KNTH

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this article. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "KNTH" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Radio station in Houston, Texas

KNTH

* Houston, Texas

Broadcast area| Greater Houston
Frequency| 1070 kHz
Branding| AM 1070 The Answer
Programming
Language| English
Format| Conservative talk
Affiliations| Salem Radio Network
Townhall News
Ownership
Owner|

* Salem Media Group
* (Salem Communications Holding Corporation)

Sister stations

| KKHT-FM
History

First air date

| 1970; 55 years ago (1970)

Former call signs

* KENR (1968–1983)
* KRBE (1983–1988)
* KKZR (1988–1991)
* KRBE (1991–1993)
* KCRR (1993)
* KRBE (1993–1994)
* KENR (1994–2000)
* KKHT (2000–2004)

Call sign meaning

| "News–talk Houston"
Technical information[1]

Licensing authority

| FCC
Facility ID| 61174
Class| B
Power| 10,000 watts day
5,000 watts night

Transmitter coordinates

| 29°59′33″N 95°28′23″W﻿ / ﻿29.99250°N 95.47306°W﻿ / 29.99250; -95.47306
Translator(s)| See § Translator
Links

Public license information

* Public file
* LMS

Webcast| Listen Live
Website| am1070theanswer.com

KNTH (1070 AM) is a conservative talk radio station serving the Houston, Texas metropolitan area. It is owned by Salem Media Group. KNTH's transmitter site is located in Northwest Harris County and its studios are located in Sharpstown district in Southwest Houston. KNTH relays its programming on to an FM relay translator, purchased from Armida Saille, on 103.3 FM from a transmit site near Farm to Market Road 1960 and T.C. Jester Boulevard in Bammel Village. This translator originally operated in Kingsville, Texas before moving to Houston.

The station broadcasts syndicated programming on the weekdays, such as Morning in America (hosted by former Reagan Education Secretary Bill Bennett), The Mike Gallagher Show, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, and Bloomberg On The Money. Weekends feature locally produced programs on a multitude of topics, including gardening with "The Dirt Doctor" Howard Garrett, home improvement with "House Talk Today with Chris Miles", as well as nationally syndicated shows on health, real-estate and other non-political topics. The station also broadcasts Baylor University Football.

## History

[edit]

### The Glory Years as "Keener" Country

[edit]

During the 1970s, 1070 AM KENR Houston, Texas was a country music radio station. The station first signed on in 1970 as a 5,000-watt daytimer, owned by Bill Edwards of Saginaw, Michigan. In 1971, the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day and increased its power to 10,000 watts daytime and 5,000 watts at night. DJs on "Keener" Country in the early days included Eddie Kilroy, who went on to become a prominent country music record producer in Nashville, and Jacky Ward, who subsequently scored country hits of his own with songs such as "Fools Fall In Love" and "Big Blue Diamond."

When KENR started broadcasting 24 hours in 1971, Leroy J. Gloger, then-owner of KIKK, was concerned about the fate of his station, so he sold it to Sonderling Broadcasting. In the meantime, KNUZ's owner, Dave Morris, who felt his station was losing a Top 40 turf war with KILT and was also being hurt by KULF, so he flipped the station's format to "Country Fresh Kay-News" in 1973. However, according to Houston radio vet Chuck Tiller, KNUZ at its best was a "punch", meaning that if you didn't like what KENR or KIKK were playing, you might "punch" your button for KNUZ as a second choice.

By 1973, KENR was a big success, becoming the first major-market country station to be ranked #1 in all demographic groups 12 years old and older. DJ and music director "Dr. Bruce" Nelson (now known as "Dr. Bruce" Nelson Stratton) had a hand in this and, accordingly, was named Gavin Music Director of the Year in 1974. Allegedly, the station helped boost the careers of Mickey Gilley, Freddy Fender, Johnny Lee and Gene Watson. Despite one #68 U.S. country chart hit ("Now I Can Live Again") in 1968, Gilley was essentially a local Houston-area artist when, in 1974, he cut a single, "She Called Me Baby", to be distributed in jukeboxes around the adjacent city of Pasadena, Texas. Nelson found the record, flipped it over and played the B-side on the air. The song, "Room Full Of Roses", became a hit, Playboy Records picked it up and it became the first of sixteen #1 country chart hits for Gilley. Nelson also started, on KENR, the first live broadcast from Gilley's nightclub, the "Saturday Night Special", which evolved into the syndicated "Live at Gilley's" show that was popular during the "Urban Cowboy" craze.

