KPRC (AM)
Encyclopedia
KPRC is a talk radio
station in Houston, Texas
, branded as "The 950 - Radio MOJO". Started in 1925, it is the oldest station in the market. KPRC is owned by Clear Channel Communications
.
The station airs local shows including The Michael Berry Show
and The Joe Pags Show
, and syndicated talk shows such as The Savage Nation
, The Dennis Miller
Show, and The Dave Ramsey Show
. It occasionally airs news information featuring anchors from KPRC-TV
.
The station previously aired a news
/talk
format branded as Talkradio 950 KPRC, with Fox News Radio
updates and conservative personalities like Rush Limbaugh
, Sean Hannity
, and Glenn Beck
.
in Houston. His father, Ross Sterling Sr., met the instructor, Alfred P. Daniel (of Houston's station WCAK), and discussed starting a radio station affiliated with the Houston Post
. William P. Hobby
, the president of the Houston Post, asked Sterling to launch the radio station. Before a 500 watt transmitter ordered from the Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Co. arrived in Houston, Sterling Jr. died. Sterling Sr., mourning the loss of his son, put the still crated transmitter in storage. Over one year later, Daniel approached Sterling Sr. and asked about proceeding with the establishment of the radio station. Sterling Sr. agreed with the idea and moved forward with establishing the station. KPRC's first broadcast occurred on Saturday May 9, 1925, with Daniel as the station's first announcer and program director. The federal license granting permission for radio broadcasts was issued on the 13th of May.
In 1927, it interrupted its scheduled programming to give out dispatches for Houston's Police Department
.
In 1950, the Hobbys purchased KLEE-TV (channel 2) and renamed it KPRC-TV
. In 1983, after the Post was sold, the Hobby family's broadcast holdings were reorganized into H&C Communications
. The Hobbys began to liquidate their broadcasting assets in 1993, selling KPRC radio to the Sunbelt Communications Company. The Hobbys sold KPRC-TV to Post-Newsweek Stations
the next year. Sunbelt, in turn, sold KPRC radio to its current owner, Clear Channel, in 1995.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, branded as "The 950 - Radio MOJO". Started in 1925, it is the oldest station in the market. KPRC is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
The station airs local shows including The Michael Berry Show
Michael Berry (radio)
Michael Berry is a talk show host on KTRH radio and KPRC radio, both based in Houston, Texas. He is also carried on WOAI in San Antonio, Texas, WJBO in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and KEX in Portland, Oregon....
and The Joe Pags Show
Joe Pagliarulo
Joe "Pags" Pagliarulo is an American, conservative TV/radio talk show host. He serves as morning drive host on The 950/KPRC Houston and afternoon host at Clear Channel's flagship talk radio station WOAI 1200 in San Antonio. Pagliarulo works with Program Director Peter Bolger, who previously worked...
, and syndicated talk shows such as The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation
The Savage Nation is an American radio show hosted by conservative commentator Michael Savage on Talk Radio Network. His show is heard by 8-10 million listeners a week and syndicated across the U.S. in over 300 markets, making it the 3rd most listened to radio show in the country...
, The Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
Show, and The Dave Ramsey Show
The Dave Ramsey Show (radio program)
The Dave Ramsey Show is a three-hour, self-syndicated radio program and podcast that airs Monday through Friday from 2-5 EST. It is primarily broadcast from Brentwood, Tennessee, though often during the summer it is broadcast via remote from Ramsey's lake house...
. It occasionally airs news information featuring anchors from KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV is the NBC affiliated television station based in Houston, Texas, and serving the Greater Houston television market. It has studios located in the Sharpstown district on the Southwest portion of the city, and has a transmitter site in unincorporated Fort Bend County near Missouri City...
.
The station previously aired a news
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format branded as Talkradio 950 KPRC, with Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio
Fox News Radio is an American radio network programmed by Fox News Channel.- History :In 2003, Fox News began syndicating one minute radio updates to radio stations via syndication service Westwood One. On June 1, 2005, Fox News Radio employed 60 people and provided five minute newscasts at the top...
updates and conservative personalities like Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, and Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
.
History
In 1923 Ross Sterling Jr. took a course on broadcasting at the YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in Houston. His father, Ross Sterling Sr., met the instructor, Alfred P. Daniel (of Houston's station WCAK), and discussed starting a radio station affiliated with the Houston Post
Houston Post
The Houston Post was a newspaper that had its headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States. In 1995, the newspaper was absorbed into the Houston Chronicle.-History:The newspaper was established on February 19, 1880, by Gail Borden Johnson...
. William P. Hobby
William P. Hobby
William Pettus Hobby was the publisher of the Houston Post and the 27th Governor of the U.S. state of Texas from 1917 to 1921....
, the president of the Houston Post, asked Sterling to launch the radio station. Before a 500 watt transmitter ordered from the Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Co. arrived in Houston, Sterling Jr. died. Sterling Sr., mourning the loss of his son, put the still crated transmitter in storage. Over one year later, Daniel approached Sterling Sr. and asked about proceeding with the establishment of the radio station. Sterling Sr. agreed with the idea and moved forward with establishing the station. KPRC's first broadcast occurred on Saturday May 9, 1925, with Daniel as the station's first announcer and program director. The federal license granting permission for radio broadcasts was issued on the 13th of May.
In 1927, it interrupted its scheduled programming to give out dispatches for Houston's Police Department
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. Its headquarters are in 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston....
.
In 1950, the Hobbys purchased KLEE-TV (channel 2) and renamed it KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV is the NBC affiliated television station based in Houston, Texas, and serving the Greater Houston television market. It has studios located in the Sharpstown district on the Southwest portion of the city, and has a transmitter site in unincorporated Fort Bend County near Missouri City...
. In 1983, after the Post was sold, the Hobby family's broadcast holdings were reorganized into H&C Communications
H&C Communications
H&C Communications is a now defunct corporation that owned a number of media outlets throughout the United States.Originally known as Channel 2 Television Company, it was created in 1983 to unite the Hobby family's television & radio interests under one umbrella after the Houston Post, their...
. The Hobbys began to liquidate their broadcasting assets in 1993, selling KPRC radio to the Sunbelt Communications Company. The Hobbys sold KPRC-TV to Post-Newsweek Stations
Post-Newsweek Stations
Post-Newsweek Stations is the official name of the broadcasting division of the Washington Post Company and is a self-contained corporation within that company...
the next year. Sunbelt, in turn, sold KPRC radio to its current owner, Clear Channel, in 1995.