City Independence, Missouri Frequency 1510 kHz | Branding Hot Talk 1510 Translator(s) 99.3 FM (K257DZ) | |
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Broadcast area Kansas City Metropolitan Area First air date 1947 (as KIMO)
1994 (as KCTE) | ||
KCTE is a daytime talk and sports radio station, broadcasting at 1510 kHz from two towers in Independence, Missouri. In 1994, KCTE became the Kansas City metropolitan area's first station devoted to sports, and despite the current "Hot Talk" branding, is still principally a sports station, although secondary to sister station, Sportsradio WHB .
History
First debuting in 1947 as KIMO, the middle of the road daytimer was acquired in 1962 by Richard Bott and became the first of many Christian programming stations in his Bott Radio Network. KCCV (Kansas City's Christian Voice) broadcast at 1510 AM until 1990, when Bott moved to a new frequency licensed for 24-hour broadcasting. 1510 became home to rhythm and blues oldies and later adult standards.
In 1994, new owners acquired the station and debuted KCTE (Spelling KC-Team), Kansas City's first sports talk station. Throughout the 1990s, KCTE grew in popularity, yet was constrained by the daytime-only operation. With the aid of Union Bank president Jerry Green, KCTE purchased the 50,000-watt WHB and moved its sports operations onto the 810 frequency in October 1, 1999.
After stints as a Hispanic and an alternative rock station (playing a repeating two-hour tape loop), the Hot Talk format debuted in 2001. KCTE's programming previouslu included Don Imus's morning show and local shows hosted by personalities from KMBC-TV. The station also carried a large portion of ESPN Radio programming until it moved to sister station KCXM in January 2007. The current lineup includes Dennis Miller, and some local programming.
Because KCTE shares the same frequency as "clear channel" station WLAC in Nashville, Tennessee; it broadcasts only during the daytime hours.