KIOC

Infobox Radio Station


name = KIOC
city = Orange, Texas
area = Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange
Golden Triangle
branding = "Big Dog 106"
slogan =
airdate =
frequency = 106.1 (MHz)
format = Rock
class =
erp = 100,000 Watts
sister_stations =
owner = Clear Channel
website = http://www.bigdog106.com/
callsign_meaning = IOC resembles 106

KIOC is a rock music formatted radio station in Beaumont, Texas. It serves the entire Golden Triangle region and is owned by Clear Channel.

History

Originally, 106.1 (K106) was built and signed on the mid to late 1970s (1977 or 78). Programming was the Drake Chenault CHR / Top40 format. Its one and only antenna site has been on the side of the Channel 4 (KJAC, now KBTV) tower in Vidor, Texas, making 106.1 the highest FM (~1000ft) in the immediate Golden Triangle (not counting the rimshots to the west trying to program for the Houston market). During the 1980s, KIOC as "K106", locked in a fierce battle with crosstown Top 40 KZZB ("B95"). In 1991, B95 went silent aftr it's new owner bankrupted it. Gulf Star (owned by Steven Hicks of the Hicks Broadcast family from Beauomont) bought the silent 95.1 and eventually took on KYKR-FM's country music format after GulfStar sold the former 93.3, KYKR's home for decades to Tichenor Broadcasting who wanted to use it as a Houston station, leaving K106 as Southeast Texas' CHR standard bearer. In 1993, K106 moved in a rock-based top 40 direction, using the slogan "all rock, no rap." After briefly taking on an alternative format and returning to Top 40 as "Hot 106" in the mid-90s, KIOC became "Big Dog 106" in 1997.

Ironically, the 95.1 and 106.1 frequencies, which were once bitter rivals, are now co-owned.

External links

* [http://www.bigdog106.com/ Big Dog 106 KIOC official website]
*FMQ|KIOC
*FML|KIOC
*FMARB|KIOC