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Nebraska Radio History Archive Presentation:

KQCH

KOAD was Omaha's pioneer FM, signed on  by the Omaha World Herald on the 42 mHz band in 1941.  There's some question as to  where it landed on the new band, but it appears it went to 94.3, eventually moving to 94.1.  The station was silenced (then known as KQAL) in 1949 when Todd Storz took over ownership, concentrating resources on the sister 500-watt daytimer KOWH, which went on to make history.   

94.1 would resurface as KMEO "Good" Music.   In 1968 the old KOWH calls were reinstated and an AOR format was launched.  By 1971 they were known as "Radio Free Omaha". 

Enter "Great Empire Broadcasting" (purchasing 94.1 in 1979 from Bob Gibson) and a  Soul/Urban format and a call letter change to KYNN-FM to match their sister at 1490 (purchased in 1977). This is when the KLNG calls were dropped.     By August of 1981 KYNN AM/FM had the 2nd largest audience of adult listeners (25-54) in Omaha.

Roy Coffman adds:

I came to Omaha January 3, 1980 to become the afternoon drive announcer for Great Empire Broadcasting’s KYNN Radio and by 1982 was its program director and morning drive announcer.  By the way we did push both WOW and a small try by a couple of others out of the way.  By early 1984 Great Empire Broadcasting owned the WOW-FM frequency and KYNN was a part of history.  

The staff line-up in 1981 included GM  Glen Valentine  (from KTOK-Radio in Oklahoma City).  The PD was  Roy Coffman (from KEOR-AM in Atoka, Oklahoma),  Chris Taylor was MD and Omaha native Walt Gibbs was News Director..  Ken Fearnow (Now at Waitt Radio) was the SM.  KYNN was also Percy Zigler's work home as Chief Engineer.  His resume included being Johnny Carson's engineer.  Another radio legend, Lyle DeMoss was still in radio and working for 94.1 as well.

Then in the early 80's the winds of change would alter the landscape of Omaha radio.  Although nothing like the magnitude of some recent multi-station deals, the switch was complicated for a time when you could own only one AM and one FM.   It began  when Meredith Broadcasting decided to get out of the radio business in Omaha.  They put 92.3 and 590 on the block (at the time WOW).  Great Empire ( 94.1 and 1490) wanted the better 590 frequency, but would need to spin off 1490.  Albimar Broadcasting was interested in Meredith's 92.3, so Great Empire offered them 1490.  It took over a year to make the deal, but in the end Great Empire ended up with 94.1 KYNN-FM  and 590 WOW.  Albimar owned 92.3 WOW-FM and 1490 KYNN.  Great Empire kept the WOW call letters for 590 and shifted them to 94.1as WOW- FM.  By early 1984 the deal was finally done and the rest is a very memorable piece of Great Empire history in the Omaha market.

Right or wrong, sometimes a new company feels they need to completely shed the old company image to accomplish their goals.  So, when Great Empire sold WOW AM/FM to Journal Broadcasting it  was the beginning of a 'break up' for an Omaha legend.

590's AG format with Classic Country was dropped, but  initially went on to do great things as KOMJ, one of the highest rated Adult Standards stations in the country.  94.1 was dealt a different fate.  "Those legendary 3 lettter calls, beginning with W on the wrong side of the Mississippi" were retired.  One Friday afternoon At 5pm Bill Jensen gave the final WOW hourly newscast and WOW became Kiss Country as KSS0...But not for long.  Clear Channel claimed ownership to the "KISS" trademark (and owned the competing country station in town) forcing another quick change by Journal to "94 Max Country" and new call letters, KMXM.  

Journal wasn't confident with the Country format.  At the same time another Journal station at 97.7 (Channel 97.7) was going through the roof.  However, 97.7 was Licensed to Nebraska City, with a transmitter site near Weeping Water.  Their signal simply didn't penetrate well into the North part of Omaha.   94.1's tower was in Omaha city limits (along with most of the other Omaha Stations located at Crown Point).  

On May 4th, 2002, 94 Max Country would come out with their best book ever...the day after the format was discontinued.  Journal had chosen to move 97.7 and reposition the station as Channel 94 1.   94.1 was once again home to a successful station on a solid frequency.

This site is part of the historical review of Nebraska Radio Stations at NebraskaRadio.com and is not operated by KQCH radio. We cannot answer questions about the station, take requests. Please call their studio line offices for assistance. If you have historical information you would like included on this site, E-MAIL ME!  
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