| Broadcast area | Boise metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 104.3MHz |
| Branding | Wow Country 104.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KCIX,KFXD,KIDO,KSAS-FM,KXLT-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | July 15,1979 (as KIDQ) |
Former call signs | KIDQ (1979–1985) KUUB (1985) KLTB (1985–2006) KTMY (2006–2007) |
Call sign meaning | K AWOw |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 63916 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 52,000watts |
| HAAT | 786 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°45′18″N116°05′52″W / 43.75500°N 116.09778°W /43.75500; -116.09778 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 1043wowcountry.com |
KAWO (104.3FM, "Wow Country 104.3") is a commercialradio station located inBoise, Idaho. KAWO airs acountry music format branded as "Wow Country 104.3". Until 2007, the station was called "My Country 104.3" and its call letters wereKTMY.
The station started operating on July 15, 1979, with the firstAlbum-oriented rock station in the Boisemarket asQ-104 (KIDQ). In 1985, the station was switched to anadult contemporary format with the KUUB as the call letters branding asK-Lite 104 FM. However, the call letters were short-lived and changed the call letters to KLTB to match the branding. The shift almost left Boise without an AOR station untilKJOT (J-105) debuted less than a month later. KLTB was switched tooldies asKool 104 (later known asKool Oldies 104.3) until January 2006 when then-ownerClear Channel Communications switched from oldies to a country format.[2] The new format brought new call letters, KTMY, and new positioning asMy Country 104.3.
On November 16, 2006,Clear Channel Communications planned to sell 448 of its radio stations outside the top 100markets[3] including KTMY, along with Boise's sister stations includingKSAS-FM,KCIX,KXLT-FM,KIDO, andKFXD, making Boise the largest radio market in the United States for Clear Channel to sell the stations. In March 2007, Peak Broadcasting LLC bought the former Clear Channel-owned stations.
The station's ratings continued to decline, however, and in late May 2007 KTMY shed its "My Country" imaging to become "WOW Country 104.3".[2] While this involved a change to the on-air talent lineup, imaging, nickname, jingle package, and call letters the station maintained a country music format. One notable programming feature of the station became 104-minute music sets, a nod to the station's broadcast frequency, which was abandoned upon Lisa Adams taking over the Programming duties.[4]
On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in whichTownsquare Media would purchase Peak Broadcasting's stations, including KAWO. The deal was part ofCumulus Media's acquisition ofDial Global; Townsquare swapped Peak'sFresno, California stations to Cumulus for its stations inDubuque, Iowa andPoughkeepsie, New York, and Peak, Townsquare, and Dial Global were all controlled byOaktree Capital Management.[5][6] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[7]
