KTTZ-FM (89.1

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base u ...

) is a

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

broadcasting a

public radio Public broadcasting (or public service broadcasting) is radio, television, and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service with a commitment to avoiding political and commercial influence. Public broadcasters receive ...

format in

Lubbock, Texas Lubbock ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Lubbock County. With a population of 272,086 in 2024, Lubbock is the 10th-most populous city in Texas and the 84th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the ...

, U.S. The station is owned by

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public university, public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship instit ...

and features

news radio All-news radio is a radio format devoted entirely to the discussion and broadcast of news. All-news radio is available in both local and radio syndication, syndicated forms, and is carried on both major US satellite radio networks. All-news sta ...

, classical and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

music and programming from

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

History

The station first signed on in January 1973 as KLSD, operated by the

Lubbock Independent School District Lubbock Independent School District was established in 1907. Accredited by the Texas Education Agency, Lubbock ISD is the largest school district that serves the city of Lubbock, Texas (USA). The Lubbock Independent School District covers and ...

.Broadcasting Yearbook, 1974, p. B-208
/ref> After only a year on the air, it changed its calls to KOHM. This change reportedly came because school district officials were concerned about possible negative connotations with the original calls. The station's calls reflected its status as part of the school district's electronics program; an

ohm Ohm (symbol Ω) is a unit of electrical resistance named after Georg Ohm. Ohm or OHM may also refer to: People * Georg Ohm (1789–1854), German physicist and namesake of the term ''ohm'' * Germán Ohm (born 1936), Mexican boxer * Jörg Ohm (1 ...

is the basic SI measurement of electrical resistance.Archive of KOHM history page
/ref> The station operated largely hand-to-mouth for its first decade on the air. Studios were located at whatever school happened to house the electronics program during the year. It operated at 10 watts at 50 feet from 1973 to 1975, when a new transmitter was purchased and power increased to 250 watts and a 200-foot tower was built at Monterey High School, effectively limiting its coverage area to the core of the city itself. Power was raised to 3,000 watts and the tower and transmitter relocated to Dunbar High School on MLK Blvd. in 1978. By 1986, LISD realized it was in over its head operating a radio station, and was in the process of surrendering its license to the FCC. At the same time, Texas Tech was looking to expand its radio offerings by way of a second radio frequency alongside existing station KTXT-FM. It had originally applied for 90.7 FM, but faced a fight for that frequency with an out-of-state religious group. However, KTXT's general manager, Clive Kinghorn, learned that LISD was about to give up the license for KOHM. LISD quickly agreed to sell KOHM to Texas Tech, and the station went on the air for the first time under Texas Tech's ownership on May 2, 1988. At the same time, Texas Tech activated a new, more powerful transmitter that delivered 20,000 watts of power. 1990 brought another power increase, to 50,000 watts. In 1991, the station joined NPR. KOHM was the first radio station in Lubbock to broadcast in HD.HD radio station coming to Lubbock
/ref> On January 15, 2012, the station changed its call letters to KTTZ-FM.

References

External links

* * {{Texas Tech University TTZ-FM Texas Tech University NPR member stations Radio stations established in 1973 1973 establishments in Texas