2002), KIKK now in a jazz format, Houston Chronicle, p. Houston section, p. 1., retrieved 2007-11-19
^ CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom
^ "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio". Entercom. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
^ Venta, Lance (November 17, 2017). "Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger". Radio Insight. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
^ Barron, David (December 17, 2004), "KILT lays off longtime radio icon: Carola continues as PA announcer for Texans games", Houston Chronicle, p. Sports, p. 3., retrieved 2007-11-19

External links

Official website
Facility details for Facility ID KILT ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
{{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

[1] FCC.gov/KILT-FM

[2] Radio-Locator.com/KILT-FM

[3] Information from the Broadcasting Yearbook 1963 page B-179

[hoffman1995-4] Hoffman, Ken (August 2, 1995), "Hudson and Harrigan: Is their reign on the wane?", Houston Chronicle, p. Houston section, p. 2., retrieved 2007-11-19

[5] ttp://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1981/RR-1981-02-20.pdf

[Barron2010-6] Barron, David (March 24, 2010), "Hudson & Harrigan era ends at KILT", Houston Chronicle, retrieved 2010-03-31

[mitchell1990-7] Mitchell, Rick (February 25, 1990), "They' fightin' for the country: Radio stations KIKK and KILT go toe-to-toe for Houston listeners", Houston Chronicle, p. Zest, p. 8., retrieved 2007-11-19

[8] ttp://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/80441/bull-revamp-coming-to-houston/

[9] Parks, Louis B. (April 27, 1987), "Stations take cautious approach to new radio rules", Houston Chronicle, p. Houston section, p. 1., retrieved 2007-11-19

[10] "LIN to sell KILT radio stations for $36 million", Houston Chronicle, p. Business, p. 2., December 18, 1986, retrieved 2007-11-19

[11] "Business briefs", Houston Chronicle, p. Business, p. 4., December 8, 1989, retrieved 2007-11-19

[12] Hassell (July 9, 1993), "KIKK corralled by KILT's owner Westinghouse", Houston Chronicle, p. Business, p. 1., retrieved 2007-11-19

[13] Pugh, Clifford (November 5, 2002), KIKK now in a jazz format, Houston Chronicle, p. Houston section, p. 1., retrieved 2007-11-19

[14] CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom

[15] "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio". Entercom. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.

[16] Venta, Lance (November 17, 2017). "Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger". Radio Insight. Retrieved November 17, 2017.

[17] Barron, David (December 17, 2004), "KILT lays off longtime radio icon: Carola continues as PA announcer for Texans games", Houston Chronicle, p. Sports, p. 3., retrieved 2007-11-19

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v t e Country radio stations in the state of Texas
Stations	KABW – Baird KACQ – Lometa KACT – Andrews KACT-FM – Andrews KAGG – Madisonville KAJA – San Antonio KALP – Alpine KAML – Kenedy-Karnes City KAND – Corsicana KARX – Canyon KASE-FM – Austin KATP – Amarillo KATX – Eastland KAUM – Colorado City KAYD-FM - Silsbee KBCT – Waco KBCY – Tye KBEC – Waxahachie KBEY – Burnet KBHT - Bellmead KBQQ – Smiley KBST-FM – Big Spring KBUK – La Grange KCKL – Malakoff KCKM – Monahans KCLW – Hamilton KCTX-FM – Childress KCUN-LP - Livingston KCWM – Hondo KCYY – San Antonio KDCD – San Angelo KDDD-FM – Dumas KDHN – Dimmitt KDLK-FM – Del Rio KDNZ – Pecos KDRX – Laughlin Air Force Base KEAN-FM – Abilene KEKR - Mexia KEON – Ganado KERC – Kermit KEYE – Perryton KFLP-FM – Floydada KFST-FM – Fort Stockton KFTX – Kingsville KFWR – Jacksboro KFYN-FM – Detroit KGAS-FM – Carthage KGKL-FM – San Angelo KGNC-FM – Amarillo KHBR – Hillsboro KHDY – Clarksville KHEY-FM – El Paso KHFX – Cleburne KHKX – Odessa KHLB – Mason KHOS-FM – Sonora KIBQ – Austwell KIKT – Cooper KILT-FM – Houston KIMP – Mount Pleasant KIUN – Pecos KIVY-FM – Crockett KIXS – Victoria KJCS – Nacogdoches KKBQ – Pasadena KKCN – Ballinger KKLY – El Paso KKUS – Tyler KKYN-FM – Plainview KKYR-FM – Texarkana KKYX – San Antonio KLLL-FM – Lubbock KLSR-FM – Memphis KLUR – Wichita Falls KLXK – Breckenridge KMBL – Junction KMHT – Marshall KMIL – Cameron KMKT – Bells KMOO-FM – Mineola KMUL-FM – Muleshoe KMVL-FM – Madisonville KMWX – Abilene KNAF – Fredericksburg KNAF-FM – Fredericksburg KNAL - Port Lavaca KNEL-FM – Brady KNES – Fairfield KNFM – Midland KNUE – Tyler KNUZ – San Saba KOLI – Electra KOLJ – Quanah KOMX – Pampa KORA-FM – Bryan KORQ - Winters KOXE – Brownwood KOYN – Paris KPAN – Hereford KPAN-FM – Hereford KPET – Lamesa KPIR – Granbury KPLX – Fort Worth KPSO-FM – Falfurrias KPUR-FM - Claude KQBB – Center KQBQ – Meyersville KQBR – Lubbock KQTY-FM – Borger KRBL – Idalou KRMX – Marlin KRNH – Kerrville KRPT – Devine KRRG – Laredo KRUN – Ballinger KRVA-FM - Campbell KRVF – Kerens KRXT – Rockdale KRYS-FM – Corpus Christi KSAM-FM – Huntsville KSAQ – Charlotte KSCH – Sulphur Springs KSCN – Pittsburg KSCK-LP – Sterling City KSCS – Fort Worth KSEM – Seminole KSLI – Abilene KSNY-FM – Snyder KSSL – Post KSTA – Coleman KSTV-FM – Dublin KTEX – Mercedes KTFW-FM – Glen Rose KTHP – Hemphill KTKO – Beeville KTTX – Brenham KTTY - New Boston KTWL – Hempstead KTXM – Hallettsville KUFA – Hebbronville KUKA – Driscoll KULM-FM – Columbus KULP – El Campo KUSJ – Harker Heights KUZN – Centerville KVET-FM – Austin KVLG – La Grange KVMC – Colorado City KVMK – Wheelock KVRP-FM – Haskell KVST – Huntsville KVWC-FM - Vernon KWBC – College Station KWBF - Lubbock KWBY-FM - Ranger KWED – Seguin KWFS-FM – Wichita Falls KWPW - Robinson/Waco KWRD – Henderson KWYU – Christine KXDJ – Spearman KXEZ-Farmersville KXOX – Sweetwater KXXN - Iowa Park KYKK – Junction KYKM – Yoakum KYKR – Beaumont KYKS – Lufkin KYKX – Longview KYOX - Comanche KYXX – Ozona KYYK – Palestine KYYW – Abilene KZAH - Harper WACO-FM – Waco WTAW-FM - Buffalo
Defunct	KDLP-LP – Ace KOGT – Orange KRHC – Burnet KSEY-FM – Seymour KSTB – Crystal Beach KTON – Belton KUOL – San Marcos
See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Texas

