KKCS-FM was one of Colorado Springs’ defining country stations, best remembered as KCS 102 and The Most Country KCS 102. Its history ultimately split into two different facilities: the KCS programming and calls moved to 104.5 in Cañon City, while the original 101.9 facility moved north and became a Denver-market station.
101.9: the original KCS facility
The 101.9 facility had signed on in 1967 as KRYT-FM and later became KINX. On September 12, 1979, it adopted the KKCS-FM calls and a country format. Under Walton Stations, KCS became a major Colorado Springs competitor and was among the market’s strongest ratings and revenue performers through much of the 1980s and 1990s.
Walton sold KKCS-FM to Superior Broadcasting in 2003 for $18 million.
December 2005: KCS and 101.9 separate
In late 2005, Superior sold the physical 101.9 facility to Bustos Media while retaining the KCS country programming and intellectual property. Before the final split, KCS programming was simulcast on nearby KSTY 104.5 in Cañon City.
On December 2, 2005, Bustos assumed control of 101.9 and placed its Regional Mexican La Gran D format on the frequency. On December 8, the KKCS-FM calls moved to 104.5 and 101.9 became KGDQ.
The original 101.9 facility was then repositioned north: its city of license became Centennial and its transmitter was relocated toward Monument Hill/Castle Rock to target the Denver market. In other words, the facility that had carried KCS for 26 years effectively left Colorado Springs. That 101.9 facility later became KKHI and then KXWA/WAY-FM.
104.5: the final KCS chapter
The KCS country format and KKCS-FM calls continued on the former KSTY facility at 104.5 FM, licensed to Cañon City. Contemporary reporting described it as 104.5 KKCS. The signal change created reception problems on the north side of Colorado Springs; in January 2006, Air Force Academy station KAFA agreed to move away from adjacent 104.3 after KKCS complained of interference.
The move could not recreate the reach of the former 101.9 signal. During 2006 the local KCS staff was eliminated; former employees moved to other stations and markets, and 104.5 eventually operated without the former local personality lineup. The KKCS operation ended in 2007, and the 104.5 facility returned to the KSTY calls and Star Country identity.
What happened to the two facilities?
Original 101.9 facility: KRYT-FM → KINX → KKCS-FM → KGDQ → KKHI → KXWA. It is now a Denver-market station licensed to Centennial.
104.5 facility that inherited KCS: KRLN-FM → KSTX → KRLN-FM → KSTY → KKCS-FM → KSTY. It remains a Southern Colorado station licensed to Cañon City.
Paired / sister stations: KKCS-FM was historically paired with KKCS 1460 AM, which simulcast the FM after adopting the KKCS calls in 1985. The KKCS name was also used briefly on 1530 AM from 1979 to 1982.
Studio / Facility Timeline
- By 1991: KKCS-FM was documented at 5145 Centennial Blvd., Suite 200.
- 1994–95: independent records place KKCS-FM, KKCS AM and KIKX at the same 5145 Centennial Blvd. facility.
- By 2002: KKCS-FM was operating with the AM at 3515 N. Chestnut Street, Colorado Springs.
- December 2005: the KCS programming/calls moved to the 104.5 Cañon City facility; the original 101.9 facility began its move into the Denver market.
Sources: FCC call-sign and facility history; Broadcasting Yearbook; Duncan’s American Radio; Radio & Records, May 2, 2003 and Dec. 6, 2005; Broadcasting & Cable, May 12, 2003; Colorado Springs Gazette, Jan. 21, 2006; contemporary Colorado Springs radio reporting.
Awards & Recognitions
Documented awards, honors, and finalist or nomination recognition associated with this station or broadcaster.
- 2005Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationMajor-Market Radio Station of the YearKKCS-FM, Colorado SpringsRadio & Records, March 14, 2006 — Colorado Broadcasters Honor KKCS
- 2005Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest On-Air ContestKKCS-FM, Colorado SpringsRadio & Records, March 14, 2006 — Colorado Broadcasters Honor KKCS
- 2005Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Sales Event/Remote BroadcastKKCS-FM, Colorado SpringsRadio & Records, March 14, 2006 — Colorado Broadcasters Honor KKCS
- 2005Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Radio Sales PromotionKKCS-FM, Colorado SpringsRadio & Records, March 14, 2006 — Colorado Broadcasters Honor KKCS
- 2005Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Morning ShowThe Mark, Sam and Craig Morning Show — KKCS-FMRadio & Records, March 14, 2006 — Colorado Broadcasters Honor KKCS
- 2005Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Station Entertainment PersonalityThe Mark, Sam and Craig Morning Show — KKCS-FMRadio & Records, March 14, 2006 — Colorado Broadcasters Honor KKCS
- 2005Second PlaceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Community Service CampaignSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campaign — KKCS-FMRadio & Records, March 14, 2006 — Colorado Broadcasters Honor KKCS
- 1995WinnerNational Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio AwardsCrystal Radio AwardKKCS-FM, Colorado SpringsNAB Crystal Award past winners
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KKCS-FM History
KRYT-FM begins broadcasting on 101.9
KRYT-FM began broadcasting on 101.9 MHz in Colorado Springs in 1967 as the FM companion to KRYT 1530 AM. The 101.9 facility later cycled through several call signs and formats, becoming part of a long-running Colorado Springs FM lineage.
