KKEQ
Encyclopedia
KKEQ, "Your Q FM") is a Christian
radio station based in Fosston, Minnesota
with additional studios in Grand Forks, North Dakota
. Q FM's primary format is contemporary Christian music
, though it also airs Bible
-based talk and teaching programming.
KKEQ is a commercial radio station supported by advertising sales. Shine the Light, Inc is a non-profit organization that supports KKEQ by purchasing airtime to allow KKEQ to be a full time Christian radio
ministry.
Class A simulcasting KEHG AM
1480. In 1983 Dale Olmstead purchased KEHG AM and FM from De La Hunt Broadcasting
, and renamed them KKDQ AM and KKDQ-FM, and later became KKCQ AM and KKCQ-FM in 1990. In the early 1992, Pine To Prairie Broadcasting was formed with several investors with the intent of bringing Christian radio
to northwest Minnesota
, and purchased KKCQ AM and FM. KKCQ-FM upgraded to 50,000 watt
s, and signed on with a contemporary Christian music
format as "Q107" on October 31, 1993, after periodically being off-the-air
for testing.
In 1995, Shine the Light, Inc., an evangelical
Christian organization, took over the operation of KFNW-FM's Grand Forks, North Dakota
translator
(low power rebroadcaster) at 104.9 FM, and it began rebroadcasting Q107. Q107's call sign
was changed to KKEQ in 1996 after Pine To Prairie Broadcasting signed on KKCQ-FM
96.7.
Larry Roed was the first CEO
of Pine To Prairie Broadcasting, and also the first general manager
under the new ownership. Air staff over the years include Kevin Arvidson (a.k.a. Fred in the Morning), Dan Kindall, Tom Lano, Brian Fisher and current general manager
Phil Ehlke.
Q107 has organized numerous concerts, special events and promotions over the years, including the yard sign
s, the "Twelve Gifts of Christmas" and an ongoing the annual Extreme Faith youth conference, held at alternating locations throughout Q107's listening area. Q107 also airs Shopping on the Radiohttp://www.shoppingontheradio.com/, a radio auction occasionally, which also has items for sale and auction from area retailers on its Web site.
In 2005, Q107 began streaming online
, and Shine the Light, Inc. signed on Q107's second translator at 104.9 FM in Walker, Minnesota
. The Grand Forks translator's transmitter was moved into city limits in 2006, greatly improving its signal to the Greater Grand Forks
area.
In 2007, Shine the Light signed on four translators in Thief River Falls
, Park Rapids
, Bemidji
, and Roseau
. On July 7, 2008, KKEQ rebranded itself as "Your Q FM" to prevent confusion with its translators, along with switching programming from Salem's
Today's Christian Music
network to WAY-FM's Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network (CHRSN) in order to target a younger audience.
In February 2011, Your Q FM built an additional studio and sales office in Grand Forks, North Dakota
, where most of the programming is now broadcast from. Most satellite programming (from CHRSN) was dropped in favor of locally produced programming. Q FM continues to maintain a studio and sales office, where the morning show continues to be broadcast from, to meet FCC
requirements and to continue serving the Fosston area as well.
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
radio station based in Fosston, Minnesota
Fosston, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,575 people, 681 households, and 379 families residing in the city. The population density was 969.1 people per square mile . There were 739 housing units at an average density of 454.7 per square mile...
with additional studios in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
. Q FM's primary format is contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
, though it also airs Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
-based talk and teaching programming.
KKEQ is a commercial radio station supported by advertising sales. Shine the Light, Inc is a non-profit organization that supports KKEQ by purchasing airtime to allow KKEQ to be a full time Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
ministry.
History
The station signed on in 1972 as KEHG-FM 107.1 a 3,000 wattWatt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
Class A simulcasting KEHG AM
KKCQ (AM)
KKCQ is a Full Service formatted broadcast radio station featuring a mix of talk and oldies music. KKCQ is licensed to Fosston, Minnesota, serving Eastern Polk County, Minnesota and Clearwater County, Minnesota. Both stations are owned by Pine to Prairie Broadcasting, Inc.-Location:It sits east...
1480. In 1983 Dale Olmstead purchased KEHG AM and FM from De La Hunt Broadcasting
De La Hunt Broadcasting
De La Hunt Broadcasting is a small market radio broadcasting company based in Park Rapids, Minnesota. It is owned by Ed and Carol De La Hunt. The offices and studios are located on the east side of Park Rapids, near Highways 4 & 34...
