KKNG-FM

KKNG-FM
Blanchard, Oklahoma;
Broadcast area	Oklahoma City Metroplex
Frequency	97.3 MHz
Branding	Oklahoma Catholic Radio
Programming
Format	Catholic Religious
Affiliations	EWTN Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	Mark Whitten; (KKNG Radio LLC);
History
First air date	August 18, 1977
Former call signs	KWEY-FM (1977–1984); KBXR (1984–1991); KWEY-FM (1991–2006); KOJK (2006–2010)
Call sign meaning	K KiNG Country (previous format)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	73947
Class	A
ERP	1,000 watts
HAAT	244 meters (801 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	35°10′38″N 97°36′10″W / 35.17722°N 97.60278°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	okcr.org

KKNG-FM (97.3 FM) is a radio station licensed to Blanchard, Oklahoma, serving the Oklahoma City Metroplex.^[2] It is owned by Mark Whitten, through licensee KKNG Radio LLC.^[3]

KKNG-FM carries a religious talk and information radio format focusing on Catholic listeners, and airs programming from the EWTN Radio Network. The transmitter is at NE 40th Street at U.S. Route 62 in Blanchard.^[4]

History

On August 18, 1977, the station first signed on as KWEY-FM. It was originally licensed to Weatherford, Oklahoma.^[5] In March 1984, the station became KBXR.

It changed back to KWEY-FM on September 20, 1991. Until 2006, it was a country station branded "97.3 The Coyote". In 2006, the transmitter was moved closer to Oklahoma City and its format changed to variety hits. It became KOJK, and joined the Jack FM network as "97.3 Jack FM." It used the national programming feed for Jack stations in smaller markets.

On March 8, 2010, after playing "I'll Cry Instead" by The Beatles, KOJK flipped to country as "97.3 King Country." The call sign was later changed to KKNG-FM a week later to match the branding. (KKNG was previously used by a popular country station at 93.3 MHz, now KJKE.) KKNG's DJ's included Lynn Waggoner in the morning, Vanessa Valli midday, Owen Pickard for "The Afternoon Drive", and Carly Rae on the night shift. Waggoner also hosted The Sunday Morning Gospel Show, featuring Southern Gospel music.

On February 28, 2013, at 10 p.m., after playing "You're the Only One" by Dolly Parton, KKNG joined the statewide Oklahoma Catholic Radio network and took over the OKC simulcast from AM 890 KTLR, which had previously aired it part-time.^[6]