KNCQ

Infobox Radio station
name = KNCQ


city = Redding, California
area = Northern California
branding = "Q-97"
slogan = "Today's Country"
airdate = October 29, 1985
frequency = 97.3 (MHz)
format = Country
erp = 28,000 watts
haat = 1088 meters
class = C
owner = Results Radio
website = http://www.q97country.com
sister_stations = KESR, KEWB, KHRD, KKXS

KNCQ (97.3 FM, "Q-97") is a commercial radio station in Redding, California. KNCQ has aired a country music format since 1985.

History

KNCQ signed on the air on October 29, 1985. The station was built from the ground up by the late Craig McCarthy along with his brother and father as partners in McCarthy Wireless, Inc. The station's original studios and offices were located at 2551 Park Marina Drive (the old circular Daniels Furniture Building) in Redding. Craig McCarthy was the first "weather man" the station had. In an effort to add more voices to the station's airwaves, McCarthy would pre-record weather updates in the morning that would air throughout the day. Circa 1990, Q97 relocated to studios McCarthy constructed in a building at 1588 Charles Drive in North Redding. The station (along with its sister stations) remain at this location.

KNCQ-FM 97.3 (Q97), is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a Class "C" signal with a maximum permissible radiated signal of 100,000 watts at an elevation at no more than 2,000 feet height above average terrain (HAAT). Since the transmitter is actually at close to 3,570 feet height above average terrain, the effective radiated power output is capped at 28,000 watts which produces Equivalent Effective Radiated Power (EERP) of a full 100,000 watts. KNCQ-FM is among the top 25 strongest FM signals in the United States and reaches all or part of 17 counties in California and Oregon.

Q97 has been billed many ways over the last 22 years. It has been called KNCQ-FM, Q97FM, The Country Giant, and Today's Country Q97. The station currently plays a mix of The Superstars of Today's Country and Your All-Time Favorites. Gary Popejoy helmed the Q97 morning show as well as serving as oper. mgr & prog. dir, for about 9 years, from the very beginning in 1985 to about 1994 when he was replaced with Dave Tappan & Bob Thomas (Dave & Bob). Popejoy left the station around 1996. In 1999 Dave and Bob moved over to one of Q97's sister stations and another popular local morning show, Billy Pilgrim & Patrick John (formerly the Red Eye Ranch on KEWB-FM) came onboard as Billy & Patrick Mornings on Q97, and continue to rank number one in the market ratings. Having worked together for over 12 years, Billy & Patrick are the longest running morning show team in Redding. Q97 has always had a strong local presence in Northern California due to its massive signal and continued belief in a local, live staff (most stations now air mostly pre-recorded or syndicated programs). The station continues to be a powerhouse in the ratings and remains committed to local news, events, and people.

Programming

Q97 plays the realm of country music from Merle Haggard & Dolly Parton to Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood. The station Program Director is Patrick John.

Parent Company

Results Radio LLC of Redding is Q97's parent company. The company is small by radio standards and owns licenses from the FCC to operate a total of 11 radio stations in Redding, Chico, and Yuba City, California. Q97's sister stations in Redding are KHRD-FM/RED 103.1 & 93.3(Classic Rock), KEWB-FM/Power 94(Rhythmic CHR), KESR-FM/JACK 107.1, and KKXS-FM/Smooth Jazz 96.1 The Bridge. All five stations are in the same broadcasting complex in north Redding.

Notable staff

Station Alumni include original staff members Gary Popejoy, Terri Ann Clark, Randall Whitney (Chapman), Paul Baker, Jim Morris, Sue Sandifer (Kerr), Steve Thomas, and Jan McCaleb. Others that have called Q97 home; Rick Healy, Jim Davison, Dave D'Angelo, Kevin McFarland, Helen Chambers, Mike Jones, Dave Tappan, and Bob Thomas. Current On-Air staff includes Billy Pilgrim and Patrick John (Billy & Patrick Mornings), Gary Moore, Ryan O'Brien, and Lia.

At 55 years old, longtime Q97 personality Bob Thomas died of natural causes on Saturday June 2, 2007. He started at former rock/country station B-94.7 back in 1984, and also worked at KRDG and Q102, then landed a job on the former Dave & Bob show on Q97 in 2000. Most recently, Bob had returned to Q97 as the weekend host. [ [http://www.q97country.com/page.php?category_id=819&jock_id=352 Bob Thomas's Bio] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.q97country.com/ KNCQ official website]
*FMQ|KNCQ
*FML|KNCQ
*FMARB|KNCQ