KTTS-FM
Encyclopedia
KTTS-FM is a radio station
broadcasting a country music
format. Licensed to Springfield, Missouri
, the station serves the Springfield area (market #140). The station places a strong emphasis on news programming and maintains the largest radio news operation in the state outside of St. Louis.
Curly Clark, who hosts the afternoon show from 2PM to 6PM, is the longest-running DJ in KTTS history. Clark has over 30 years of combined radio experience, and 20 years of experience with KTTS. Clark has held many different shifts on KTTS. Through the mid 1990s and until about 2000, Clark worked the morning shift with Don Paul.
Mark Grantin is the mid-day host from 10-2pm. He is also the program director.
Cash Williams is the weeknight host from 6pm to Midnight.
Weekend hosts are Jay Cross, Summer Stevens, Haylie James and Tom McLeod.
In 1948 the station became the first in Southwest Missouri to begin broadcasting on an FM signal (94.7). In March 1953, KTTS-TV, a CBS affiliate, was launched as the city's very first television station. During the 1960s the station was sold and its call letters were changed to KOLR-TV
. The KTTS of today was created by Great Empire Broadcasting in the early 1970s. According to (now former) station manager Curt Brown, KTTS aired an adult standardish format until 1972 when the country formats were installed. KTTS-AM aired more classic-type country, and KTTS-FM aired more modern country. In the late 1980s, KTTS-AM traded frequencies with KGBX-AM, moving KTTS from AM 1400 to AM 1260, which gave them a wider signal range, and gave KGBX the money to buy an FM allotment.
Today, AM 1400 is known as KGMY and owned by Clear Channel. In 1999 KTTS-AM became KTTF-AM, and then a short while later, KSGF-AM. Today, the format of KSGF is concentrated on news and talk radio. KSGF and KTTS are still affiliated by the Journal Broadcast Group ownership.
, star of the TV show The Price Is Right
, got his first job in media with KTTS in the 1940s. Barker lived in Springfield and graduated from Central High School; he worked for KTTS while attending Drury College (now University)
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
broadcasting a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format. Licensed to Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, the station serves the Springfield area (market #140). The station places a strong emphasis on news programming and maintains the largest radio news operation in the state outside of St. Louis.
News department
KTTS is one of the few remaining FM stations in the nation to host a full-fledged, around-the-clock local news operation and is the only 24-hour news operation in Southwest Missouri. Newscasts can be heard every top of the hour, with news updates on the bottom of the hour between 5:00AM–10:00AM and 3:00PM–6:00PM. Don Louzader, Nancy Simpson, Jason Rima, Mike Morgan, Larry Wright, Joe Rios, Mike Donnelly, Austin Robertson and Greg Brock are the news team at KTTS.Programming
KTTS is known for its morning show with Bobby Baldwin. With a slightly off-kilter look at the world, he delivers a mix of headlines, traffic, weather, and comic relief. Longtime co-host, Julie Vanvig, left the station in September after a decade to be a homemaker.Curly Clark, who hosts the afternoon show from 2PM to 6PM, is the longest-running DJ in KTTS history. Clark has over 30 years of combined radio experience, and 20 years of experience with KTTS. Clark has held many different shifts on KTTS. Through the mid 1990s and until about 2000, Clark worked the morning shift with Don Paul.
Mark Grantin is the mid-day host from 10-2pm. He is also the program director.
Cash Williams is the weeknight host from 6pm to Midnight.
Weekend hosts are Jay Cross, Summer Stevens, Haylie James and Tom McLeod.
History
Granville Pearson Ward started the first radio station in the city, WIAI, which began broadcasting educational programming from Heer's Tower downtown in 1922. Store management shut the station down and Ward purchased the transmitter from Heer's and began broadcasting as KFUV in 1927. This station went off the air one year later, but Ward re-entered the radio market in 1942 with KTTS-AM. The source for the call letters was "K)eep T)uned (or Talking) T)o S)pringfield"In 1948 the station became the first in Southwest Missouri to begin broadcasting on an FM signal (94.7). In March 1953, KTTS-TV, a CBS affiliate, was launched as the city's very first television station. During the 1960s the station was sold and its call letters were changed to KOLR-TV
KOLR
KOLR is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Ozark Plateau area of Southwestern Missouri that is licensed to Springfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 10 from a transmitter on Switchgrass Road north of Fordland...
. The KTTS of today was created by Great Empire Broadcasting in the early 1970s. According to (now former) station manager Curt Brown, KTTS aired an adult standardish format until 1972 when the country formats were installed. KTTS-AM aired more classic-type country, and KTTS-FM aired more modern country. In the late 1980s, KTTS-AM traded frequencies with KGBX-AM, moving KTTS from AM 1400 to AM 1260, which gave them a wider signal range, and gave KGBX the money to buy an FM allotment.
Today, AM 1400 is known as KGMY and owned by Clear Channel. In 1999 KTTS-AM became KTTF-AM, and then a short while later, KSGF-AM. Today, the format of KSGF is concentrated on news and talk radio. KSGF and KTTS are still affiliated by the Journal Broadcast Group ownership.
Former on-air staff
Bob BarkerBob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
, star of the TV show The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
, got his first job in media with KTTS in the 1940s. Barker lived in Springfield and graduated from Central High School; he worked for KTTS while attending Drury College (now University)
Drury University
Drury University is a private liberal arts college in Springfield, Missouri.The university enrolls about 1,550 undergraduates, over 2,000 adult part-time undergraduates and around 400 graduate students in six master's programs...
.