KMPT
Radio station in East Missoula, Montana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KMPT (930 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve East Missoula, Montana. The station is owned by Townsquare Media. It airs a talk radio format.[2] Currently branded as "930 AM KMPT," the station operates as a conservative talk leader in Missoula, featuring syndicated programming from networks such as Salem and Premiere. The station serves as a local affiliate for the Bobcat Radio Sports Network, providing live coverage of Montana State University athletics to listeners in Western Montana.[3]
| |
| Broadcast area | Missoula, Montana |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 930 kHz |
| Branding | 930 AM 99.7 FM KMPT |
| Programming | |
| Format | Talk |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KBAZ, KGGL, KGRZ, KGVO, KYSS-FM, KZOQ-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | June 27, 1959 |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Missoula's Progressive Talk" (former programming) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 71754 |
| Class | D |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 46°51′57″N 114°04′57″W |
| Translator | 99.7 K259DD (East Missoula) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 930kmpt.com |
History
The station first signed on the air on June 27, 1959, under the original call letters KYSS.[4] It was established by Treasure State Broadcasting, which had previously secured the construction permit for the station under the temporary designation KDOO in 1958.[5] During its early decades, the station was a pioneer in local music broadcasting, launching its FM counterpart (KYSS-FM) in 1969 to expand its reach in the Missoula market.[6]
KYSS-FM was started by the station in 1969. In 1984, the station rebranded as KLCY, adopting a nostalgia and adult standards format that it maintained for over two decades.[7] In late 2007, Gap Broadcasting II LLC, led by Erik Hellum, reached an agreement to acquire the station from Clear Channel Communications as part of a 57-station transaction valued at $74.78 million.[8] Following this acquisition, the station officially transitioned to its current KMPT call letters on January 1, 2008.[9]
Ownership
In October 2007, a deal was reached for the station (then known as KLCY) to be acquired by GAP Broadcasting II LLC (Erik Hellum, president) from Clear Channel Communications as part of a 57 station deal with a total reported sale price of $74.78 million.[10] What eventually became GapWest Broadcasting was folded into Townsquare Media on August 13, 2010.[11] The merger, finalized on August 13, 2010, was technically a "roll-up" of three separate entities—Townsquare Media, GAP Radio Broadcasting, and GAP West Broadcasting—all of which were already majority-owned by the private equity firm Oaktree Capital Management.[12] This consolidation expanded Townsquare's reach to 171 radio stations across 36 markets, making it the fourth-largest radio owner in the United States at the time.[13]
The Missoula radio market saw further disruption on June 17, 2022, when Townsquare Media acquired Cherry Creek Media for $18.75 million.[14] To comply with FCC ownership caps following this massive addition, Townsquare was required to divest several stations, including KMPT’s sister station KENR-FM, to Anderson Broadcasting and other local non-profits.[15]
