KXXF

KXXF (105.3 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Winnie, Texas and serving the Golden Triangle. It airs a classic hits radio format and is owned and operated by Excel Media, L.L.C., a company founded by the late John Walton (co-host of the regionally syndicated "Walton & Johnson" talk show). The studios and offices are located on Interstate 10 in Beaumont.
KXXF has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000 watts. The transmitter is on Route 73 at Azalea Drive in Winnie.
History.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a construction permit to start a new FM station in Galveston on July 14, 1987. The original call sign was KRTX and it broadcast on 104.9 MHz, with a power of 3,000 watts. In November 1989, it signed on the air. It was owned by the Breckenridge Broadcasting Company and it aired a country music format.
On July 19, 1996, the call letters were changed to KLTP. The call sign was changed to KLTO on August 1, 1998. In 2003, the station was acquired by Tichenor Media, which flipped it to a Spanish language format. Tichenor was later acquired by Univision, the biggest Spanish-language television network in the U.S. The station's city of license was changed to Winnie, serving the Golden Triangle, including Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange. The dial position switched to 105.3.
On November 8, 2004, the call sign was changed to KPTI and the station began simulcasting the rhythmic contemporary format of its sister station KPTY 104.9 FM in Deer Park, Texas. KPTI was re-constructed after being totally destroyed by Hurricane Ike in September 2008.
On February 28, 2014, Excel Media purchased KPTY from Univision for $525,000. Excel Media changed the call letters to KXXF on March 21, 2014. Excel was owned by Jim Walton, who launched the station with continuous plays of the "Walton & Johnson" syndicated wake-up show, which he co-hosted.
On April 8, 2014, KXXF ended stunting with Walton & Johnson episodes. It switched to a Texas-focused adult hits format (encompassing country, blues, classic rock and classic hits) and branded as "105.3 Free." It continued to carry The Walton & Johnson Show for AM drive time.
On August 16, 2017, Jim King (Jim King of the Road) was hired by John Walton to host middays on KXXF. King's show began airing in mid-September, 2017.
On September 4, 2017, the station moved from adult hits to classic country while keeping the "105.3 Free" branding.
Owner John Walton died July 1, 2019.
On December 1, 2019, KXXF became a classic hits station, adding more rock and pop oldies to its playlist.