KTHO

KTHO (590 kHz) was a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a classic hits radio format. Licensed to South Lake Tahoe, California, it served the Lake Tahoe Basin-Reno–Sparks metropolitan area. It also simulcast on South Lake Tahoe-based FM translator K241BK on 96.1 MHz.[1]

KTHO
Broadcast areaLake Tahoe-Reno–Sparks metropolitan area
Frequency590 kHz
BrandingK-TAHOE AM590 and 96.1FM
Programming
FormatDefunct (was Classic hits)
AffiliationsABC News Radio
Ownership
OwnerInternational Aerospace Solutions, Inc.
History
First air date
March 17, 1963
Call sign meaning
K Lake TaHOe
Technical information
Facility ID51528
ClassB
Power2,500 watts day
500 watts night
ERP250 watts (translator)
Transmitter coordinates
38°55′0″N 119°57′46″W
Translator(s)96.1 K241BK (South Lake Tahoe)
Links
WebsiteKTHOradio.com

The stations licenses were cancelled by the Federal Communications Commission on November 15, 2021, by letter to the licensee.[2]

The station's license was last held by International Aerospace Solutions, Inc., a company owned by long-time Southern California broadcaster Darrell Wampler. After he took over operations of KTHO, Wampler retained KTHO operations manager Ed Crook and employed local Lake Tahoe radio personalities Paul Middlebrook as a media consultant, Bill Kingman as a technical advisor and Curtis Fong as on-air personality. Wampler was also heard on the station under his radio air name, "The Insane Darrell Wayne".

History

The station first signed on the air on March 17, 1963, broadcasting middle of the road music and local news.[3] On April 12, 1966, an FM sister station signed on at 103.1 MHz (today 102.9 KWYL). In March 2009, KTHO changed its format to classic rock, using the identification "590 K-Tahoe."

After the addition of an FM translator, making the station available on both FM and AM radio, the format moved to a more mass-appeal classic hits sound, focusing on the top songs of the 1970s and 80s.

On November 15, 2021, the FCC notified licensee International Aerospace Solutions (IAS) that the licenses of KTHO and associated translator K241BK had been cancelled. In its letter, the Commission presented information stating that while the AM signal had been off air due to the seizure of transmission equipment (due to nonpayment of rent), the FM translator had been heard on-air. IAS' legal representation had advised in October 2021 that the station had been operating from an unauthorized location.[4][5]

References
  1. "K241BK Technical Details". radio-locator. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  2. "FCC Cancellation Letter". FCC Website. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 pg. C-29
  4. "FCC Report 11/21: KTHO & WZSK Lose Their Licenses".
  5. "Feb 2022".


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