This article is about the station currently known as KRLD-FM. For the station that previously used this call sign, see KZPS.
KRLD-FM
FormatSports
Subchannels
  • HD-2: News (KRLD-AM)
  • HD-3: Dallas Cowboys programming
Former callsigns
  • KQZY (–1990)
  • KRSR (1990–)
  • KRRM (1992)
  • KYNG (1992–)
  • KLLI (c. 2000s)
OwnerAudacy, Inc.
LanguageEnglish
CityDallas, Texas
CountryUS
AreaDallas–Fort Worth metroplex
Branding105.3 The Fan
Licensing authorityFCC
NetworkWestwood One Sports
Affiliations
Sister stationsKRLD
Websitewww.audacy.com/1053thefan

KRLD-FM (, "105-3 The Fan") is a commercial radio station licensed to Dallas, Texas. KRLD-FM is owned by Audacy, Inc., and airs a sports radio format.

KRLD-FM is the flagship station of the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network and the Texas Rangers Radio Network. Some early hours on weekends are paid brokered programming.

History

KQZY changed its format to hot AC as "Star 105.3" in September 1989, taking the new call sign KRSR the following summer. "Star" featured such personalities as Bob Nelson, John McCarty, Teri Richardson, Mike Sheppard, Stoobie Doak and Scott Carpenter, who also served as program director. Ratings remained low, and on January 27, 1992, following a 2-day electronic countdown, Alliance Broadcasting (based in Walnut Creek, California) launched the first "Young Country" station on 105.3 FM with the station temporarily taking the call sign KRRM before becoming KYNG in February.[1][2]

After being acquired by Infinity Broadcasting (the forerunner to CBS Radio), KYNG changed format from country music to a combination of hot talk and active rock music on April 3, 2000. The final song on "Young Country" was "The Dance" by Garth Brooks.[3][4][5][6]

On December 8, 2008, at 3 p.m., KLLI switched to a sports talk format, branded as "105.3 The Fan". This change was not a complete overhaul as some hosts, notably morning host Jagger and some of his morning crew, survived the shift, while others, including Russ Martin, were not retained.[7]

On May 21, 2012, CBS Radio hinted at a possible format flip for either KRLD-FM or KMVK to "AMP Radio", much like its co-owned Los Angeles contemporary hit radio station KAMP-FM, as CBS registered three web domains, but neither station changed to that format.[8]

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom (now known as Audacy).[9] The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17.[10][11]

Months after on April 26, 2018, Entercom struck a new content deal with NBCUniversal-owned-and-operated stations KXAS-TV (NBC) and KXTX-TV (Telemundo). The former will be partnered with this station to bring enhanced local sports news and scores to its audience.[12][13]

HD radio

105.3 HD-2 was originally launched in 2005 as a Spanish version of their "Live/Free FM" format. In 2008, the HD-2 channel shifted to an indie rock-formatted playlist from internet radio station The Indie-Verse via a secured internet feed. In June 2009, The Indie-Verse was dumped in favor of the simulcast of KRLD NewsRadio 1080 AM. The reason was the new Microsoft Zune player's feature which allowed listeners to hear HD stations as well as MP3 files, but wouldn't be able to tune into AM stations.[14]

105.3 HD-3 aired an all-"Dallas Cowboys Radio" format, which carried archived football games and talk shows about the Cowboys, with the overnight hours occupied by CBS Sports Radio.[15]

Play-by-play rights

Dallas Cowboys

KRLD-FM has been the flagship station for the Dallas Cowboys National Football League team since the 2009 season. The deal revived the long association the Cowboys had with KRLD (AM) in the 1970s and 1980s. It features regular appearances by team owner Jerry Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy.[16]

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball aired their games from Monday through Friday on 105.3 The Fan in the 2009 and 2010 seasons (the latter was their pennant-winning year).[17] Weekend games were still on KRLD NewsRadio 1080. After that season, the Rangers did not renew the contract. Games from 2011 to 2014 were on rival station 103.3 ESPN in English and on 1540 KZMP in Spanish, which continued with Spanish-language rights until ESPN Deportes Radio's demise, in which they were moved to another Spanish sports station KFLC 1270 AM. Rangers games (including weekends) returned to 105.3 The Fan starting in the 2015 season.[18]

History of call letters

The call letters KRLD-FM were originally assigned to a Dallas station that began broadcasting March 21, 1948. As only the third FM station in Dallas, it broadcast on 92.5 MHz with 50 kW power. The licensee was KRLD Radio Corporation, which also owned 1080 KRLD.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Star 105 enlists in local battle for country fans". Dallas Morning News. 1992-01-28.
  2. ^ "KRSR/Dallas Flips To Country Format". R&R. No. 926. 1992-01-31. pp. 3, 29. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  3. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Russ Martin Show KYNG Format Change". YouTube. October 12, 2012.
  4. ^ "KYNG remains on Stern watch". Dallas Morning News. 2000-04-16.
  5. ^ "KYNG/Dallas Sets Talk Format Flip". R&R. No. 1343. 2000-03-24. pp. 3, 20. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  6. ^ "'NEW Mornings Driven To Sports". R&R. No. 1345. 2000-04-07. p. 38. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  7. ^ "Station drops Russ Martin". Dallas Morning News. 2008-12-09.
  8. ^ "Amping Up In Dallas?". RadioInsight. 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  9. ^ Venta, Lance (2017-02-02). "CBS Radio To Merge With Entercom". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  10. ^ "Entercom Receives FCC Approval for Merger with CBS Radio". Entercom. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  11. ^ Venta, Lance (November 17, 2017). "Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger". Radio Insight. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  12. ^ NBC 5, Telemundo 39 and Entercom Announce Multi-Year Media Partnership - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (accessed July 7, 2018)
  13. ^ Doney, Shariff on 105.3 the Fan and NBC 5 Partnership (Television production). NBC 5 DFW. 2018-05-06. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  14. ^ The Indie-Verse is Homeless Now... But Not Going Anywhere, Says Program Director Eric Landrum - The Dallas Observer (released June 9, 2009)
  15. ^ http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=10 Archived 2015-11-23 at the Wayback Machine HD Radio Guide for Dallas-Ft. Worth
  16. ^ The New Home Of The Dallas Cowboys Archived 2009-04-27 at the Wayback Machine - Official Press Release (accessed April 23, 2009)
  17. ^ "Texas Rangers weekday games moving to 105.3 The Fan (KRLD FM) for 2009". MLB.com. 2009-02-03. Archived from the original on 2011-09-26.
  18. ^ Rangers join ESPN 103.3 FM, 1540 AM - ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth (released December 8, 2010)
  19. ^ "KRLD-FM Dallas Takes The Air on Channel 22". Broadcasting. April 5, 1948. Retrieved 22 November 2014.