 | |
| Broadcast area | Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.5MHz |
| Branding | 101X |
| Programming | |
| Format | Alternative rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KBPA,KGSR,KLBJ,KLBJ-FM,KLZT | |
| History | |
First air date | November 13, 1984 (1984-11-13) (as KGIDGiddings) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Rocks"; the "X" is used in "101'X" brand |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 54659 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 12,500watts |
| HAAT | 258.1 m (847 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 101x.com |
KROX-FM (101.5MHz) is acommercialradio stationlicensed toBuda, Texas, and serving theAustin-Round Rock metropolitan area. It is owned by Sinclair Telecable Inc. (not related to television broadcaster Sinclair Broadcast Group, who owns CBS station KEYE-TV) and broadcasts analternative rockformat. The station has studios alongInterstate 35 in North Austin, and thetransmitter site is located off Waymaker Way at the West Austin Antenna Farm.[2]
On May 10, 1984, Radio Lee County, Inc. received a construction permit from theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) to build a new FM radio station at 101.7 MHz. Itsigned on as KGID,licensed toGiddings, Texas.[3]
It broadcast at 3,000watts, a quarter of its current power, from a tower located betweenBastrop andLa Grange. That meant it could only cover the southeast communities of the Austin metro area, including the farming communities in and aroundLee County. KGID aired acountry music format, geared to listeners in this rural area of Texas.
Thecall sign switched to KOKE on April 6, 1990, changing to asouthern gospel format. Radio Lee County received permission from the FCC to switch the frequency to 101.5 MHz, boost the station'seffective radiated power to 38,800 watts from a tower at 560 feet inheight above average terrain. This would have extended the station's reach into the more lucrative Austinradio market, however, Radio Lee County lacked the money to invest in the new tower and transmitter.
In 1995,Virginia-based Sinclair Telecable bought the station for $2.73 million.[4] It completed the rebuild, switching the call letters to KROX-FM, and moving the studios and offices to Barton Springs Road in Austin.
The new station took the moniker "101X". It signed on as "Austin's New Rock Alternative" on June 8, 1995. Its main competition, at the beginning, was "K-Nack" 107.7 KNNC, the Austin market's original alternative station. Both KROX-FM and KNNC were hampered by poor signals with neither able to achieve significant ratings. KNNC management decided to sell its station in January 1997. The KNNCDJs were dismissed and until July 1997, KNNCsimulcast KROX-FM. Eventually, KNNC was sold and becameclassic rock "107.7 The Hawk". Today it is Latinadult contemporaryKLJA.
The original DJs on 101X included Sara Trexler, former KNNC personalities Rachel Marisay and Ray Seggern, LA Lloyd Hocutt, Gibby Haynes, a member of thepunk rock group TheButthole Surfers, andAustin Chronicle music critic Andy Langer. The morning show, "Jason and Deb", won the 2014 Austin Chronicle "Best Of" Poll.[5]
In the late 1990s, 101X veered intoactive rock territory at the height of alternative radio's nu-metal period. It has since returned to a broader alternative presentation, closely associated with the local Austin music scene and today's indie rock. In 1997, the station was sold to LBJS Broadcasting.[6] LBJS was originally owned by the family of "L.B.J." or formerPresidentLyndon Baines Johnson. That put KROX-FM into common ownership withKLBJ-FM, Austin's leading rock station, that specialized in mostly harder-edgedclassic rock.
In 2003, LBJS Broadcasting sold its radio stations to theIndianapolis-basedEmmis Communications, including KROX-FM.[7] Although Sinclair Telecommunications continued to own 49.9% of the stations, Emmis was the controlling partner.
In the early 2000s, KROX-FM'scity of license changed fromGiddings, Texas toBuda, Texas.
30°19′19″N97°48′04″W / 30.322°N 97.801°W /30.322; -97.801