KGGL

On October 15, 1975, Rex Jensen submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a construction permit to establish a new radio station operating on 93.3 MHz in Missoula, with its transmitter located on Big Sky Mountain.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=71398 |title= History Cards for KGGL|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) The FCC granted the permit on May 25, 1976, dismissing concerns from several local broadcasters who argued that the new station could interfere with their operations.{{cite news|title=Radio Station Planned|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845412/|date=August 29, 1976|page=40|work=The Sunday Missoulian|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115044627/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845412/radio-station-planned/|url-status=live}} While the station was intended to launch that fall, equipment delivery and bad weather in the eastern United States prompted the project to be shelved for the winter; KDXT made its debut on April 29, 1977. Having been transferred to the Jensen Broadcasting Company{{r|hc}} (owned by Rex and his brother Jack), the station started with an automated rock/adult contemporary hybrid format.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845422/|date=May 8, 1977|page=43|work=The Sunday Missoulian|title=New FM Radio Station Started|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115044731/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845422/new-fm-radio-station-started/|url-status=live}}

The Jensens sold the station in February 1979 to a joint venture with Robert E. Ingstad of North Dakota, who became the sole owner in 1980{{r|hc}} before KDXT and sister station KGRZ (1450 AM) were sold to Wind Point 1970 Holding Company, which was owned by the S.C. Johnson Company, in 1982.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845620/|title=KGRZ, KDXT radio stations sold|page=B-2|work=The Missoulian|date=November 8, 1981|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115044628/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845620/kgrz-kdxt-radio-stations-sold/|url-status=live}} The two stations were then sold to Sunbrook Communications in 1986; during this time, the station dominated the Missoula radio market.{{r|showdown}}

Sunbrook sold its radio properties—ten in Montana and a pair in Wenatchee, Washington—to Seattle-based Fisher Broadcasting in 1994, with Sunbrook becoming a division of Fisher after the sale was completed.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88550278/|title=Sunbrook sells radio stations|work=Great Falls Tribune|page=4B|date=September 27, 1994|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108070054/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88550278/sunbrook-sells-radio-stations/|url-status=live}} With the contemporary hit format long associated with KDXT in a national slump, Fisher opted to make a major change. It flipped KGGL to country, taking on established country outlet KYSS, in September 1995. This left Missoula without a station in the contemporary hit radio format.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845800/|title=Station switch sets up FM country showdown|first=Mike|last=McInally|work=The Missoulian|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845837/ A-9]|date=September 4, 1995|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115044628/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88845800/station-switch-sets-up-fm-country/|url-status=live}} The format change was a successful one: the fall 2005 Eastlan radio ratings for Missoula showed KGGL tied with public radio station KUFM and beating third-place KYSS.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88846019/|title=KUFM, KGGL winning radio wars|first=Robert|last=Struckman|work=The Missoulian|date=January 10, 2006|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88846042/ B2]|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115044629/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88846019/kufm-kggl-winning-radio-wars/|url-status=live}}

In a 24-station sale that was only partially completed, Fisher sold many of its small-market radio properties to Cherry Creek Radio in 2006 in order to fund an expansion into Spanish-language television in major Pacific Northwest markets. The 24 stations contributed just one-fourth of the radio division's revenue, with Fisher's three Seattle stations comprising the rest.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88846094/|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88846114/ A5], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88846133/ A6]|first=Michael|last=Jamison|title=Fisher sells 6 Missoula radio stations|date=June 2, 2006|work=The Missoulian|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115044629/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88846094/fisher-sells-6-missoula-radio-stations/|url-status=live}}

Effective June 17, 2022, Cherry Creek Radio sold KGGL as part of a 42 station/21 translator package to Townsquare Media for $18.75 million.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://933eaglecountry.com Official Website]
• {{FM station data|63874|KGGL}}

{{Missoula Radio}}

{{Country Radio Stations in Montana}}

{{The Bobby Bones Show}}

{{Missoula, Montana}}

{{Townsquare Media}}

Category:Radio stations established in 1977

Category:Country radio stations in the United States

GGL

Category:1977 establishments in Montana

Category:Townsquare Media radio stations