KTOY
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{short description|Radio station in Texarkana, Arkansas}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KTOY
| logo = KTOY Jammin104.7 logo.png
| city = Texarkana, Arkansas
| country = US
| branding = 104.7 KTOY
| area = Texarkana area
| frequency = 104.7 MHz
| airdate = {{start date and age|1992}}
| format = Urban adult contemporary
| erp = 3,100 watts
| haat = {{convert|138|meters}}
| class = A
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 31348
| coordinates = {{coord|33|25|45.4|N| 94|7|11.7|W|region:US-TX_type:landmark}}
| callsign_meaning =
| owner = Cliff Dumas
| licensee = BTC USA Holdings Management Inc.
| affiliations = Compass Media Networks
| sister_stations = KBYB, KCMC, KTFS, KTFS-FM, KTTY
| webcast =
| website = [https://localfirstmediagroup.com/radio-brands/ktoy104/ localfirstmediagroup.com/radio-brands/ktoy104]
}}
KTOY (104.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting an urban adult contemporary format licensed to Texarkana, Arkansas, United States, and serving the Texarkana area. The station is licensed to BTC USA Holdings Management Inc. Its studios are located on Olive in Texarkana, Texas, just one block west of the Texas–Arkansas state line, and its transmitter is in Wake Village, Texas.
History
On June 16, 1988, Jo-Al Broadcasting, Inc. (named for shareholders Emmie Jo Gamble and her brother-in-law Alcus Davis) filed for a construction permit to build a new radio station on 104.7 MHz in Texarkana, Arkansas. Gamble had been inspired to file after seeing a newspaper article concerning efforts by the Federal Communications Commission to promote women and minority ownership in broadcasting.{{Cite news|url=https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/texarkana-news/texarkanas-first-black-radio-station-hit-the-airwaves-in-1992/amp/|title=Texarkana's first black radio station hit the airwaves in 1992|date=February 3, 2021|first=Epiphany|last=La'Sha|work=ArkLaTex Homepage|accessdate=February 4, 2021}} It was one of three applicants for the frequency, competing with B & H Broadcasting System, Inc., and Dupre' Broadcasting Co. After the three applications were designated for comparative hearing in 1990, the applicants settled, and Jo-Al was granted the frequency.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U3Ee12SEXcwC&q=880616MP&pg=PA1703|title=Summary Decision (6 FCC Rcd 7)|first=Joseph|last=Stirmer|work=FCC Record|pages=1703–1705|date=March 19, 1991|accessdate=February 4, 2021}}
Gamble, a math teacher, continued teaching while building out the station, which took the call sign KTOY and became the first black-owned station in the state of Arkansas,{{cite news|url=https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texarkana/story/2020/aug/24/tasd-honors-emmie-jo-gamble-distinguished-alumna/838764/|accessdate=February 4, 2021|title=TASD honors Emmie Jo Gamble as Distinguished Alumna|work=Texarkana Gazette|date=August 24, 2020}} with the same urban adult contemporary format it still carries.{{r|ktal}} She did not retire from teaching until 2000.{{r|tasd}}
In February 2005, after three years of discussions,{{r|jewel}} Gamble and Davis sold KTOY to Arklatex LLC, which owned four other radio stations in the market.{{cite news|url=https://www.rbr.com/epaper/pages/march05/05-46_transactions.html|work=RBR Morning E-paper|accessdate=February 4, 2021|title=Deals}} The transaction was described as putting a "jewel" in the company's crown, as KTOY had become the area's top radio station.{{cite news|page=1|title=Texarkana Radio picks up KTOY, city's top station|first=Anthony|last=Davis|work=Texarkana Gazette|date=June 7, 2005}} Eight years later, the stations were sold to Alaska Broadcast Communications, which was 20 percent owned by Richard Burns, for $2.75 million;{{cite news|url=http://www.insideradio.com/app/daily/C4570.pdf|accessdate=February 4, 2021|page=4|title=Deals|work=Inside Radio|date=March 6, 2013}} Burns, an Australian citizen, became the first non-American national to own 100 percent of a United States broadcast station when the FCC approved a first-of-its-kind waiver in 2017, allowing Burns and his wife Sharon to take full ownership of the Frontier Media group.{{cite news|url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/fcc-oks-groundbreaking-foreign-ownership-milestone/article_c10de1aa-fcba-11e6-b518-172d32569d98.html|work=Inside Radio|date=February 27, 2017|title= FCC OKs Groundbreaking Foreign Ownership Milestone. |accessdate=February 4, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://texarkanafyi.com/texarkana-radio-stations-part-historic-foreign-ownership-deal/|title=Texarkana Radio Stations Part of Historic Foreign Ownership Deal – Texarkana FYI|date=March 27, 2017|publisher=|accessdate=May 19, 2018}}
As part of a series of format shifts at the Frontier Media stations in January 2019, KTFS (940 AM) relaunched as "KTOY Gospel", a gospel-formatted brand extension of KTOY.{{cite news|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/173941/formats-on-the-move-in-texarkana/|date=January 22, 2019|work=RadioInsight|first=Lance|last=Venta|title=Formats On The Move In Texarkana|accessdate=February 4, 2021}} Effective April 28, 2023, Frontier Media sold KTOY to Cliff Dumas's BTC USA Holdings Management Inc. for $60,000.{{Cite news |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=2022-10-19 |title=Cliff Dumas Led Group Acquires Frontier Media |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/244138/cliff-dumas-led-group-acquires-frontier-media/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |work=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{FM station data|31348|KTOY}}
{{Texarkana Radio}}
{{Urban Radio Stations in Arkansas}}
Category:Urban adult contemporary radio stations in the United States