Branding KCTI-AM 1450 Power 1,000 watts Facility ID 24564 | Format News/Talk Class C Broadcast area Gonzales | |
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Callsign meaning Cradle Texas Independence | ||
KCTI is an AM radio station licensed to Gonzales, Texas and transmits on 1450 AM. From November 17, 1947 until August 31, 2015, KCTI broadcast a Texas Country format under the ownership of Gonzales Communications. KCTI signed on again on January 2, 2017 with a public radio format of News/Talk/Entertainment, and is now operated by Texas Public Radio, based in San Antonio, Texas.
In the fall of 2016, the KCTI call letters were acquired by Sun Radio and for use on 88.1 as KCTI-FM. Today, KCTI-FM operates as a Sun Radio affiliate with local programming consisting of Gonzales Apache football & Sunday morning local church service broadcasts.
History
KCTI went on air on December 17, 1947. The late Lawrence Walshak and the late Frank "Woody" Wilson Jr. made radio in Gonzales a reality, when they signed on the air Dec. 17, 1947. A hearing was held to secure the 1450 AM frequency. There were five different applications for the frequency including the San Antonio Express. The station was sold in 1983 to Patrick Nugent who operated the station again from 1993 to 1995 when it was sold to William Mann.
KCTI brought listeners a country radio station with a blend of Texas country, current country hits, and country classics. It also used to broadcast the syndicated Texas Country Weekend program.
Specialty programming on KCTI included Gonzales Apaches sports, 1450 Polka Club, local and area news, plus news from the Texas State Network.
KCTI programming focused on Gonzales County, Texas and the Guadalupe Valley. With little fanfare, KCTI signed off the air on August 31, 2015.
Today, Sun Radio operates KCTI-FM at 88.1 in Gonzales with coverage into Shiner, Seguin, Luling & surrounding communities. As of January 2, 2017, Texas Public Radio began broadcasting NPR news programming and statewide news like "Texas Standard" on KCTI AM 1450.