KOPW

KOPW is the callsign for the Omaha, Nebraska-based Rhythmic contemporary FM radio station "Power 106.9". It is owned and operated by NRG Media. Its studios are located at Dodge Street and 50th Avenue in Midtown Omaha, and its transmitter site is located southeast of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

KOPW
CityPlattsmouth, Nebraska
Broadcast areaOmaha-Council Bluffs
Frequency106.9 MHz
BrandingPower 106.9
SloganThe Station That Sounds Like Omaha
Programming
FormatRhythmic contemporary
Ownership
OwnerNRG Media
(NRG License Sub, L.L.C.)
KMMQ, KOIL, KOOO, KOZN, KQKQ-FM, KZOT
History
First air date
1992 (as KOTD)
Former call signs
KOTD-FM (1992-1999)
KCTY (1999-2006)
KOPW (2006-Present)
Call sign meaning
Kreating Omaha's PoWer
Technical information
Facility ID52801
ClassC3
ERP25,000 watts
HAAT100 meters
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitepower1069fm.com

History

The station was originally KOTD-FM and had an adult standards format from 1992 until September 23, 1999, when it was sold to Waitt Media (later NRG Media), who in turn, flipped the station to adult album alternative as KCTY ("106.9 The City"). On March 12, 2004, at 3 p.m., after stunting with a 24-hour robotic countdown accompanied by "On the Run" by Pink Floyd, it flipped to All-80s Hits as "Retro 106.9".[1] 14 months later, on May 26, 2005, at Noon, the station flipped to adult hits as "106.9 Bob FM." The first song on "Bob FM" was "Get This Party Started" by P!nk.

On December 31, 2002, their sister station, KBLR-FM, which was an AC, began to target the market with an Urban Contemporary format as "Hot 107.7 & 97.3." The station, which was unique in that it was the first station in the state of Nebraska playing Hip Hop and R&B music full-time, was signal-challenged from the start, since the 97.3 signal (licensed to Blair, Nebraska) barely covered the metro and the 107.7 frequency was a translator. Despite the coverage area, the format created the highest ratings and revenue in the history of those signals, and was home of the Russ Parr Morning Show during its tenure.[2]

On December 29, 2006, at 3 p.m., NRG turned KCTY into the all-new KOPW ("Power 106.9"). The Rhythmic Contemporary-formatted KOPW is a modified version of the format of "Hot 107.7 & 97.3." Based from KBLR playing Hip Hop/R&B, the Urban format tilted over to Rhythmic is "in fashion" with the frequency move.[3][4][5][6]

With KOPW going Rhythmic, it now puts them in direct competition with Top 40 Mainstream competitors KQCH (who, incidentally, started out as a Rhythmic when they debuted in May 1999), and since 2012, KISO. At first, KOPW was reported to R&R as an urban contemporary station, but has since evolved to a broader Rhythmic direction, and in October 2009, was added to both Mediabase and Nielsen BDS' Rhythmic panels.[7]

From October 2007 until April 5, 2019, KOPW served as the Omaha affiliate for the syndicated Big Boy’s Neighborhood program that aired in mornings, until NRG decided not to renew its contract with Premiere Networks.[8] On April 8, 2019, the station became 100% local in all day parts with the debut of “Chef West & The Morning Scramble” hosted by Tay ‘Mr. West’ Westberry (who is also a professional chef, hence the nickname) and former American Idol season 13 contestant (and YouTube blogger) Alyssa Siebken.[9][10]

As of January 20, 2021 KOPW is ranked 7th place in the market according to Nielsen Audio Ratings.[11]

See also

References
  1. KCTY Becomes Retro 106.9
  2. Aircheck of "Hot 107.7 & 97.3" - November 2004
  3. From Nebraska Radio Discussions Board (December 29, 2006)
  4. "Major Changes At KBLR" from All Access (January 2, 2007)
  5. "Omaha's Power Gets New Calls" from All Access (January 3, 2007)
  6. http://nebraskamedianotes.blogspot.com/2006/12/omahas-kcty-1069-fm-becomespower-1069.html
  7. Nielsen BDS monitored reporting stations list
  8. “Omaha Launches Two New Morning Shows” from NRG Media (October 5, 2007)
  9. “PEOPLE MOVES 4/5: NEW MORNING SHOW FOR POWER 106.9 OMAHA” from Radio Insight (April 5, 2019)
  10. "If You Like ‘Em Scrambled In The Morning…" from Radio Ink (April 5, 2019)
  11. https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb085

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