KZPT

KZPT (99.7 FM, "99-7 The Point") is an American radio station broadcasting a Hot AC format. It is licensed to and serves the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1962 under the call sign KMBC-FM. The station is currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in east Kansas City, and studios are located in Mission, Kansas.

History

Early years

99.7 FM's roots go back to an experimental station, W9XER, which likely broadcast between 42 and 47 mHz. KMBC-FM signed on as a commercial station at 100.5 MHz in June 1944. In 1946, it moved to 97.9 FM. For two more years, KMBC-FM broadcast on 100.5 FM. Metromedia signed on the station at its permanent 99.7 FM location on October 15, 1962 with middle of the road music. KMBC-FM broadcast at 4,300 watts, but upgraded to 98,000 watts in 1966. Bonneville bought the station in 1967 and requested new call letters to separate the station from its original AM and TV counterparts. That became reality on July 18, 1966, when the station changed call letters to KMBR, and began airing an easy listening format. KMBR was a steady presence in the market, lasting for around 25 years. In May 1991, KMBR altered its format to soft AC, and rebranded as "Lite 99.7". The station also changed their call letters to KLTH (the calls were adopted on October 16, 1991). KLTH and KUDL competed strongly against one another for the dominant "at-work station" throughout the mid-1990s. However, KUDL's parent company Entercom bought KLTH in 1997, putting an end to the competition.