The liner notes of Watson's 1975 album "Love In the Hot Afternoon" includes the statement, "We at Capitol Records owe a debt of gratitude to radio stations KENR, KIKK and KNUS (sic; this should read KNUZ) in Houston for their part in exposing the talents of Gene Watson ..." The album included three country hits, including "You Could Know As Much About A Stranger."

Around 1976-77, KENR's DJ lineup included morning man "Buffalo Bill" Bailey (whose schtick included appearances by Ezra Brooks and other denizens of the Let It Pour Lounge); late-morning DJ Hal McClain (whose schtick included call-in sessions by "Granny"); early-afternoon DJ Dick Martin followed by Bruce Nelson in afternoon drive and DJ Mike Cannon evening drive. (Bailey later became a Harris Co., Texas, constable.)By the way, Mike Cannon went on to become director of communications for The Houston Astros baseball organization and was referred to affectionately on the game broadcasts by legendary announcer, Milo Hamilton, as "Mike, the loose Cannon".

Other DJs during KENR's tenure included Howard Reynolds (1980) and Jim Rose (1981). Additionally, helicopter traffic reporter "Chopper Bill" Waldrop worked there in 1981 as well. Another Jock of note was Sonny Ray Stolz (1977–1981) who was Houston's first FM Country DJ, having signed on KIKK-FM in September 1966 and had a 14-point rating share. Sonny became the voice of Big Tex for The State Fair of Texas after statewide announcer competition in 2001. While at KENR, Sonny Ray Stolz produced 'The Original Home Grown Show' which featured strictly Texas music and Texas artists, a ground-breaking concept which spawned several imitators across the state. However, KENR was the first to provide this forum.

Circa 1979-80, KENR management brought in Joe Formicolla to be the new program director. At times he also filled in on-air. Although his distinct northern accent was a handicap for being on-air in Texas country music, Formicolla did bring the concept of dropping interesting trivia into the course of an air shift, requiring all jocks to do likewise. They actually read items from sources such as The National Enquirer, etc. Formicolla left KENR circa 1981 and later was awarded Country Music DJ of the Year by the Country Music Association and recognized during its annual awards TV program from Nashville.

### KENR Goes Gold

[edit]

In 1981, KILT-FM changed formats to country from album rock in January; longtime top 40 sister KILT followed suit in June. Additionally, nationwide, music on AM was fading at that time. (One exception, albeit an off-topic one, was the success of KKBQ Houston—once known as KULF—for a time starting in mid-1982.)

KENR responded by becoming "Keener Country Gold." But it was being seriously hurt by KIKK-FM and both versions of KILT.

### KENR Drops Country; Becomes "The Radio Magazine"

[edit]

In 1982, the new management of Lake Huron flipped KENR's format again to news/talk as "The Radio Magazine, KENR." Former KNUZ air personality Joe Ford became morning man, Chuck Scott from channel 39 KHTV (now KIAH) did news and former New Yorker Peggy Crone handled entertainment news. John Greer and Mark Seegers did sports. Mike Shiloh was also on the staff as well. The station also carried Houston Astros play-by-play. And Bob Stephenson aired an outdoors show at 4 a.m. Aside from news, talk and sports, the station also programmed pre-rock standards music. Former KNUZ air personality Chuck Tiller was on the afternoon shift 2 p.m.-6 p.m. By November 1982, the station's music changed to light adult contemporary. The call letters were changed to KRBE on January 1, 1983, and became the Radio Magazine KRBE. By spring, Houston Astros ballgames were simulcast on KRBE-FM. The radio magazine ceased in June 1983.

### As KRBE

[edit]

AM 1070 subsequently went through periodic format changes, occasionally simulcasting sister KRBE (which flipped back to top 40 in late 1984) and, at other times, airing such formats as classic rock and hard rock.

