KNWC-FM

KNWC-FM (96.5 MHz), also known as Life 96.5, is a Christian radio station located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota owned and operated by University of Northwestern – St. Paul, a Christian college in St. Paul, Minnesota.^[3] KNWC-FM concentrates on Christian adult contemporary music.

KNWC-FM

Sioux Falls, South Dakota United States
Frequency	96.5 MHz
Branding	Life 96.5
Programming
Format	Christian adult contemporary
Ownership
Owner	Northwestern Media (University of Northwestern – St. Paul)
Sister stations	KNWC
History
First air date	March 28, 1969[1]
Call sign meaning	Northwestern College
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	49776
Class	C
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	488 meters (1,601 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	43°31′6.9″N 96°32′6.2″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	www.life965.com

Its studios are located on South Tallgrass Avenue in Sioux Falls, while its transmitter is located near Rowena.

Life 96.5 is the official radio station of LifeLight Festival.

2007 FM transmitter failure

On Wednesday, January 24, 2007, KNWC-FM's main transmitter, which had been in service since 1983, failed.^[4] New parts were ordered so that the transmitter could serve as a backup in the future, as there was no backup main transmitter. This forced the purchase of a new transmitter. On Thursday, February 8, 2007, Life 96.5 was back up to full power, operating on the original transmitter; the new, permanent transmitter would be installed at a later date.

On Tuesday, March 6, 2007, the transmitter was again down. The new transmitter was installed on Thursday, March 8, 2007, but ice on the tower from a blizzard fell on the antenna, which resulted in more damage. That forced KNWC-FM to operate at low power on a backup antenna until the problem could be corrected. In late March 2007, KNWC-FM was operating at higher, but still reduced, power. KNWC-FM announced that the new antenna would be installed in May 2007, and Life 96.5 would operate on reduced power until then.^[5] After a long summer at reduced power due to circumstances beyond control, station manager Jeff Rupp announced KNWC-FM was back to full power on Friday, August 31, 2007.^[6]

2013 antenna failure

In May 2013, an ice storm took out KNWC-FM's antenna, forcing the station to briefly broadcast with lower power.

Refuge Radio acquisition

The disbanding of Refuge Radio upon its donation to UNWSP in 2019 resulted in a substantial increase to KNWC-FM's network of translators, including a full-power repeater, KRGM in Marshall, Minnesota.

Translators

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	HAAT	Class	FCC info
KRGM	89.9 FM	Marshall, Minnesota	173790	4,250	163 m (535 ft)	C3	LMS

Broadcast translator for KNWC-FM

Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	Class	FCC info
K210CG	89.9 FM	Spirit Lake, Iowa	90145	250	D	LMS
K220HY	91.9 FM	Spencer, Iowa	94038	250	D	LMS
K220IT	91.9 FM	Watertown, South Dakota	138402	79	D	LMS
K229BK	93.7 FM	North Sioux City, South Dakota	139165	120	D	LMS
K231AR	94.1 FM	Mitchell, South Dakota	139171	250	D	LMS
K257CH	99.3[note 1][7] FM	Estherville, Iowa	83434	80	D	LMS
K288EV	105.5 FM	Brookings, South Dakota	72915	250	D	LMS
K288GA	105.5 FM	Sioux Falls, South Dakota	138081	220	D	LMS

1. Owned by Lakes Area Christian Radio. Received WJRF from K210CG, which now rebroadcasts KNWC-FM. In February 2020, Lakes Area filed to donate the translator to Northwestern Media.