KXWA 101.9 is the present-day identity of the FM facility that spent more than a quarter-century as Colorado Springs country station KKCS-FM. Although 101.9 now serves the Denver market, its roots are in Colorado Springs radio.
Colorado Springs origins
The facility signed on January 28, 1967 as KRYT-FM, the FM companion to KRYT 1530 AM. In December 1976 it became KINX. In 1979 the FM became KKCS-FM and adopted country music.
KKCS became one of Colorado Springs major country stations. Under Walton Stations, which acquired the FM in 1982, KCS became a major ratings and revenue performer. Walton sold KKCS-FM to Superior Broadcasting in 2003 for $18 million.
2005 split: KCS moves while 101.9 moves north
In 2005, Superior sold the 101.9 facility to Bustos Media. The transaction separated the physical 101.9 license from the KCS country identity. Superior retained the KCS intellectual property and moved the country programming and KKCS-FM calls to the Cañon City 104.5 facility then known as KSTY.
Bustos assumed control of 101.9 in early December 2005 and replaced KCS with its Regional Mexican La Gran D format. On December 8, 2005, 101.9 changed calls from KKCS-FM to KGDQ. The city of license moved from Colorado Springs to Centennial, and the transmission facility moved north toward Monument Hill, repositioning 101.9 to serve the Denver radio market. That ended the 101.9 facility’s Colorado Springs chapter.
Denver era
In the Denver market, 101.9 continued as KGDQ La Gran D before becoming KKHI in 2008. Bustos later sold the station to WAY-FM Communications. The station adopted the KXWA calls in 2011 and became part of the WAY-FM Christian network. It is currently licensed to Centennial and serves the Denver metropolitan area.
Call-sign lineage: KRYT-FM → KINX → KKCS-FM → KGDQ → KKHI → KXWA.
Colorado Springs chapter: 1967–2005.
Denver-market chapter: 2005–present.
Sources: FCC history records; 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; current FCC-derived KXWA facility records.
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KXWA-FM History
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.
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.
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