### Susquehanna Acquires KRBE

[edit]

In November 1986, Susquehanna Radio purchased KRBE AM & FM.[2] AM 1070, by then, was known for its classic rock format. The format was dropped in January 1987, and returned to a simulcast of KRBE-FM, which lasted until early 1988.

### Z Rock Comes to Houston

[edit]

After breaking simulcast with its FM counterpart this time, KRBE began running the Satellite Music Network, hard rock format "Z-Rock" under the KKZR callsign. Susquehanna changed 1070's call letters back to KRBE on January 1, 1991, and went back to simulcasting the FM when its agreement with SMN ended.

### Susquehanna Sells the AM

[edit]

The station briefly took on the KCRR ("Community Recall Radio") calls when Susquehanna sold time to a religious broadcaster in 1993, but fell through within four months. The KRBE calls and simulcast returned.

In April 1994, the KENR callsign was restored and the station was sold.

### Salem Acquires KENR

[edit]

KNTH ident used until 2007. KNTH ident used until 2013.

Salem Communications purchased KENR in the mid-1990s and broadcast brokered ethnic programming for the first few years. In 2000, Salem sold KKHT 106.9 (now KHPT) to Cox broadcasting for $80 million, plus five other Cox radio stations in other cities.

Salem then moved the Christian talk format and call letters from 106.9 to AM 1070, which became "1070 The Word, KKHT". In 2002, Salem purchased 100.7 FM from Univision and moved the Christian talk format and call letters to 100.7. Thus, it became "100.7 The Word, KKHT", as it currently remains. At the same time, Salem flipped AM 1070 to the Salem news/talk format as "Newstalk 1070 KNTH". Former KNUZ and KILT air personality Chuck Tiller is the morning announcer on KNTH. He also does local news commentary on Bill Bennett's "Morning In America."

## Translator

[edit]

Broadcast translator for KNTH  Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | FCC info | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

K277DE  | 103.3 FM | Houston, Texas | 138173 | 250 | 156 m (512 ft) | D | LMS | First air date: May 16, 2017

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KNTH". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. ^ "Lake Huron Broadcasting Corporation has sold KRBE-AM and FM Houston to Susquehanna Radio Corp" (PDF). R&R. January 30, 1987. Retrieved November 8, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* FCC History Cards for KNTH
* AM 1070 The Answer Official Site
* Facility details for Facility ID 61174 (KNTH) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
* KNTH in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
* Radio Daily News archive[usurped]
* KFTX 97.5 Real Country website - Dr. Bruce Nelson bio page
* Gene Watson's Ireland-based Fan Site
* 440 Satisfaction - Where Are They Now?
* Chuck Tiller's website Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
* FCC decision to revoke license

* v
* t
* e

Radio stations in the Houston metropolitan area (Texas)

By AM frequency|

* 610
* 6501
* 700
* 740
* 790
* 850
* 880
* 9001
* 920
* 950
* 980
* 1010
* 10501
* 1070
* 11101
* 11401
* 1180
* 1230
* 1320
* 1360
* 1380
* 1400
* 1430
* 1460
* 1480
* 1500
* 15201
* 1540
* 1560
* 1590

By FM frequency|

* 88.1
* 88.3
* 88.7
* 89.3
* 89.7
* 89.9
* 90.1
* 90.5
* 90.9
* 91.3
* 91.7
* 92.1
* 92.9
* 93.3
* 93.7
* 94.5
* 95.7
* 96.5
* 96.9
* 97.1
* 97.5
* 97.9
* 98.5
* 99.1
* 99.7
* 99.9
* 100.3
* 100.7
* 101.1
* 102.1
* 102.9
* 103.7
* 104.1
* 104.9
* 105.3
* 105.7
* 106.5
* 106.9
* 107.5
* 107.9

| LPFM|

* 94.1
* 94.9
* 95.3
* KTTF-LP
* KZLD-LP
* 96.1
* KTRU-LP
* KIRP-LP
* KZCV-LP
* 99.7
* 101.5
* KLJJ-LP
* KOER-LP
* 102.5
* 103.5
* KCYB-LP
* KYBY-LP
* 104.5
* 106.1

|

Translators|

* 88.1
* K201DZ
* K201EU
* K201IY
* 89.5
* 91.3
* 91.5
* 92.3
* 92.5
* 94.1
* 94.9
* 95.1
* 95.3
* 96.1
* K241CM
* K241CO
* 96.9
* 98.3
* 98.7
* 99.5
* K258BZ
* K258DA
* 100.7
* 101.5
* 101.7
* K269GS
* K269GT
* 102.5
* K273AL
* K273DO
* 103.3
* 103.5
* 104.5
* 104.7
* 105.3
* 106.1

