KJJF
KJJF (88.9 MHz) is a non-commercial FM radio station in Harlingen, Texas. KHID (88.1 MHz) is also a non-commercial FM radio station in McAllen, Texas. Both stations are owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville and serve the Rio Grande Valley.
City | Harlingen, Texas |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Rio Grande Valley |
Frequency | 88.9 (MHz) |
Branding | Public Radio 88FM |
Programming | |
Format | Public radio |
Affiliations | National Public Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville (RGV Educational Broadcasting, Inc.) |
History | |
First air date | April 1991 |
Former call signs | KMBH-FM (1989–2015) |
Call sign meaning | John Jacob Fitzpatrick (station founder and bishop) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 56081 |
Class | A |
ERP | 3,000 Watts |
HAAT | 91 meters (299 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 26°10′46″N 97°30′06″W |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | http://www.88fm.org/ |
City | McAllen, Texas |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Rio Grande Valley |
Frequency | 88.1 (MHz) |
Branding | Public Radio 88FM |
Programming | |
Format | Public radio |
Affiliations | National Public Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville (RGV Educational Broadcasting, Inc.) |
History | |
First air date | July 1992 |
Call sign meaning | HIDalgo County, Texas |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 56081 |
Class | A |
ERP | 2,100 watts |
HAAT | 78 meters (256 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 26.361957, -98.321487 |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen live |
Website | http://www.88fm.org/ |
KJJF's transmitter is located on Fresnal Road in San Benito.[1] KHID's transmitter is off West Monte Cristo Road in La Homa.[2]
The two stations simulcast a mix of NPR news and talk programs, with some hours of classical music and jazz. Both stations are being bought by Immaculate Heart Media, Inc. for $1.25 million.[3] The Catholic radio network "Relevant Radio" is expected to air on both stations when the purchase is finalized.
History
88.9 FM signed on the air in April 30, 1991, as KMBH-FM.[4] It began airing NPR programming in June of the same year. KMBH-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,000 watts, while some of the commercial FM stations in the air run 100,000 watts, so KMBH-FM's signal was limited mainly to Cameron County, Texas.
Then in July 1992, 88.1 FM signed on as KHID.[5] While KHID is also limited in power, the combination of the two stations give coverage to most areas of the McAllen-Brownsville-Harligen radio market. Both stations were owned by Rio Grande Valley Educational Broadcasting, a subsidiary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville. The two stations began simulcasting news and talk programming from NPR with some hours devoted to classical music and jazz.
On April 3, 2015, RGV Educational Broadcasting announced that it would change KMBH-FM's call letters to KJJF effective April 7. The new call sign honors RGV Educational Broadcasting founder Bishop John Jacob Fitzpatrick. It also distinguishes the radio station from former sister station Channel 38 KMBH television, which was sold to R Communications several months earlier.[6]
In early 2019, the diocese announced that both stations would be bought by Immaculate Heart Media, Inc. for $1.25 million.[7] The Catholic radio network "Relevant Radio" is expected to air on both stations when the purchase is finalized. Many NPR listeners in the area are upset that the Rio Grande Valley will be losing its only NPR member stations. In a written statement, Bishop Daniel E. Flores said “While we wish we could continue, we recognize that as a growing diocese we must be prudent with our resources and make sure they are in line with the mission of the church.”
See also
- KMBH (TV)
References
- Radio-Locator.com/KJJF
- Radio-Locator.com/KHID
- Inside Radio "Rio Grande Public Radio" Feb. 22, 2019 (Retrieved 3/19/19)
- Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1993 page B-349
- Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1993 page B-354
- Mosbrucker, Kristen (April 3, 2015). "RGV public radio call sign changes after KMBH-TV sale". The Monitor. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
- Inside Radio "Rio Grande Public Radio" Feb. 22, 2019 (Retrieved 3/19/19)
External links
- KJJF in the FCC's FM station database
- KJJF on Radio-Locator
- KJJF in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- KHID in the FCC's FM station database
- KHID on Radio-Locator
- KHID in Nielsen Audio's FM station database