KNTE (FM)

KNTE (101.7 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Bay City, Texas. The station broadcasts a radio format The studios of Regional Mexican music, simulcast with sister station 98.5 KTJM Port Arthur, and is owned by Estrella Radio License of Houston LLC, a subsidiary of Estrella Media.^[3]

KNTE

Bay City, Texas
Broadcast area	Bay City, Texas / Victoria, Texas
Frequency	101.7 MHz
Branding	La Raza 98.5 y 101.7
Programming
Language	Spanish
Format	Regional Mexican
Ownership
Owner	Estrella Media (Estrella Radio License of Houston LLC)
Sister stations	Radio: KTJM, KQQK TV: KZJL
History
First air date	September 25, 1995 (29 years ago) (1995-09-25)[1]
Former call signs	KXGJ (1995–2012)
Call sign meaning	El NorTE (previous branding)
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	2131
Class	C1
ERP	35,000 watts
HAAT	450 m (1,476 ft)
Repeater(s)	KTJM Port Arthur
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Website	La Raza 98.5/101.7

History

The station began broadcasting on September 25, 1995, holding the call sign KXGJ and airing a country music format branded "Pure Country".^[1][4] In 2002, Liberman Broadcasting purchased the station, along with 96.9 KIOX-FM in El Campo, Texas, for $3.15 million.^[5][6] The station began airing a tropical music format.^[7] Its ERP was later increased to 35 kilowatts, and it began targeting SW Houston and Fort Bend County. On April 3, 2012, the station's call sign was changed to KNTE.^[8] On July 11, 2014, KNTE changed its format to regional Mexican, branded as "La Ranchera 101.7".^[9]

On December 14, 2020, sister station 103.3 KJOJ-FM in Freeport, Texas suffered catastrophic failure, resulting in that facility going silent. KNTE was then changed from simulcasting Houston station 850 KEYH "La Ranchera" to simulcasting 98.5 KTJM, in order to replace most of KJOJ-FM's over the air coverage area.