KCRO

KCRO
Omaha, Nebraska;
Frequency	660 kHz
Branding	660 AM KCRO
Programming
Format	Christian talk and teaching
Affiliations	Salem Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	Steve Seline; (Hickory Radio, LLC);
Sister stations	KXCB
History
First air date	April 19, 1922; (102 years ago)
Former call signs	WAAW (1922–1939); KOWH (1939–1960 & 1971–1979); KMEO (1960–1968); KOZN (1968–1971);
Call sign meaning	"Christian Radio Omaha"
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	54902
Class	D
Power	1,000 watts (day); 54 watts (night);
Transmitter coordinates	41°18′47″N 96°0′36″W / 41.31306°N 96.01000°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	kcro.com

KCRO (660 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Omaha, Nebraska. KCRO is owned by Hickory Radio and airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format. The studios are located on Burt Street (near North 120th Street and Dodge Road in West Omaha), while the transmitter is located behind Roncalli Catholic High School near Sorensen Parkway in Northwest Omaha.^[2]

KCRO operates with 1,000 watts power during daytime hours. Because AM 660 is a clear channel frequency (reserved for 50,000-watt Class A WFAN in New York City), KCRO must greatly reduce power to 54 watts at night to avoid interference. It uses a non-directional antenna at all times.

Programming was additionally heard on 60-watt FM translator station K293CJ at 106.5 MHz. The translator has since been moved to Lincoln, and changed frequencies to 106.7 FM.^[3]

Programming

KCRO airs national religious leaders such as Jim Daly, Chuck Swindoll and David Jeremiah as well as local preachers. On weekends, KCRO 660 airs southern gospel music. KCRO is a brokered time radio station, where hosts pay Hickory Radio for 15 to 30-minute blocks of time, and may use their shows to seek donations to their ministries. Most hours begin with world and national news from Salem Radio Network.

History

The station signed on the air on April 19, 1922, making it among the oldest radio stations in Nebraska. By the 1930s, it was operating on AM 660 at 500 watts.^[4] However, it was originally a daytimer required to go off the air at sunset. The station's call sign was WAAW and it was owned by the Omaha Grain Exchange, broadcasting agricultural reports and crop prices. In 1939, the call sign were switched to KOWH.

In 1946, KOWH put one of the first FM stations on the air in Omaha, KOAD (later KTGL).

By the 1950s, the owner was Mid Continent Broadcasting.^[5] In an advertisement in the 1950 edition of Broadcasting Yearbook, KOWH said it was "The Toast of The Midwest." It claimed a broadcast area of 215 miles in diameter, and offered advertisers "more coverage." It touted 660 AM as a "clear channel frequency," but neglected to say that a New York City station owned the clear channel status, and KOWH had to sign off at night.

KOWH played an important role in U.S. radio programming history. In May 1952, the station became what is considered the first Top 40 station. It was owned and operated by radio pioneer Todd Storz, who crafted a radio format that played the top hits every couple of hours, using high-energy disc jockeys, aimed at young listeners. KOWH's success encouraged the spread of Top 40 stations across the country.

As contemporary music listening switched to the FM band, KOWH carried a country music format, and later an urban adult contemporary format. It became a Christian radio station in September 1979, and changed its call sign to KCRO.

In 2005, the station was bought for $3.1 million by the Salem Media Group.^[6]

In July 2018, Hickory Radio agreed to purchase KCRO, co-owned talk radio station KOTK, and two translators from Salem Media.^[7] The purchase was consummated on October 31, 2018, at a price of $1.375 million.

Former logos

References

External links

Official website
Facility details for Facility ID 54902 (KCRO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
KCRO in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
Facility details for Facility ID 54902 (KCRO) in the REC Networks database

FCC History Cards for KCRO

[1] "Facility Technical Data for KCRO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[2] Radio-Locator.com/KCRO

[3] Radio-Locator.com/K293CJ

[4] Broadcasting Yearbook 1935 page 40

[5] Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 199

[6] Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-348

[7] BusinessWire.com "Salem Media Announces Sale of KGBI-FM Omaha" May 22, 2018 (retrieved January 19, 2019)

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v t e Religious radio stations in the state of Nebraska
Stations	KAGR-LP – Arapahoe KAYA – Hubbard KCMI – Terrytown KCRO – Omaha KCVN – Cozad KDAI – Scottsbluff KETT – Mitchell KFHC – Ponca KGRD – Orchard KGBI-FM – Omaha KHZY – Overton KIVE-LP – Aurora KJLT – North Platte KJLT-FM – North Platte KJTF – North Platte KJTM-LP – Lincoln KLCV – Lincoln KMMJ – Grand Island KNBE – Beatrice KNEF – Franklin KNFA – Grand Island KNGN – McCook KNNA-LP – Lincoln KPNO – Norfolk KPNY – Alliance KQIQ – Beatrice KQQA – Shelton KROA – Grand Island KTLX – Columbus KYBF – Scottsbluff KYFG – Omaha KYHK – Kearney KZLW – Gretna KZOI – Dakota City
Defunct	KGIA-LP – Grand Island KNIF-LP – Scottsbluff KPVA-LP – Shelton
See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Nebraska See also Classical Jazz Religious Spanish Smooth Jazz Other