History
This station first signed on the air on October 15, 1960 as KARO, then becoming KLEF with classical music in 1964. On March 13, 1986, the station became KJYY (Joy 94), then becoming KLDE in 1988 (Oldies 94.5).
The current format launched at 107.5 FM on October 31, 1994 at 11:00 am CDT. The station called itself "The New Rocket 107.5 - Houston's New Alternative", and changed its call sign to KRQT-FM. Under the direction of new General Manager Pat Fant (formerly of KLOL-FM), the station re-launched its format in late May 1995 using the new call sign KTBZ-FM and the "107.5 The Buzz" slogan.
Before July 2000, KTBZ continued to broadcast on 107.5 FM. Due to a merger of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. and AMFM, Inc., and the need to stay within the FCC's station ownership cap, KLDE was sold to recent move-in Cox Radio and acquired the 107.5 frequency. Shortly after that, KTBZ announced that "The Buzz" would cease operations at 107.5 on July 18 and began a "Save the Buzz" campaign, sending Buzz listeners into a frenzy for information on the station's "impending demise". When the actual purpose of the campaign was discovered, an online forum maintained by KTBZ was shut down in order to try to keep the word from getting out as listeners began to post their findings. Still, this did not prevent listeners from distributing banners throughout Houston and painting "Save The Buzz" on their car windows. KTBZ staged a public rally, at which a representative from parent company Clear Channel Radio came to read a statement. The statement read, in part, that in response to public comments, The Buzz would be saved and moved to 94.5 FM, a much stronger signal, resulting in a "Bigger, Better Buzz".
Just before 8:00 pm CDT on July 18, 2000, KTBZ and KLDE each played a pre-recorded lead-in to the station switch. KLDE had their air staff riding in a transporter across the dial to 107.5 FM, while KTBZ led a one-minute countdown as they "faded" off of the 107.5 frequency. At exactly 8:00 p.m., the stations simultaneously exchanged frequencies. KTBZ's montage led in with "Turn On the Juice!", while KLDE's air staff "crash-landed" on 107.5. Both stations celebrated the move with their own "Switch Parties", The Buzz presenting a free concert starring Stone Temple Pilots that was broadcast live from The Aerial Theater in downtown Houston on "The New 94.5 The Buzz". The remaining new station, "Oldies 107.5", marked the transition by playing 48 hours of non-stop music. This officially completed the "trade" in ownership.
KTBZ began transmitting its HD and HD2 digital signals in January 2006. KTBZ 94.5-2 HD2's current format is "94-5 The Rock, Houston's Rock Station", playing active and classic rock.
Read more about this topic: KTBZ-FM
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