v t e Audacy, Inc.
stations licensed to Audacy, Inc. (formerly Entercom)
AM radio stations	KAMP KCBS KDKA KFH KFNZ KFXX KIFM KIKK KILT KJCE KMBZ KMOX KMTT KNSS KNX KRLD KWOD KXNT KYW KYYS WAAF WAMO** WAOK WAXY WBBM WBEN WCCO WEEI WFAN WGR WHLL WHSQ WILK WINS WJFK WJZ WLMZ WMC WMFS WORD WPHT WQAM WRNL WROC WRVA WSCR WSSP WTEM WTIC WVEI WWJ WWKB WWL WWWL WWWS WXYT WYRD
FM radio stations	KALC KALV-FM KAMX KBZT KCBS-FM KDGS KDKA-FM KEYN-FM KEZK-FM KFBZ KFNZ-FM KFRC-FM KFRG KFTK-FM KGMZ-FM KGON KHMX KHTP KILT-FM KISW KITS KJKK KKDO KKHH KKMJ-FM KKWF KLLC KLOL KLUC-FM KMBZ-FM KMLE KMNB KMVK KMXB KNDD KNRK KNSS-FM KNX-FM KOOL-FM KQKS KQMT KQRC-FM KRBQ KRLD-FM KROQ-FM KRSK KRTH KRXQ KSEG KSFM KSON KSPF KSWD KTWV KUDL KVIL (HD2) KWFN KWJJ-FM KXFG KXQQ-FM KXSN KYCH-FM KYKY KYXY KZJK KZPT WBBM-FM WBEB WBEE-FM WBGB WBMX WBTJ WBZA WBZZ WCBS-FM WCFS-FM WCMF-FM WDAF-FM WDCH-FM† WDOK WDSY-FM WDZH WEEI-FM WEZB WFAN-FM WFBC-FM WFUN-FM WGGY WHHL WIAD WILK-FM WINS-FM WIP-FM WJFK-FM WJHM WJMH WJZ-FM WKBU WKIS WKRK-FM WKRZ WKSE WKTK WKXJ WLFP WLIF WLKK WLMG WLMZ-FM WLND WLYF WLZL WMAS-FM WMFS-FM WMHX WMJX WMMM-FM WMXJ WMYX-FM WNCX WNEW-FM WNVZ WOCL WOGL WOLX-FM WOMC WOMX-FM WPAW WPGC-FM WPHI-FM WPOW WPTE WPXY-FM WQAL WQMG WRCH WROQ WRVQ WRVR WRXL HD2 WRXR-FM WSFS WSKY-FM WSMW WSTR WTDY-FM WTIC-FM WTPT WTVR-FM WUSN WUSY WVEE WVEI-FM WVKL WWBX WWDE-FM WWEI WWL-FM WWMX WXBK WXRT WXSS WXYT-FM WYCD WYRD-FM WZGC WZMX
Radio Networks	BetQL Network Infinity Sports Network* Sabres Hockey Network New York Yankees Radio Channel Q
Digital properties	Audacy Cadence13 Eventful Pineapple Street Studios Play.it
See also	CBS Radio List of radio stations
* = Formerly CBS Sports Radio, Audacy operated as producer with distribution handled by Westwood One. ** = Audacy operates pursuant to a local marketing agreement with Martz Communications Group. † = Operated by Bloomberg L.P. pursuant to a time brokerage agreement.