, and renamed them KKDQ AM and KKDQ-FM, and later became KKCQ AM and KKCQ-FM in 1990. In the early 1992, Pine To Prairie Broadcasting was formed with several investors with the intent of bringing Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
to northwest Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and purchased KKCQ AM and FM. KKCQ-FM upgraded to 50,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s, and signed on with a contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
format as "Q107" on October 31, 1993, after periodically being off-the-air
Off-the-air
In telecommunication, the term off-air or off-the-air has the following meanings:# In radio communications systems, pertaining to a radio station or television station that is completely shut down, i.e. that is not transmitting any signal, not even an un-modulated carrier wave...
for testing.
In 1995, Shine the Light, Inc., an evangelical
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
Christian organization, took over the operation of KFNW-FM's Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
translator
Broadcast relay station
A broadcast relay station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator , rebroadcaster , or repeater is a broadcast transmitter which relays, repeats, or reflects the signal of another radio station or television station, usually to an area not covered by the signal of the originating station...
(low power rebroadcaster) at 104.9 FM, and it began rebroadcasting Q107. Q107's call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
was changed to KKEQ in 1996 after Pine To Prairie Broadcasting signed on KKCQ-FM
KKCQ-FM
KKCQ-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Bagley, Minnesota. It airs a stereo country music format. News comes from ABC Radio and the Minnesota News Network....
96.7.
Larry Roed was the first CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Pine To Prairie Broadcasting, and also the first general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
under the new ownership. Air staff over the years include Kevin Arvidson (a.k.a. Fred in the Morning), Dan Kindall, Tom Lano, Brian Fisher and current general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Phil Ehlke.
Q107 has organized numerous concerts, special events and promotions over the years, including the yard sign
Lawn sign
Lawn signs are used for local advertising. They can be used by business such as real estate and are popular in election campaigns in some countries. They are small signs that can be placed on the property of a business or on the lawns of a candidate's supporters...
s, the "Twelve Gifts of Christmas" and an ongoing the annual Extreme Faith youth conference, held at alternating locations throughout Q107's listening area. Q107 also airs Shopping on the Radiohttp://www.shoppingontheradio.com/, a radio auction occasionally, which also has items for sale and auction from area retailers on its Web site.
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
, and Shine the Light, Inc. signed on Q107's second translator at 104.9 FM in Walker, Minnesota
Walker, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,069 people, 449 households, and 258 families residing in the city. The population density was 734.3 people per square mile . There were 517 housing units at an average density of 355.1 per square mile...
. The Grand Forks translator's transmitter was moved into city limits in 2006, greatly improving its signal to the Greater Grand Forks
Greater Grand Forks
According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, the population of the Greater Grand Forks metro area was 97,260, of which 50.9% were male and 49.1% were female.-Age:* Under 5 years: 6.3%* 5–9 years: 5.5%* 10–14 years: 6.1%* 15–19 years: 9.6%...
area.
In 2007, Shine the Light signed on four translators in Thief River Falls
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,760.0 people per square mile . There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile...
, Park Rapids
Park Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,276 people, 1,476 households, and 788 families residing in the city. The population density was 547.5 people per square mile . There were 1,616 housing units at an average density of 270.1 per square mile...
, Bemidji
Bemidji, Minnesota
Bemidji is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was at 13,431 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beltrami County. Bemidji is the most major city in North Central Minnesota and the largest commercial center between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Duluth,...
, and Roseau
Roseau, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,756 people, 1,157 households, and 713 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,153.6 people per square mile . There were 1,229 housing units at an average density of 514.4 per square mile...
. On July 7, 2008, KKEQ rebranded itself as "Your Q FM" to prevent confusion with its translators, along with switching programming from Salem's
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
Today's Christian Music
Today's Christian Music
Today's Christian Music is a radio format programmed and produced by Salem Radio Networks. It targets the 25-54 adult Christian listener demographic. Today's Christian Music has a blend of Contemporary Christian music from artists such as Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Delirious?,etc....
network to WAY-FM's Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network (CHRSN) in order to target a younger audience.
In February 2011, Your Q FM built an additional studio and sales office in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, where most of the programming is now broadcast from. Most satellite programming (from CHRSN) was dropped in favor of locally produced programming. Q FM continues to maintain a studio and sales office, where the morning show continues to be broadcast from, to meet FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
requirements and to continue serving the Fosston area as well.