 | |
| Broadcast area | Marshall-Brookings-Sioux Falls |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 99.7MHz |
| Branding | 99.7 KARZ (pronounced as "Cars") |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic hits |
| Affiliations | ABC News |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KARL,KKCK,KMHL,KNSG | |
| History | |
First air date | 1975 (as KMHL-FM at 100.1) |
Former call signs | KMHL-FM (1975–1982) KKCK (1982–2019) |
Former frequencies | 100.1 MHz (1975–1988) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 35127 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 282 meters (925 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°16′56″N96°19′5″W / 44.28222°N 96.31806°W /44.28222; -96.31806 |
| Translator(s) | 103.3 K277AI (Russell/Marshall) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | KARZ Webstream |
| Website | KARZ Online |
KARZ (99.7FM) is a radio station broadcasting aclassic hits formatlicensed to serveMarshall, Minnesota.[2] The station is owned byLinder Radio Group and the signal reaches most of southwestern Minnesota, eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa includingMarshall,Brookings,Sioux Falls,Watertown,Willmar,Worthington andSpirit Lake.[3]
KARZ also rebroadcasts on FMtranslatorK277AI 103.3 FM inRussell/Marshall.
KBJJ changed its call letters to KARZ, and switched fromcountry toclassic rock in 1997 following being purchased byKMHL/KKCK. 107.5 KARZ later segued into amainstream rock format around 2000.
On October 16, 2017, 94.7 FM and 107.5 FM swapped call letters: 94.7 FM changed their call letters to KARZ and 107.5 FM changed their call letters toKNSG. 107.5 FM flipped frommainstream rock tosports withKFAN 100.3 (KFXN) programming, and 94.7 FM rebranded theirclassic hits format to the KARZ call letters.[4]
99.7 first signed on in 1975 as KMHL-FM (100.1) with acountry music format, before switching toTop 40 (CHR) in the 1982.KKCK debuted automated with TM Programming's "Stereo Rock" Top 40 format briefly, then converted to fully local programming in the mid-1980s. After thecall letter change to KKCK in 1982, the station changed its slogan to "KK100," also known as "Double K 100." In 1988, it adopted "FM 100 KKCK" as its slogan after upgrading from 3,000 watts at 100.1 FM to 100,000 watts at 99.7 FM. The station repositioned as "99-7 KKCK" with the "Always A Better Music Mix" slogan in 1992. The station had significant listenership in theSioux Falls, South Dakota market during the 1990s, despite its transmitter tower being located over 50 miles away, as it was the de facto Top 40/CHR for Sioux Falls untilKKLS-FM flipped to "Hot 104.7" in 1997. While KKCK continues to be a minor factor in the Sioux Falls market, the station primarily focuses onMarshall, Minnesota, the surrounding southwestern Minnesota region, and the nearbyBrookings, South Dakota area.
Unlike most Top 40/CHR formatted stations, KKCK has flexibility to introduce new music to listeners (including, but not limited to,Top 40 (CHR),Rhythmic,DanceRadio/EDM, andMainstream Urban) that includes genres such asindie,alternative,modern rock/active rock, andHot AC/Modern AC including those genres' new music in its music mix. The station also airedThe Shag, a long runningalternative rock program, on Sunday nights.[5] It shares a local news department withKMHL, and gets national news fromABC. A large amount of the broadcasting day is live, KKCK is regarded as a "heritage" Top 40/CHR station, thanks in part to its longevity in the format. KKCK also benefits from the long reach of its 99.7 FM signal, which has local coverage inMarshall, Minnesota andBrookings, South Dakota,rimshot coverage ofMadison, South Dakota andSioux Falls, South Dakota, and can be regularly received as far north asWatertown, South Dakota andWillmar, Minnesota (north ofRedwood Falls), and as far south asCanton, South Dakota (south ofSioux Falls), andSpirit Lake, Iowa (south ofWorthington).
A winter storm damaged KKCK's transmitter in December 2015, and the station has been broadcasting at reduced power since. In May 2017, KKCK's programming moved to 94.7 KNSG while the transmitter is being rebuilt. KKCK returned to full power at 99.7 FM around November 2017, andclassic hits resuming at 94.7 KNSG.
On April 3, 2019, theheritageTop 40/CHR formattedKKCK moved to the more eastern signal of the Springfieldlicensed 94.7 FM, with a fringe signal coverage ofMankato, swapping frequencies withclassic hits-formatted KARZ, which moved to the larger coverage area, and the more western signal, of 99.7 FM Marshall.[6] KARZ plays many of the songs now included in theclassic hits format during KKCK's early years as aTop 40/CHR, and KKCK adopted the "Today's Hit Music" slogan with no format changes.
KKCK's frequency swap from 99.7 FM to 94.7 FM leavesBrookings, South Dakota without a localTop 40/CHR station, however it is withinrimshot coverage ofSioux FallsTop 40/CHR stationsKKLS-FM "Hot 104.7" andKQSF "Q95.7". Localcollege radio stationKSDJ "New Rock 90.7" does playmodern rock/alternative music included in KKCK'srock-leaning CHR/Top 40 ("Rock 40") format.
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