| SimulcastsKGLK,Lake Jackson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Broadcast area | Greater Houston |
| Frequency | 106.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Houston's Eagle @ 106.9 & 107.5 |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Subchannels | HD2: The Point (Adult hits) HD3: La Nueva (Christian) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | February 14, 1965 (1965-2-14)[1] |
Former call signs | KNRO-FM (1965–78)[2] KMCV (1978–81) KJOJ (1981–90) KJZS (1990–92) KKHU (1992)[3] KKZR (1992–95) KKHT (1995–2000) KZJZ (2000) |
Call sign meaning | Houston's Point (former format) |
| Technical information[4] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 69564 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 91,600 watts |
| HAAT | 579 meters (1,900 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 30°13′53″N95°7′26″W / 30.23139°N 95.12389°W /30.23139; -95.12389 |
| Translator(s) | HD3: 101.7 K269GT (Houston) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live Listen live (via Audacy) |
| Website | www |
KHPT (106.9FM, "Houston's Eagle @ 106.9 & 107.5") is aclassic rock-formattedradio station licensed toConroe, Texas, which simulcastsKGLK (107.5 FM). It is owned byUrban One, and is part of a five station Houston cluster that also includesKGLK,KBXX,KKBQ andKMJQ. It is headquartered in Suite 2300 at3 Post Oak Central in theUptown district inHouston, Texas.[5][6] KHPT's transmitter is located inSplendora, Texas, once shared withKSBJ.
Between KHPT andKGLK, "The Eagle" covers more square miles than any station in southeast Texas.[7]
The station began broadcasting on February 14, 1965, with the call letters KNRO-FM.[1][2] In 1968, the station began operating 24 hours a day, having previously signed off at midnight.[8] In the early 1970s, the station aired acontemporary hits format.[9][10] By 1975, the station had adopted aMOR format.[11]
In 1978, the station was soldJimmy Swaggart Evangelistic Association for $803,750.[12] The station's call sign was changed to KMCV, and the station adopted areligious format.[2][13] In 1981, the station's call sign was changed to KJOJ, andcontemporary Christian music was replaced withsouthern Gospel music.[2][14] The station also airedbrokered religious programming.[14] The slogan for KJOJ was "Houston's Joy of Jesus."[14] During the 1980s, hosts of the station's southern Gospel programming included Bert Salas, Mike Sheeran, and Lyle Countryman.[14]
In 1989, the station was sold to Six Chiefs Company for $8 million.[15][16] The station would go on to air a contemporary Christian format, as part of a simulcast withKGLF-FM inFreeport, Texas.[17]
On December 25, 1990, the call sign KJOJ moved from 106.9 to 103.3 in Freeport, and the station's call sign was changed to KJZS.[18] The station adopted anew AC / smooth jazz format.[17][19] In March 1992, the station's call sign was changed to KKHU, and it became "You 106.9", airing ahot talk/oldies hybrid format.[3][20][21][22] In September 1992, the station's call sign was changed to KKZR and the station became "Z-Rock 106.9", airing ABC Radio Networks' satellite-fedZ-Rock network from Dallas.[23][24][25]
In early 1995, the station was purchased bySalem Communications, a company that specializes in Christian radio stations, for $12 million.[26][27] In March 1995, the station adopted aChristian talk and teaching format, airing programming such asTruth for Life withAlistair Begg,In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley,Focus on the Family withJames Dobson, andJanet Parshall's America.[28][29] The station was branded "The Word".[30] In 1998, Salem Communications built a new 1,928 foot tower for the station, inSplendora.[31] It was the tallest religious broadcasting tower in the world at the time.[31] In 2000, Salem sold the station toCox Radio, and in return receivedWALR-FM (104.7) inAtlanta, Georgia,KLUP inSan Antonio, Texas, andWSUN inPlant City, Florida.[32] "The Word" signed off at Midnight on September 28, 2000, and moved to 1070 AM.[33] (The Word now airs onKKHT-FM.)[34]
106.9 then began stunting with a countdown and with monikers saying "MP3 Radio" and "Radio Free Houston".[33] In addition, the station also filed for the KZJZ call letters, which led to rumors stating that the station may return to its formersmooth jazz format. On October 4, 2000, KKHT's callsign was officially changed to KZJZ[3] and "Jazzy 106.9" signed on withKenny G's "Songbird".[33] However, this was only a ruse, as seconds later, "106-9 The Point" signed on, with anall-'80s hits format, playingSimple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)".[33][32][35] The call letters changed to KHPT on October 17, 2000.[3]
At 6 a.m. on November 8, 2010, KHPT changed its format to classicalternative rock (with a 1980s and 1990s centric playlist) as "106-9 The Zone".[36] The final song on "The Point" wasBon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive", while first song on "The Zone" wasFoo Fighters' "Learn to Fly".[36] In January 2011, KHPT's format shifted to refocus on 1990s alternative rock, also adding some titles from the 2000s, with its slogan changed from "106.9 The Zone, Alternative Hits From the '80s & '90s" to "106.9 The Zone, Houston's Best Alternative Hits."[37]
On June 20, 2011, KHPT began simulcasting sister stationKGLK'sclassic rock format as "The Eagle".[38][39] This was due to "The Zone" having low ratings, consistently ranging from a 0.3-1.5 share of the market.[39] Not long afterwards, the previous 1980s-oriented adult hits format, along with "The Point" branding, was revived on the HD2 sub-channel, replacing "Pat FM", a jockless 1980s and 1990s-shifted alternative format not unlike the franchisedBob FM format.
In April 2023, it was announced thatUrban One would acquire the Houston radio cluster ofCox Media Group.[40]