KPEL-FM
{{short description|Radio station in Breaux Bridge–Lafayette, Louisiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KPEL-FM
| logo =
| city = Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
| area = Lafayette metropolitan area
| branding =
| frequency = 96.5 MHz
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1993|5|1}} (as KFTE)
| format = News-Talk
| erp = 42,000 watts
| haat = 163 meters (535 ft)
| class = C2
| facility_id = 59288
| coordinates =
| callsign_meaning = PELican State
| former_callsigns = KFTE (1992–2010)
| network = Fox News Radio
| affiliations = Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Premiere Networks
Westwood One
Compass Media Networks
KATC-TV Weather
| owner = Townsquare Media
| licensee = Townsquare Media of Lafayette, LLC
| sister_stations = KFTE, KHXT, KMDL, KPEL, KROF, KTDY
| webcast = [https://kpel965.com/listen-live/ Listen Live]
| website = [https://www.kpel965.com kpel965.com]
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
KPEL-FM (96.5 FM) is a radio station in the United States. Licensed to Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, KPEL-FM serves the Lafayette metropolitan area with a news/talk format. It is owned by Townsquare Media.
Initially signing on with call sign KFTE in 1993, KPEL-FM was a music station for its first 17 years. After having easy listening and oldies formats, KFTE had an alternative rock format branded "Planet Radio 96.5" until changing to KPEL-FM and news/talk in 2010. Since 2001, KPEL-FM has been owned by Townsquare Media and its predecessor Regent Communications.
History
=As KFTE (1991–2010)=
A construction permit was first issued for a new 96.5 MHz FM station on April 19, 1991.{{cite web|url=https://fccdata.org/?lang=en&facid=59288|title=KPEL-FM|publisher=FCC Data|access-date=February 16, 2025}} JBC Inc. (doing business as ComCorp of Lafayette License Corporation) was the owner.{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/fmDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=cae5f8053166448fb70ac1b6063ebeb7&id=cae5f8053166448fb70ac1b6063ebeb7&goBack=N|title= New FM Full Power Construction Permit Application|publisher=FCC|date=March 13, 1987|access-date=February 18, 2025}} Licensed on November 15, 1992, the station first signed on with call sign KFTE on May 1, 1993. Its format was easy listening.{{cite book|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1994/B-All-Radio-BC-YB-1994-B&W.pdf|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994|page=B-157|year=1994|publisher=Broadcasting Publications|access-date=February 16, 2025|via=World Radio History}}{{cite news|last=Darbonne|first=Nissa|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/540344732/|title=Blessing will hopefully put end to radio tower disasters|work=The Daily Advertiser|place=Lafayette|date=May 1, 1993|access-date=May 31, 2025|url-access=subscription}}
In July 1993, the Mid-Acadiana Broadcasting Corporation purchased KFTE. The price tag was $517,750 plus debt cancellation from ComCorp.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1993/RR-1993-08-06.pdf|title=CBS And Cox Swap Dallas, Tampa FMs In $25 Million Double Duopoly Deal|work=Radio & Records|page=9|date=August 6, 1993|issue=1004|access-date=February 16, 2025|via=World Radio History}} KFTE began using the brand "Cool 96.5" in 1994.{{cite news|title=Briefly|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/539273075/|work=The Daily Advertiser|page=B-10|date=December 18, 1994|access-date=May 31, 2025|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription}}
Beer wholesale company Schilling Distributing Company purchased KFTE and KMDL for a combined $1.55 million in 1994.{{cite book|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1995/B-Radio-All-YB-1995.pdf|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995|publisher=Broadcasting Publications|year=1995|page=B-173|access-date=February 16, 2025|via=World Radio History}}{{cite news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB4778E8ABADE4A|title= Lafayette firm buys 2 Breaux Bridge stations|work=The Advocate|place=Baton Rouge|date=May 3, 1994|page=1-C|access-date=February 16, 2025|via=NewsLibrary}} In 1996, Schilling changed the format of KFTE from easy listening to 1970s oldies.{{cite book|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1996/B-Radio_All-BC-YB-1996.pdf|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1996|year=1996|page=B-178|access-date=February 16, 2025|via=World Radio History}}