NOAA Weather Radio
frequency|

* 162.4 (Houston)
* 162.55 (Galveston)

Digital radio
by frequency & subchannel|

* 88.7-1
* 88.7-2
* 88.7-3
* 89.3-1
* 90.1-1
* 90.1-2
* 90.9-1
* 91.3-1
* 91.7-1
* 92.1-1
* 92.9-1
* 92.9-2
* 92.9-3
* 93.3-1
* 93.7-1
* 93.7-2
* 94.5-1
* 94.5-2
* 94.5-3
* 95.7-1
* 95.7-2
* 95.7-3
* 96.5-1
* 97.1-1
* 97.9-1
* 97.9-2
* 98.5-1
* 99.1-1
* 99.1-2
* 100.3-1
* 100.3-2
* 100.3-3
* 101.1-1
* 101.1-2
* 102.1-1
* 102.1-2
* 102.9-1
* 102.9-2
* 102.9-3
* 103.7-1
* 104.1-1
* 104.1-2
* 104.9-1
* 104.9-2
* 104.9-3
* 104.9-4
* 106.5-1
* 106.5-2
* 106.9-1
* 106.9-2
* 106.9-3
* 107.5-1
* 107.5-2
* 107.5-3
* 107.9-1

By call sign|

* K201DZ
* K201EU
* K201IY
* K208DG
* K217GB
* K218EJ
* K222CX
* K223CW
* K231CN
* K235CS
* K236AR
* K237FS
* K241CM
* K241CO
* K245CQ
* K252FR
* K254BZ
* K258BZ
* K258DA
* K264CN
* K268CW
* K269GS
* K269GT
* K273AL
* K273DO
* K277DE
* K278CR
* K283CH
* K284CS
* K287BQ
* K291CE
* KACC
* KAFR
* KAMA-FM
* HD2
* HD3
* HD4
* KANI
* KBIH-LP
* KBME
* KBRZ
* KBXX
* HD2
* KCHN1
* KCOH
* KCYB-LP
* KEYH
* KFNC
* KFTG
* KGBC
* KGG68
* KGLK
* HD2
* HD3
* KGOL
* KGOW
* KHB40
* KHCB
* KHCB-FM
* KHGF-LP
* KHIH
* KHJK
* KHMX
* KHPT
* HD2
* HD3
* KHSX-LP
* KHVU
* KIKK1
* KILT
* KILT-FM
* HD2
* HD3
* KIRP-LP
* KJIC
* KJJG-LP
* KJOZ
* KKBQ
* HD2
* HD3
* KKHH
* HD2
* HD3
* KKHT-FM
* KLAT
* KLJJ-LP
* KLOL
* HD2
* KLTN
* HD2
* HD3
* KLVH
* KLVL
* KMAZ-LP
* KMIC
* KMJQ
* HD2
* KNTH
* KODA
* HD2
* KOER-LP
* KOVE-FM
* HD2
* KOYM-LP
* KPFG-LP
* KPFT
* HD2
* KPRC
* KPVU
* KQBT
* HD2
* KQBU-FM
* KQEU-LP
* KQQK
* KQUE
* KQVI
* KRBE
* HD2
* KRCM
* KREH1
* KROI
* KRUT-LP
* KSBJ
* KSEV
* KSHJ
* KTBZ-FM
* HD2
* HD3
* KTEK1
* KTJM
* KTRH
* KTRU-LP
* KTSU
* KTTF-LP
* KTWL
* KUHF
* HD2
* HD3
* KVST
* KWWJ
* KXBJ
* KXYZ
* KYBY-LP
* KYND1
* KYOK1
* KYST
* KZCC-LP
* KZCV-LP
* KZCW-LP
* KZLD-LP

Internet|

* Coog Radio

Defunct|

* KHGV-LP (99.7 FM)
* KJOJ-FM (103.3 FM)
* KSTB (101.5 FM)
* KULF (1090 AM)

Nearby regions
Austin
Bay City–Freeport
Beaumont–Port Arthur
Bryan–College Station
Corpus Christi
Huntsville
San Antonio
Victoria

See also
List of radio stations in Texas

* * *

Notes
1\. Daytime-only AM radio station.

