A direct challenger to the market leader has arrived in Austin as Township Media launched Variety Hits “96.3 Jack-FM” 1490 KTSN/96.3 K242DE Austin on Friday.
The new format challenges Waterloo Media’s “103.5 Bob-FM” KBPA Austin, which currently leads the market with a 9.0 share. The K242DE signal operates with 250w/390m from the tower utilized by 90.5 KUT-FM, 98.9 KUTX and many translators in Austin’s West Lake Hills tower farm. This is the second attempt at launching a translator on 96.3 in Austin. Entercom operated “96.3 R&B” from 2013 to 2017, before the sign-on on 96.3 KGID Giddings forced its displacement to 95.9. Township Media will not have that issue as it purchased and downgraded KGID last year to enable the build of K242DE.
With the launch of Jack-FM, Township Media AAA “Sun Radio” 100.1 K261DW Austin is now being originated by recently acquired 1060 KFIT Lockhart, which drops its Gospel format. KFIT and KTSN have applied to swap call letters.