In 1996, ComCorp bought back KFTE, along with KMDL, from Schilling Distributing. The total price was nearly $4.5 million.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-11-08.pdf|title=Emmis Now A Potent Arch Rival|page=8|work=Radio & Records|date=November 8, 1996|issue=1171|access-date=February 16, 2025|via=World Radio History}} On January 22, 1997, ComCorp fliped KFTE's format to alternative rock, with the brand "Planet Radio 96.5".{{cite book|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1998/D-Radio-All-BC-YB-1998.pdf|title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1998|page=D-188|publisher=Broadcasting Publications|year=1998|access-date=February 16, 2025|via=World Radio History}}{{cite web|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20000518232458/http://www.metronet.com/~chipk/fm/LFT.html|archive-date=May 18, 2000|url=http://www.metronet.com/~chipk/fm/LFT.html|title=Lafayette, LA FM Radio Directory|publisher=100,000 Watts|access-date=February 16, 2025|url-status=dead}}
On August 29, 2001, Regent Communications (later Townsquare Media) reached an agreement to buy KFTE and six other radio stations from ComCorp. The price was over $39 million.{{cite news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F1408EE42006EE3|title=Money briefs|work=The Times-Picayune|date=August 30, 2001|access-date=February 16, 2025|page=6|via=NewsLibrary}}
=As KPEL-FM (2010–present)=
On June 25, 2010, KFTE switched call signs and formats with KPEL-FM at 105.1 MHz. KFTE's rock format moved to 105.1, while KPEL-FM's news/talk format moved to 96.5 MHz.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/9306/bunch-of-changes-in-lafayette-la/|title=Bunch of changes in Lafayette, LA|last=Venta|first=Lance|work=Radio Insight|date=June 25, 2010|access-date=February 16, 2025}}
In June 2020, early afternoon host Carol Ross decided to end her program and leave the station.[https://www.insideradio.com/people_moves/carol-ross/article_e1eec39a-acb5-11ea-ba9d-2357e5313f72.html InsideRadio.com "People Moves: Carol Ross" On March 15, 2025, KPEL-FM began carrying Erick Erickson on weekdays from WSB Atlanta.[https://www.insideradio.com/free/news-bites-keggs-and-eggs-erick-erickson-tunein-gun-talk/article_b4daa94c-ff84-11ef-8eba-3f2b0e32b36b.html InsideRadio.com "News Bites: Erick Erickson" March 12, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.]
Programming
KPEL-FM has local news and talk shows during the daytime, in addition to national news updates from Fox News Radio and nationally syndicated programs including The Erick Erickson Show, The Mark Levin Show, and The Ramsey Show.{{cite web|url=https://kpel965.com/shows/monday/|title=On Air (Monday)|publisher=KPEL-FM|access-date=February 16, 2025}}
Weekends feature specialty lifestyle shows, such as The Kim Komando Show and The Car Doctor, and paid programming.{{cite web |title=On Air (Saturday)|url=https://kpel965.com/shows/saturday/|publisher=KPEL-FM|access-date=May 31, 2025}} KPEL-FM also broadcasts Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's basketball and baseball games.{{cite web|url=https://ragincajuns.com/sports/baseball/schedule/2024|title=2024 Baseball Schedule|publisher=University of Louisiana at Lafayette|access-date=February 16, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://ragincajuns.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2023-24|title=2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule|publisher=University of Louisiana at Lafayette|access-date=February 16, 2025}}
Technical information
Licensed to Breaux Bridge, KPEL-FM broadcasts from a 167.6-meter transmitter located in Youngsville at 42 kW of effective radiated power.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.kpel965.com KPEL-FM official website]
{{FM station data|59288|KPEL-FM}}
{{Lafayette Radio}}
{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Louisiana}}
{{Regent Communications}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kpel-Fm}}
Category:Radio stations in Louisiana
Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States
Category:Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
Category:Townsquare Media radio stations