* v
* t
* e

Salem Media Group

AM radio stations|

* KBJD
* KCBQ
* KDIA
* KDIZ
* KDOW
* KDYA
* KDZR
* KFAX
* KFIA
* KGNW
* KGU
* KHCM
* KHNR
* KKOL
* KKMS
* KKNT
* KLUP
* KNTH
* KNUS
* KPAM
* KPDQ
* KPRZ
* KPXQ
* KRKS
* KRLA
* KSKY
* KSLR
* KTIE
* KTKZ
* KTNO
* KTRB
* KXXT
* KYCR
* KZNT
* WAVA
* WDTK
* WDWD
* WEZE
* WFIL
* WGKA
* WHK
* WHKW
* WIND
* WLCC
* WLQV
* WLSS
* WLTA
* WMCA
* WMYM
* WNIV
* WNTP
* WNYM
* WORL
* WPGP
* WPIT
* WRFD
* WRHC
* WROL
* WTBN
* WTLN
* WTWD
* WWFE
* WWRC
* WWTC
* WYLL

FM radio stations|

* KDAR
* KDIS-FM
* KDXE
* KGFT
* KGU-FM
* KHCM-FM
* KKHT-FM
* KKLA-FM
* KKOL-FM
* KPDQ-FM
* KRKS-FM
* KRYP
* KWRD-FM
* WAVA-FM
* WORD-FM
* WTOH

Satellite radio stations|

* FamilyTalk

Salem Radio Network|

* Singing News Radio
* The Word In Praise

Salem Publishing|

* Hot Air
* PJ Media
* RedState
* Regnery Publishing
* Townhall
* Twitchy
* Xulon Press

Salem Web Network|

* CCMmagazine.com
* Christianity.com
* Crosswalk.com
* Godtube.com

* v
* t
* e

News/talk radio stations in Texas

All-news|

* KHVN – Fort Worth
* KKGM – Fort Worth
* KXYZ – Houston

News & talk|

* KBDT – Highland Park
* KBRA – Freer
* KCOX – Jasper
* KCRS – Midland/Odessa
* KDET – Center
* KERA – Dallas
* KEYS – Corpus Christi
* KFJZ – Fort Worth
* KFXR – Dallas
* KFYO – Lubbock
* KGNC – Amarillo
* KIXZ – Amarillo
* KJCE – Rollingwood
* KKAM – Lubbock
* KKSA – San Angelo
* KKTK – Texarkana
* KKTX – Corpus Christi
* KLBJ – Austin
* KLIF – Dallas
* KLUP – Terrell Hills
* KLVI – Beaumont
* KMNY – Hurst
* KNTH – Houston
* KPLT – Paris
* KPYN – Atlanta
* KREW – Plainview
* KRLD – Dallas
* KSEV – Tomball
* KSFA – Nacogdoches
* KSKY – Balch Springs
* KTBB – Tyler
* KTBB-FM – Troup
* KTMR – Edna
* KTRH – Houston
* KTSA – San Antonio
* KTSM – El Paso
* KTTU – Lubbock
* KUHF – Houston
* KURV – Edinburg
* KUT – Austin
* KVNN – Victoria
* KVOP – Plainview
* KWEL – Midland/Odessa
* KWFS – Wichita Falls
* KWTX – Waco
* KXYL – Brownwood
* KXYL-FM – Coleman
* KZQQ – Abilene
* WBAP – Fort Worth
* WBAP-FM – Haltom City
* WOAI – San Antonio
* WTAW – College Station

See also
adult contemporary
classic hits
college
country
news/talk
NPR
oldies
religious
rock
sports
top 40
urban
other radio stations in Texas
*[FID]: Facility ID
*[ERP]: Effective radiated power
*[W]: watt
*[HAAT]: Height above average terrain
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template