 | |
| Broadcast area | Odessa-Midland area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 550kHz |
| Branding | Newstalk 550 |
| Programming | |
| Format | News Talk Information |
| Affiliations | Fox News Radio,Premiere Radio Networks,Sporting News Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KCHX,KCRS-FM,KFZX,KMRK | |
| History | |
First air date | December 20, 1935 |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 42015 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 5,000watts day 1,000 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°4′10″N102°1′46″W / 32.06944°N 102.02944°W /32.06944; -102.02944 |
| Translator(s) | 95.5 K238AZ (Odessa) 97.5 K248AR (Midland) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | newstalkkcrs.com |
KCRS (550AM), commonly called Newstalk 550 KCRS, is aradio station broadcasting aNews Talk Information format. Licensed toMidland, Texas, United States, the station serves the Odessa-Midland area. The station is currently owned by ICA Radio Midland-Odessa License, LLC and features programming fromFox News Radio,Premiere Radio Networks andSporting News Radio.[2] KCRS also carries live sports for the Permian Basin. Currently the station carries the games of theMidland RockHounds ofMinor League Baseball'sTexas League as well as football broadcasts for theMidland High Bulldogs and theLegacy High Rebels on a rotating basis withLonestar 92.
KCRS' studios are located at the ICA Business Plaza on East Eighth Street in Odessa, just east of downtown, and its transmitter is located in Midland.
KCRS was the leader in sports in West Texas for a time. It was the home of Sports Fan Radio Network and aired theFabulous Sports Babe program. Until the 2009 season, KCRS was the flagship station for the RockHounds, having been their radio home since the team was first established as the Midland Cubs back in 1972. In the spring of 2009, GAP Broadcasting announced that the Rockhound games would be following OC over to102.1 Jack FM. From 2004 to 2007 NewsTalk 550 was the affiliate forOdessa College men's and women's road basketball games, but those rights were transferred toKFZX in 2008. Before getting the OC contract, they aired 10 consecutive years of NJCAA Conference play withMidland College for both men's and women's basketball. They have also been the home for theNCAATexas Tech Red Raiders football and men's basketball games, but the rights were moved toKMCM in 2004. They broadcastNCAABaylor Bears football games from 1978 until 2004, when they decided to drop NCAA games altogether.
KCRS was owned byClear Channel Communications until it sold the entire Midland-Odessa cluster to Gap Broadcasting, who in turn sold the said cluster to ICA Broadcasting for $3 million.[3]
KCRS relays its programming to twoFM translators in order to widen the coverage area; they also provide the listener with the choice of listening onFM withhigh fidelitystereophonic sound.
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K238AZ | 95.5 FM | Odessa, Texas | 155720 | 250 | D | LMS |
| K248AR | 97.5 FM | Midland, Texas | 149509 | 250 | D | LMS |
Monday–Friday