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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex |
| Frequency | 106.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 106.1 KISS-FM |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Subchannels | HD2:Pride Radio (Top 40–EDM) |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | June 1948 (77 years ago) (1948-06) |
Former call signs |
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Former frequencies | 106.3 MHz (1948–1962) |
Call sign meaning | Hits Kiss |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 23084 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 508 meters (1,667 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°35′19″N96°58′5″W / 32.58861°N 96.96806°W /32.58861; -96.96806 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) |
| Website | 1061kissfm |
KHKS (106.1FM) is acontemporary hit radio stationlicensed toDenton, Texas. Branded "KISS-FM" the station serves theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and is owned byiHeartMedia. The station is flagship of thenationally syndicatedKidd Kraddick Morning Show. Its studios are onDallas Parkway inFarmers Branch.
KHKS has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for most U.S. FM stations. Itstransmitter site is on West Belt Line Road inCedar Hill.
KDNT-FM was established in June 1948, at 106.3 on the FM dial and moved to the current 106.1 frequency in 1962. The station was a simulcast ofKDNT (AM) during its early years. KDNT-FM went through a number of different formats during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including aTop 40/oldies hybrid,disco music,rock music, andcountry music. The station's calls changed to KDDC in 1980, and then to KIXK at the start of 1981. KIXK's format remained country (as "Kix 106") until changing to oldies/classic hits in December 1982.
In September 1984, KIXK flipped toTop 40/CHR asKiss 106 FM, KTKS. At this time, 106.1 was owned byABC Radio until being purchased by Capital Cities in 1985.[2]
In late-June 1987, the station's CHR format began slowly leaning towardshot adult contemporary, retaining its Kiss branding under the slogan "The Fresh One". At midnight on September 30, 1987, KTKS began stunting with birds chirping and nature sounds. At noon the same day, the station flipped tonew-age music–smooth jazz as KOAI "106.1 The Oasis".[3][4][5][6]Gannett acquired KOAI in 1989. In October 1992, Gannett reached a deal with Granum Communications to move the smooth jazz format to 107.5 (nowKMVK), where it remained until the fall of 2006.[7][8]
On November 1, 1992, at 1:11 am, the CHR/Top 40 format and "Kiss FM" branding were revived as106.1 Kiss FM with the KHKS calls. The first song on the revived "Kiss FM" wasWilson Phillips' version of "The Star-Spangled Banner".[9] Gannett would sell the station to Chancellor Broadcasting in April 1997; after a subsequent series of mergers and buyouts, KHKS came under the ownership of San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications (nowiHeartMedia,) in 2000. Since its launch, KHKS has been the flagship station ofThe Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, which began nationwidesyndication in 2001.
From September 7–10, 2010, the station was slightly rebranded to "06.1 Kiss FM" (leaving out the first "1") as part of its $5,000 contest.[10] That same year, KHKS ran a new initiative where they broadcast commercial free every Monday. However, during that time, they've been known to stretch a song out a little by repeating the chorus of a song twice.
From 2005 to 2009, KHKS was the only top 40 station inDallas/Fort Worth, although it had always been leaning rhythmic since then, sharing audience with RhythmicKZZA (106.7 FM) during that time. From 2009 to2014, it was competing head-on withCumulus Media-ownedKLIF-FM (93.3), which leaned moreadult CHR. In November 2014, KLIF-FM flipped to aclassic hip-hop format forthe holiday season before flipping tourban contemporary full-time, which left KHKS as the sole Top 40/CHR station in the Metroplex once again. KHKS, however, regained KLIF-FM as its competitor, asHot 93.3 has returned to their previous Top 40/CHR format and then swapped to a 90s-2000s-based Hot AC format until January 2024 when it switched to a simulcast of News/Talk stationWBAP 820 AM. It also competed withCBS Radio-ownedKVIL (103.7 FM) from October 2016 to November 2017.
106.1-HD2 (HD Radio) first launched in 2004, as "Kiss-FM En Espanol", targeting an Hispanic audience with Hispanic rhythmic format. That format was jettisoned in favor ofPride Radio, in late 2006, with a format intended for theLGBT community. "Pride Radio" was then moved to its sister stationKDMX on 102.9-HD2 in favor of "Wild Radio" in early 2008, running "Party Mix" (rhythmic CHR) music similar to the "Kiss FM" playlist. However, since March 28, 2011, it has been replaced by Pride Radio, marking the format's return to that particular frequency.[11]