KEXO
 The radio tower for KEXO, located near downtown. | |
| |
| Frequency | 1230 kHz |
|---|---|
| Branding | ESPN Western Colorado |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports radio |
| Affiliations | ESPN Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | February 29, 1948 |
Last air date | August 2025 |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| 47113 | |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts unlimited |
Transmitter coordinates | 39°5′40.9″N 108°34′43.3″W / 39.094694°N 108.578694°W |
| Translator | 96.5 K243CP (Grand Junction) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | espnwesterncolorado |
KEXO (1230 AM) was a radio station serving Grand Junction, Colorado, and vicinity with a sports radio format affiliated with ESPN Radio. This station was last owned by Townsquare Media.[2] It operated from 1948 to 2025.
History
[edit]KEXO began broadcasting February 29, 1948, on 1230 kHz with 250 watts power (full-time). It was licensed to Voice of Western Colorado.[3]
Later, power was raised to 1000 watts days, but returned to 250 watts at sunset. Studios were located in a downtown storefront, with news wire machines facing the street, and an observation window where pedestrians could watch the DJ at work. KEXO's former studios were located on North 25th Street in Grand Junction from 1948 until 1963. In 1963, KEXO's studios were relocated after the previous studios were demolished by a fire. The station was a Top 40 station for Grand Junction for many years, which then turned to adult contemporary in the mid to late 1970s. "Music & More 1230 KEXO" was its slogan.
Cumulus Media swapped KEXO and its other Grand Junction stations, along with its clusters in Augusta, Bangor, and Presque Isle, Maine; Binghamton, New York; Bismarck, North Dakota; Killeen–Temple and Odessa–Midland; New Bedford, Massachusetts; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Townsquare Media in 2012 in exchange for Townsquare's stations in Bloomington and Peoria, Illinois, and $116 million. At the time of the swap, KEXO programmed a talk format.[4]
On January 18, 2021, KEXO began simulcasting on 96.5 FM via translator K243CP. By this point, it was a sports radio station affiliated with ESPN Radio.[5]
Townsquare closed the station in August 2025 for economic reasons.[6] The licenses for KEXO and K243CP were returned for cancellation in July 2026.[7]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KEXO". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ↑ "KEXO Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
- ↑ "KEXO Grand Junction Goes on Air Fulltime" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 15, 1948. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- ↑ Venta, Lance (April 30, 2012). "Cumulus & Townsquare Swap 65 Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
- ↑ "ESPN Sports activities Radio now broadcasts on 96.5 FM in Grand Junction | DAILY COLORADO NEWS". Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ↑ Venta, Lance (August 17, 2025). "FCC Report 8/17: FCC To Open Rulemaking On Revamping EAS". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
- ↑ Venta, Lance (August 2, 2026). "FCC Report 8/3: Date & Rules Set For FM Auction 114". RadioInsight. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Facility details for Facility ID 47113 (KEXO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KEXO in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for KEXO