| Broadcast area | Oklahoma City Metroplex |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.9MHz |
| Branding | Freedom 96.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Conservative talk |
| Network | Townhall News |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks Fox News Talk Salem Radio Network Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Champlin Broadcasting, Inc. |
| KWFF,KCRC,KNID,KWOF,KXLS,KZLS | |
| History | |
First air date | May 1, 1967; 58 years ago (1967-05-01) (as KCRC-FM) |
Former call signs | KCRC-FM (1967–1977) KNID (1977–2000) KMKZ (7/2000-11/2000) KMMZ (2000–2003) KQBL (9/2003-12/2003) |
Call sign meaning | formerBOB FM format |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 10857 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 98,000watts (100,000 withbeam tilt) |
| HAAT | 451 meters (1,480 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | freedom969.com |
KQOB (96.9FM) is acommercialradio stationlicensed toEnid, Oklahoma, and serving theOklahoma City Metroplex. It is owned by Champlin Broadcasting and calls itselfFreedom 96.9. KQOB airs atalkradio format with studios and offices on NW 64th Street in Oklahoma City.
KQOB is aClass C FM station with aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 98,000watts (100,000 withbeam tilt). Thetransmitter is on North 2980 Road inCrescent, Oklahoma, about 25 miles north of Oklahoma City.[2]
Most of the KQOB schedule issyndicatedconservative talk programs. One local host is heard weekday mornings, former State Senator Jake Merrick. Other hosts includeBrian Kilmeade,Dana Loesch,Dan Bongino,Joe Pags,Bill O'Reilly,Jimmy Failla,Mike Gallagher,Dave Ramsey andHugh Hewitt.
Weekends feature specialty shows on money, health, guns and cars, along with repeats of some weekday shows. Most hours being with an update fromTownhall News.
The stationsigned on the air on May 1, 1967; 58 years ago (1967-05-01). The originalcall sign wasKCRC-FM, the FM counterpart to KCRC1390 AM. KCRC-FM was separately programmed with abeautiful music format, playing quarter hour sweeps of mostly instrumentalcover versions of popular songs. It later switched its call letters toKNID and had a mostlycountry format until 2000. On July 12, 2000, the station changed its call sign toKMKZ.
On November 24, 2000, its call sign becameKMMZ. It moved to atower closer toOklahoma City, changed its slogan to "Memories 96.9", and began using theABC Network’s “Memories” network for its programming.
KMMZ beganstunting on November 13, 2002, and adopted the slogan “The Bull's Oklahoma Christmas”, playingChristmas 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 theKQBL 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 "96.9BOB FM" with anadult hits format. The station switched call letters toKQOB on December 8, 2003.
On June 10, 2015, KQOB dropped the "Bob FM" branding and rebranded as "Classic Rock 96.9".[3] It began playingclassic rock songs from the 1960s through the early 90s.
On November 23, 2015, at 7 p.m., after playing "That's All" byGenesis, KQOB began playingChristmas music as simply "96.9". The first song was "Christmas All Over Again" byTom Petty. In addition to the change,Jack Elliott and Ron Williams, formerly ofKYIS, became the station’s new morning show hosts beginning December 3.[4]
On December 28, 2015, at 6 a.m., after playing "A Holly Jolly Christmas" byAlan Jackson, KQOB flipped toclassic hits as "Fun 96.9." The first song on "Fun" was "Old Time Rock & Roll" byBob Seger.[5] 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 classic hits competitor KOMA for the past 25 years.
On December 31, 2017, at midnight, KQOB flipped back toadult hits as "Alice 96.9." All of theDJs were let go with the change.[6]
On December 3, 2021,Cumulus Media announced it would end itslocal marketing agreement (LMA) with KQOB on January 1, 2022. Champlin, in turn, announced it would flip KQOB to asimulcast of conservative talk stationKZLS as "96.9 The Eagle".[7] (The "Alice" branding and adult hits format would return to the market on former sister stationKKWD as "Alice 104.9" in May 2022.)[8]
Just before midnight on December 31, after playing "Maneater" byHall & Oates, KQOB began stunting with a "free preview" of sister stationKNAH. The stunting ended on January 3 at 5 a.m., when the simulcast with KZLS began.[9] In January 2022, KZLS split from simulcasting with KQOB when it started simulcastingKZLS.[10]
On November 22, 2022, KQOB rebranded as "Freedom 96.9", with no other changes. The rebrand came after KQOB registered a 0.6 share in the October 2022Nielsen ratings, well behindKTOK’s 2.0 share, but slightly ahead ofKOKC with its 0.4 share.[11]
35°58′52″N97°41′42″W / 35.981°N 97.695°W /35.981; -97.695