| Broadcast area | Lafayette metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.5MHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | News-Talk |
| Network | Fox News Radio |
| Affiliations | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Premiere Networks Westwood One Compass Media Networks KATC-TV Weather |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KFTE,KHXT,KMDL,KPEL,KROF,KTDY | |
| History | |
First air date | May 1, 1993; 32 years ago (1993-05-01) (as KFTE) |
Former call signs | KFTE (1992–2010) |
Call sign meaning | PELican State |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 59288 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 42,000watts |
| HAAT | 163 meters (535 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kpel965.com |
KPEL-FM (96.5FM) is aradio station in the United States.Licensed toBreaux Bridge, Louisiana, KPEL-FM serves theLafayette metropolitan area with anews/talk format. It is owned byTownsquare Media.
Initially signing on with call sign KFTE in 1993, KPEL-FM was a music station for its first 17 years. After havingeasy listening andoldies formats, KFTE had analternative rock format branded "Planet Radio 96.5" until changing to KPEL-FM and news/talk in 2010. Since 2001, KPEL-FM has been owned by Townsquare Media and its predecessor Regent Communications.
Aconstruction permit was first issued for a new 96.5 MHz FM station on April 19, 1991.[2] JBC Inc. (doing business as ComCorp of Lafayette License Corporation) was the owner.[3] Licensed on November 15, 1992, the station firstsigned on with call sign KFTE on May 1, 1993. Its format waseasy listening.[4][5]
In July 1993, the Mid-Acadiana Broadcasting Corporation purchased KFTE. The price tag was $517,750 plus debt cancellation from ComCorp.[6] KFTE began using the brand "Cool 96.5" in 1994.[7]
Beer wholesale company Schilling Distributing Company purchased KFTE andKMDL for a combined $1.55 million in 1994.[8][9] In 1996, Schilling changed the format of KFTE from easy listening to1970s oldies.[10][11]
In 1996, ComCorp bought back KFTE, along with KMDL, from Schilling Distributing. The total price was nearly $4.5 million.[12] On January 22, 1997, ComCorp flipped KFTE's format toalternative rock, with the brand "Planet Radio 96.5".[13][11]
On August 29, 2001, Regent Communications (laterTownsquare Media) reached an agreement to buy KFTE and six other radio stations from ComCorp. The price was over $39 million.[14]
On June 25, 2010, KFTE switched call signs and formats with KPEL-FM at 105.1 MHz.KFTE's rock format moved to 105.1, while KPEL-FM's news/talk format moved to 96.5 MHz.[15]
In June 2020, early afternoon host Carol Ross decided to end her program and leave the station.[16] On March 15, 2025, KPEL-FM began carryingErick Erickson on weekdays fromWSBAtlanta.[17]
KPEL-FM has local news and talk shows during the daytime, in addition to national news updates fromFox News Radio and nationally syndicated programs includingThe Erick Erickson Show,The Mark Levin Show, andThe Ramsey Show.[18]
Weekends feature specialty lifestyle shows, such asThe Kim Komando Show andThe Car Doctor, andpaid programming.[19] KPEL-FM also broadcastsLouisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball andbaseball games.[20][21]
Licensed toBreaux Bridge, KPEL-FM broadcasts from a 167.6-meter transmitter located inYoungsville at 42 kW ofeffective radiated power.[2]