KABT
{{redirect|KKHR|the California radio station that used this call sign from 1983 to 1986|KCBS-FM}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KABT
| logo = KABT logo 2023.png
| logo_alt = In a shield, a drawing of a Revolutionary soldier carrying a US flag with the words "The Patriot" arched over the top and "101.7" on the flag.
| city = Hawley, Texas
| area = Abilene, Texas
| country = US
| branding = 101.7 The Patriot
| airdate = {{Start date|2018|12|03}}
| frequency = 101.7 MHz {{HD Radio}}
| translator = 105.5 K288HL (Abilene, relays HD4)
| format = Americana/Texas country/southern rock
| subchannels = {{ubl|HD2: News/Talk "NewsTalk1560" (KZQQ)|HD3: Sports "Fox Sports Abilene" (KWKC)|HD4: Regional Mexican "La Jefa 105.5"}}
| erp = 6,000 watts
| haat = {{convert|95|meters}}
| class = A
| facility_id = 198731
| coordinates = {{coord|32|30|38|N|99|44|30|W|type:landmark_region:US-TX_source:FCC|name=KABT}}
| callsign_meaning = "Abilene, Texas"
| former_callsigns = KTJK (2018–2023)
KKHR (2023)
| affiliations = Texas Rangers (baseball)
| owner = WesTex Communications
| licensee = WesTex Telco, LLC
| sister_stations = KTJK, KWKC, KZQQ
| webcast = [https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KAMA Listen live]
| website = {{url|https://www.thepatriotabilene.com}}
HD4: {{url|https://radiolajefa.net}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
}}
KABT (101.7 FM), "The Patriot" is an Americana/Texas country/southern rock radio station serving the Abilene, Texas, area and licensed to nearby Hawley, Texas. The station is owned by WesTex Communications.
The 101.7 facility went on the air at the end of 2018 as KTJK, with a variety hits format. WesTex acquired the station in 2021 and relaunched it as "The Raider" with the same music format. In 2023, The Raider moved to 106.3 MHz, and 101.7 was relaunched with its present format.
History
Then operating under the call sign KTJK, the station began airing content under a new commercial license in late winter 2018, adopting a variety hits format after a seasonal broadcast of all Christmas music.{{Cite web|last=Jaklewicz|first=Greg|date=2019-01-09|title=Do you hear what I hear? Christmas music still playing in Abilene|url=https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/columnists/greg-jaklewicz/2019/01/09/abilene-hawley-texas-radio-station-ktjk-still-playing-christmas-music-santa-1017/2519233002/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Abilene Reporter-News|language=en-US|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624224937/https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/columnists/greg-jaklewicz/2019/01/09/abilene-hawley-texas-radio-station-ktjk-still-playing-christmas-music-santa-1017/2519233002/}} The license and equipment was purchased in early 2021 by WesTex Telco, which operated KTJK as variety hits 101.7 The Raider.{{Cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Adam|date=2021-03-10|title=Bill McCutchen Sells In West Texas|work=Radio & Television Business Report|url=https://www.rbr.com/bill-mccutchen-sells-in-west-texas/|access-date=2021-08-10|language=en-US|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810002210/https://www.rbr.com/bill-mccutchen-sells-in-west-texas/|url-status=live}} The station was named after the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, a heavy bomber under development and to be housed at nearby Dyess Air Force Base.{{Cite web|last=Jaklewicz|first=Greg|date=2020-07-01|title=What the Abilene Reporter-News liked and disliked: Those stepping up|url=https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/local/2020/07/10/what-abilene-reporter-news-liked-and-disliked-those-stepping-up/5408810002/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Abilene Reporter-News|language=en-US|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810002219/https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/local/2020/07/10/what-abilene-reporter-news-liked-and-disliked-those-stepping-up/5408810002/}}
In 2022, WesTex acquired KKHR (106.3 FM) and the other Abilene stations owned by Canfin Enterprises; it began moving The Raider and the call sign to the higher-power 106.3 facility with a simulcast on August 1, 2023.{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=2023-08-01 |title=The Raider Moves In Abilene |language=en-US |work=RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/256518/the-raider-moves-in-abilene/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801192456/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/256518/the-raider-moves-in-abilene/ |url-status=live }} On August 8, the KKHR call letters briefly moved to 101.7 MHz; on August 21, the station debuted a new format mixing Americana music with Southern rock and red dirt country music, known as The Patriot, plus Texas Rangers baseball; team organist Dustin Tatro is the operations manager for the WesTex stations.{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=2023-08-21 |title=The Patriot Brings Americana To Abilene |language=en-US |work=RadioInsight |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/257647/the-patriot-brings-americana-to-abilene/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822154414/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/257647/the-patriot-brings-americana-to-abilene/ |url-status=live }} New KABT call letters were adopted on September 1, 2023.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{FM station data|198731|KABT}}
{{Abilene Radio}}
{{coord|32.511|N|99.742|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}
Category:Radio stations established in 2018