KNOU

KNOU is a silent station licensed to serve the New Orleans area. The station was owned by On Top Communications and broadcasted at 104.5 MHz with an ERP of 7.8kW.

History

KNOU, whose City of License is Empire, Louisiana, signed on the air as a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit (as "U104.5") on June 5, 2001 before evolving to its current format in December of that year. The station was known for going 18 months (June 2001 - January 2003) without a single commercial.

The initial on-air lineup was as follows:

*6 a.m. - 11 a.m.: Jay Love (formerly of Mix 104.1, where he worked overnights as Jon Kelly; currently Morning Show Producer for Steve Harvey at 93.5 KDAY, Los Angeles, California)
*11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: DJ Superman (PD Michael Knight)
*2 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Jammer (formerly of Mix 104.1, where he worked nights under his more widely known air name, Darren Stephens; currently middays at Hot 104.9, Tallahassee, Florida)
*7 p.m. - Midnight: Oscar Rene

Part-timers were Frank Nitti and Leslie Brown. Brown was a secretary at the station, and eventually moved to middays as a cost-saving measure after Knight relocated to Denver. Nitti worked under the name "Rikk Idol", in order to give the impression that the station had scored a major coup from crosstown B97. (An unrelated Rikk Idol had just left WEZB to take a position with KZZP/Phoenix)

The station was sold to On Top Communications in December 2002. The transaction was first announced in January, but took almost a year to consummate.

On January 6, 2003, the station changed its name to 'Hot 104.5' and brought in the syndicated Russ Parr morning show.

After Hurricane Katrina, Hot 104.5's transmitter was severely damaged. Albeit with an internet stream in order to keep New Orleans' 'hip-hop community' united, the station went silent on April 4, 2006 due to financial troubles.

The FCC approved a temporary "STA" authority to broadcast from a different tower localed in Buras Louisiana. That STA permission expired on August 21, 2007. [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1172662] . A request was made to extend the STA at the alternate location based on the rationale that the KNOU is a tenant on their original destroyed tower and KNOU cannot influence the construction schedule of the tower replacement. On January 18, 2008 the FCC approved an extension of the STA order [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1198377&Service=FM&Form_id=911&Facility_id=89100] , however On Top Communications remains in bankrupty.

Hot 104.5 was once home to the following personalities:

Raj Smoove, Dj Black N Mild, Dj Hektik, Chi Town Shawty, L Boogie, Big Herc, Derrick Tha Franchise aka Young Fame, Dj Hollaback, Trill Wil, Jigga JT, Dj Finesse, J Smooth, Tim Smooth, E F Cuttin and The WildChild.

External links

*FMQ|KNOU
*FML|KNOU
*FMARB|KNOU