KMRV

KMRV (1160 AM, "99.1 The River") was a commercial radio station that served the Waukon, Iowa, area. KMRV was originally a daytime-only station broadcasting on 1140 kHz, with the call letters KNEI. The station was last owned by Wennes Communications. KMRV's format continues to be heard on KDEC (1240 AM) in Decorah and 100.5 FM (HD2) KDHK, which replaced KMRV as the source of translator K256CS (99.1 FM) at closure.

KMRV
Broadcast areaWaukon, Iowa
Frequency1160 kHz
Branding94.9 & 99.1 The River
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatDefunct (was Adult contemporary)
AffiliationsRadio Iowa
Ownership
Owner
  • Wennes Communications
  • (Wennes Communications Stations, Inc.)
KNEI-FM, KVIK, KDEC, KDHK
History
First air date
July 1, 1967 (1967-07-01)
Last air date
June 3, 2021
Former call signs
KNEI (1967–2005)
KHPP (2005–2011)
KSFF (2011)
KFXE (2011–2016)
Former frequencies
  • 1140 kHz (1972–2005)
  • 1160 kHz (2005-2021)
Call sign meaning
K Mississippi RiVer
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID15733
ClassD
Power880 watts (day)
26 watts (night)
250 watts (STA)
Links
Public license information

Wennes Communications surrendered KMRV's license to the Federal Communications Commission on June 3, 2021 for cancellation; the FCC cancelled the station's license on June 4, 2021.[2]

History

KNEI went on the air on July 1, 1967,[3] originally on 1140 kHz.[4] It initially broadcast with 250 watts during daytime hours only, increased to 1,000 watts in 1970. Original owner Ralph M. Sweeney sold the station to David H. Hogendorn, the original manager,[3] in 1972.[4] Though primarily a country music station, KNEI was block-formatted in the early years, with slots for polka and rock and roll music.[5]

In 1997, Hogendorn sold KNEI and its associated FM, KNEI-FM, to Marathon Media for $600,000.[6] He exited radio to focus on his travel business; soon after, his weekly big band program also left the air.[7] Greg Wennes bought the Waukon stations and KVIK in Decorah, in 2002;[8] he had previously been manager of the company's cluster in La Crosse, Wisconsin.[9]

In 2019, the lease for KMRV's transmitter site was not renewed, and the station moved to broadcasting at reduced power with 250 watts, which it did until Wennes surrendered the license.[10] The Federal Communications Commission deleted KMRV's license on June 4, 2021.

References
  1. "Facility Technical Data for KMRV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "Imported Letter".
  3. "Personalities". Des Moines Sunday Register. July 2, 1967. p. 14-G. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  4. FCC History Cards for KMRV
  5. "KNEI's Chuck "Allen" retiring after 40-year career on the local radio airwaves". Waukon Standard. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  6. "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. June 6, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  7. Rasdal, Dave (December 19, 1997). "DJ to host his last Big Band Christmas show". Cedar Rapids Gazette. p. 3B. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  8. "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 15, 2002. p. 8. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  9. Cahalan, Steve (October 12, 2000). "Marathon Media selling six stations in the region". La Crosse Tribune. p. C-3. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  10. Ellis, Jon (June 9, 2021). "Iowa AM Station Returns License, Programming Continues on FM". Northpine. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
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