KVET-FM

Infobox Radio Station


name = KVET-FM
airdate = October 25, 1990
frequency = 98.1 (MHz) HD Radio
98.1 HD-2 for Rockin' Country
area = Austin, Texas
format = Country
owner = Clear Channel
licensee = Capstar TX, LP
erp = 49,800 watts
branding = 98.1 K-VET
slogan = "The Genuine Austin Original"
class = C1
webcast = [http://www.kvet.com/pages/listenlive.html Listen Live]
website = [http://www.kvet.com/ www.kvet.com]
callsign_meaning = K VETerans
sister_stations = KASE, KFMK, KHFI, KPEZ, KVET-AM

KVET-FM ("98.1 K-VET") is an Austin, Texas radio station operating a Country format. It is licensed to Austin, Texas with an ERP of 49,800 watts from a transmitter site near West Lake Hills, TX, and is owned by Clear Channel Radio.

Rockin' Country can also be heard on 98.1 HD-2 (HD Radio needed).

Personalities

Current:
* The Talk of Austin
** Bob Cole
** Bucky Godbolt
** Eric Raines, Show Producer
** Ellie Price, Assistant
** Michelle Roebuck, News Director
** David Anderson, Sports
** Don Miller, Traffic Reports
** Troy Kimmel, Chief Meteorologist
* Eric Raines
* Chris Mosser and "The Roadhouse" (Texas and Outlaw Country nightly after 7p)
** Anne Hudson, traffic reporter

*Weekends
** Tom Allen and The Country Gold Show (Saturdays 5a - 10a)
** Bob Cole and The Sunday Morning Gospel Show (Sundays 6a - 11a)
** Chris Mosser and The Sunday Night Texas Show (Sundays 7p - 9p)
** Anne Hudson
** Don Miller
** Mical Trejo

*Image Voice: Ray Benson

Former:

* Sammy Allred
* Bama Brown (Now on sister station KASE-FM)
* Jose Brown
* Jerry Gee
* Dave Marcum
* Penny Reeves
* Jim Strickland
* Jay Vise
* Janice Williams

History

Call Letters [http://web.archive.org/web/19991013110504/http://kvet.net/]

Shortly after the end of World War II, a group of young men pooled their resources to start a radio station in Austin, Texas. All of them were veterans of the conflict, hence K-VET AM-1300 signed on October 1st, 1946. These men included future Texas Governor John Connally, and future United States Representative Jake Pickle.

As was common in the 1940s and 1950s, KVET offered "full service" radio, block programming of music, news, talk, cooking shows, even soap operas. As was "not" common, KVET also included programming for Austin's minority community. Spanish language news and music on "Noche De Fiesta"; music and news for the African-American community on "The Elmer Akins Gospel Train".

In the 1950s, even more diversity was added to the lineup when Lavada Durst introduced Austin to R&B and "Jive Talk" on KVET's nighttime "Dr. Hepcat Show".

Noche de Fiesta and Dr. Hepcat were phased out in the 1960s, but Gospel Train is on the air on KVET-AM to this day. KVET-FM keeps the tradition alive with a Country Gospel show hosted by Sammy Allred and Bob Cole.

During most of the 60's, KVET featured the popular music of the day, plus a strong emphasis on news and sports block programming. The music of Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Dianah Shore...Paul Harvey commentary, the Joe Pyne show, and Houston Astros baseball were all part of the mix.

KVET switched formats in 1969 to country music, and the Country Giant was born. Popular celebrity DJ's including Arleigh Duff, Penny Reeves, Jerry Gee and Sammy Allred quickly took KVET to the top of the local ratings during the 70's.

Despite increased competition, KVET continued to prosper in the 1980s by featuring a traditional mix of country music, news and sports, including Houston Oiler and Dallas Cowboy football.

In 1990, KVET-AM began to also broadcast on 98.1 FM. With the new signal came the creation of the Sammy Allred and Bob Cole Morning Call-In Show. The show was a consistent ratings winner until Allred was fired in October 2007 for using profanity on the air. Through the 90's, KVET-AM has evolved to a sports and talk station, the flagship station of the Longhorn Radio Network.

In August 2008, KVET's evening show was modified into a hybrid format consisting of Texas/Red Dirt, Classic Outlaw and Alt-Country, dubbed "The Roadhouse".

Frequency

98.3 MHz went on the air in 1950 under the call letters KHFI-FM, becoming Austin's second FM station. Prior to acquisition by KVET/KASE Broadcasting in 1991, the frequency was changed to 98.1, and the branding was changed to K-98.1. After the acquisition, the call letters were changed to match the company's AM station, KVET. The KHFI call letters were then moved to the separately-owned 96.7 frequency. In 2000, the KVET-AM/KVET-FM/KASE combo which by then included KFMK-FM and owned by AMFM/Capstar merged with Clear Channel Radio which already included 96.7 KHFI-FM and KPEZ-FM again uniting the two stations involved in the "KHFI frequency swap" of 1990.

Controversy

In May 2007, morning show host Sammy Allred was suspended after calling presidential candidate Barack Obama a "clean darky", in response to Sen. Joseph Biden's comments about Obama. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jackson-williams/racism-on-the-radio-towar_b_42545.html] He was fired on October 30, 2007, for apparently swearing on-air, calling a listener an "a-hole." [http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/2007/11/1101allred.html]

Allred's firing came just three days after afternoon host Janice Williams was terminated for budgetary reasons.

tation management

*Program Director - Mac Daniels
*Assistant PD / Music Director - Eric Raines

tudio location

3601 S. Congress Ave.Austin, TX 78704

The Clear Channel Radio Austin studios are in an industrial, yet trendy business complex in "SoCo" south central Austin within walking distance of St. Edwards University. The complex, Penn Field, was Austin's first military air base. The Clear Channel Radio studios are located in the former hangar building.

KVET-FM shares a building with sister stations KASE-FM, KFMK-FM, KHFI-FM, KPEZ-FM, and KVET-AM.

External links

*FMQ|KVET
*FML|KVET