KWVN-FM

KWVN-FM (107.7 FM, "107.7 Hot FM") is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Pendleton, Oregon, United States. The station, originally launched in October 1978, is currently owned by Randolph and Debra McKone's Elkhorn Media Group and the broadcast license is held by EMG2, LLC.

KWVN-FM
CityPendleton, Oregon
Broadcast areaWalla Walla, Washington
Frequency107.7 MHz
Branding107.7 HOT FM
SloganToday's Hit Music
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
Ownership
OwnerElkhorn Media Group
(EMG2, LLC)
KCMB, KTEL, KTIX, KUMA, KUMA-FM, KWHT, KWRL
History
First air date
October 1, 1978 (as KUMA-FM)
Former call signs
KUMA-FM (1978-1989)
KSXM (1989-1993)
KUMA-FM (1993-2010)[1]
Call sign meaning
K W The ViNe (previous format)
Technical information
Facility ID57757
ClassC1
ERP75,000 watts
HAAT340 meters (1,120 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
45°35′27″N 118°34′47″W
Translator(s)95.3 K237DM (Walla Walla)
100.1 K261BH (Heppner)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.mycolumbiabasin.com/about-us/

Programming

KWVN-FM broadcasts an adult hits music format to the greater Columbia Basin area.[2] Notable syndicated programming includes American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest on Sunday mornings.[3]

History

This station began regular broadcasting on October 1, 1978, broadcasting with 27,500 watts on 107.7 MHz as KUMA-FM, sister station to KUMA (1290 AM).[4] Under the ownership of the Pendleton Broadcasting Company, KUMA-FM aired a "bright and beautiful" music format.[4]

KUMA-FM was founded by Theodore A. "Ted" Smith and his wife Phyllis as part of Pendleton Broadcasting Company, a business that Ted Smith joined in 1955 after his service in the United States Navy.[5][6] In September 1988, Ted and Phyllis Smith applied to the FCC to transfer control of the Pendleton Broadcasting Company to Gregory A. Smith, their son.[7][8] The deal was approved by the FCC on November 18, 1988.[7] The younger Smith applied to the FCC for a new callsign and the station was assigned KSXM on August 1, 1989.[1] KSXM dropped most of the simulcast with the AM station and adopted a classic rock music format.

Logo as KUMA-FM

In March 1993, Pendleton Broadcasting Company, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station and sister station KUMA-FM to Capps Broadcast Group's Round-Up Radio, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on July 1, 1993, and the transaction was consummated on the same day.[9] The station applied to the FCC for the return of its original callsign and this request was granted on September 24, 1993.[1]

On January 11, 2010, KUMA-FM changed their call sign to KWVN-FM.[1] On January 27, 2010 KWVN-FM changed their format to adult hits, branded as "107.7 The Vine".

On February 2, 2015 KWVN-FM changed their format to Top 40 (CHR), branded as "107.7 Hot FM".

KWVN-FM today primarily targets the Walla Walla valley and Milton-Freewater, OR. Signal and geographic limitations from the current tower location make KWVN unsuitable to rebrand as a Tri-Cities area FM station without a booster service to fill in areas of Kennewick shielded by terrain.

Effective November 1, 2017, Capps Broadcast Group sold KWVN-FM and nine other broadcast properties to Elkhorn Media Group for $1.75 million.

Facilities

KWVN-FM shares a studio building with sister stations KTIX (1240 AM), KUMA (1290 AM), and KWHT (103.5 FM).[10] This multi-station facility is located at the west end of Eastern Oregon Regional Airport.[11][10] KWVN-FM broadcasts from a tower that originally served as the broadcast tower for KTIX from 1941 to 2002.[8] It was removed from its original South Hill location and re-erected on Cabbage Hill for the FM station's use.[8]

Translators

KWVN-FM programming is also carried on multiple broadcast translator stations to extend or improve the coverage area of the station.

Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		ClassFCC info
K237DM95.3Walla Walla, Washington115DFCC
K261BH100.1Heppner, Oregon48DFCC

The then-KUMA-FM translators made headlines in March 1994 when the FCC shut down a quarter-watt pirate radio station in Condon, Oregon, operated by Bill Roberts on the same frequency as one of the translator stations, causing interference.[12] Roberts, who ran the station from his bedroom with a focus on community news and local sports, believed the operation to be legal but agents from the FCC's Portland, Oregon, field office informed him otherwise and ordered the shutdown.[12]

References
  1. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  2. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. "Where to listen: Washington". AT40. Premiere Radio Networks. Archived from the original on July 16, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  4. "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1979. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-182.
  5. "Theodore A. Smith". East Oregonian. May 10, 2006. In 1963, he began KJDY Radio in John Day and in 1976, KUMA FM station in Pendleton.
  6. "Obituary: Phyllis M. Smith". East Oregonian. June 25, 2008.
  7. "Application Search Details (BTCH-19880928EI)". FCC Media Bureau. November 18, 1988.
  8. Odegard, Kyle (August 15, 2002). "Stations playing musical towers". East Oregonian. [Gregory] Smith and his father Ted Smith used to own KUMA-FM and KUMA-AM [...] The old tower, however, eventually will be put to good use on Cabbage Hill, airing KUMA-FM -- also part of Capps Broadcast Group's Pendleton stations.
  9. "Application Search Details (BALH-19930311ED)". FCC Media Bureau. July 1, 1993.
  10. Fybush, Scott (July 18, 2008). "The Big Trip 2007, part XI: Eastern Oregon to Boise". Tower Site of the Week.
  11. "Continuous Favorites 107.7 KUMA - 'Pendleton - Oregon U.S.A.' Waymark". Waymarking.com. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  12. Riha, Carol Ann (March 6, 1994). "Retiree's Tiny Radio Station Shut Down For Lack Of License". The Seattle Times. Roberts' FM station was operating at 100 megahertz, which in that part of the state is a translator frequency belonging to KUMA-FM in Pendleton[...]
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