Walton sells KKCS-FM 101.9 to Superior Broadcasting
Walton Stations agreed to sell KKCS-FM 101.9 to Superior Broadcasting for $18 million in 2003. Radio & Records and Broadcasting & Cable identified the deal as Superior's entry into the Colorado Springs market.
KSTY facility becomes KKCS-FM
On December 8, 2005, the 104.5 Cañon City facility took the KKCS-FM calls and the KCS country programming formerly heard on 101.9 in Colorado Springs. The arrangement lasted until 2007, when 104.5 returned to the KSTY calls and Star Country identity.
KKCS country programming begins simulcasting on 104.5
As Superior prepared to sell the 101.9 facility to Bustos Media in late 2005, KKCS country programming began simulcasting on KSTY 104.5 in Cañon City. The simulcast provided a transition path for the KCS identity before 101.9 changed formats.
Bustos replaces KCS on 101.9 with La Gran D
Bustos Media assumed control of the original KKCS-FM 101.9 facility on December 2, 2005 and replaced the country format with Regional Mexican La Gran D. KCS country programming remained on the former KSTY 104.5 facility.
KKCS-FM calls move to 104.5 as 101.9 becomes KGDQ
On December 8, 2005, the KKCS-FM calls and KCS country identity moved to the Cañon City 104.5 facility. The original 101.9 facility became KGDQ and began its transition out of the Colorado Springs market.
Original KKCS 101.9 facility moves into the Denver market
After the KCS identity left 101.9, Bustos repositioned the former Colorado Springs facility toward Denver. The station's community of license became Centennial and its transmitter operation shifted north toward Monument Hill/Castle Rock. As KGDQ La Gran D, the former KKCS 101.9 became a Denver-market station. The facility later became KKHI and then KXWA/WAY-FM.
KAFA agrees to move from 104.3 after KKCS interference dispute
After KKCS moved from 101.9 to the Cañon City 104.5 facility, reception problems emerged on the north side of Colorado Springs. In January 2006, Air Force Academy station KAFA agreed to seek another frequency after KKCS reported interference from adjacent 104.3.
KKCS 104.5 local staff disperses
During 2006, KKCS 104.5 eliminated its former local personality lineup. Contemporary Colorado Springs reporting documented former KCS staff moving to other stations and markets, including Cody Carlson to KCCY and morning team Sam and Craig Morrison to Fort Wayne. The station continued without the former local KCS staff before eventually going dark.
Star Country and KSTY return to 104.5
In 2007, the 104.5 Cañon City facility returned to the KSTY call letters and Star Country identity after the short-lived KKCS-FM chapter ended.
KKCS ends on 104.5 and KSTY returns
The relocated KKCS country operation ended in 2007. The Cañon City 104.5 facility returned to the KSTY calls and Star Country identity, closing the final chapter of the KCS FM brand in Southern Colorado.
People Who Worked Here
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Photos, Video & Airchecks
Photo · 2000
Cadillac Jack & Kevin Willz
Cadillac Jack and Kevin Willz at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming.
Photo · 1974
John Wheeler bull riding
John Wheeler competing in the bull riding event at a Houston rodeo in 1974.
Photo · 2023
Uncle Steve and Shawn Martinez
Former KKCS-FM and KBIQ-FM on-air jocks, Uncle Steve and Shawn Martinez getting together.
Photo · 1991
Uncle Steve’s college report card
Uncle Steve's first report card from Pikes Peak Community College. His instructors included Kurt Grow and Jack Donahue.
Photo · 1998
Charlie Daniels
Uncle Steve and Big Dad with country music legend Charlie Daniels at Fan Fair in Nashville.
Photo · 1998
Clint Black
Uncle Steve and Big Dad with country music star Clint Back at Fan Fair in Nashville.
Photo · 1996
Charlie Sampson
Uncle Steve sharing a laugh with 1982 PRCA World Champion bull rider and 1996 Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Charlie Sampson at the Colorado State Fair & Rodeo in Pueblo.
Photo · 2022
Senor Manuel’s Reunion 7 9 22
Former KKCS staff members & their spouses reuniting at Senor Manuel's Mexican Restaurant in Colorado Springs.
Photo · 1998
Cadillac Jack Halloween
Halloween with Cadillac Jack (General Custer) and Uncle Steve (The Crocodile Hunter)
Photo · 1998
1998 CBA Awards
KKCS-FM morning show at the 1998 Colorado Broadcasters Association awards ceremony.
Photo · 1997
1997 CBA Awards
KKCS-FM staff brought home several Colorado Broadcasters Association awards including 1997 Station of the Year.
KEEP EXPLORING
Go further down the dial
HELP IMPROVE THE ARCHIVE
See something that needs a correction?
Suggest a correction or add information to this station. Nothing changes publicly until it is reviewed.