KNDA (Odessa, Texas) explained

KNDA
City:Odessa, Texas
Area:Midland-Odessa
Branding:Qué Onda
Airdate:September 26, 1980
Last Airdate:June 16, 1991
Frequency:1000 kHz
Format:Defunct (formerly Tejano)
Power:1,000 watts (daytime only)
Class:D
Facility Id:36070
Callsign Meaning:From the station's last name "Qué Onda"
Former Callsigns:KJJT (1980–1989)
Owner:L & T Enterprises, Inc.

KNDA (1000 AM) was a radio station in Odessa, Texas, that served the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area. It aired Spanish-language formats throughout its 11-year history. In its final days, it was known as Qué Onda with a bilingual Tejano format.

History

1000 kHz went on the air as KJJT on September 26, 1980.[1] It was the first Spanish-language station for the Midland-Odessa area.[2]

In 1986, L & T Enterprises was sold by its original owners, Alfredo G. Levario and O.L.A., Inc., to Rubén Velásquez, though the station itself claimed that the sale had taken place in 1985 and news reporting stated the transfer was part of a foreclosure sale. 1985 was also the year that KJJT gained its first Spanish-language competitor in the market, when 1310 KOYL flipped to Spanish-language programming under new ownership.[3]

KJJT became KNDA on April 20, 1989, the same day it relaunched as "Qué Onda", a bilingual station playing Tejano music.[4] However, the format failed to take off in Odessa, as it had in larger Texas cities. KNDA signed off for good on June 16, 1991,[5] citing a lack of interest in Tejano music and "other reasons" for the closure. Ector County records showed that L & T Enterprises had $57,000 in federal tax liens, related to employee payroll taxes, against the company. KOZA, with which KNDA shared studio space, absorbed most of KNDA's 10 employees and began adding Tejano music to its programming.

External links

31.8025°N -102.3825°W

Notes and References

  1. News: KJJT spreads the sounds of Spanish music through the air waves of the entire Basin. Odessa American. October 12, 1986. June 25, 2019. 9G.
  2. News: Business waking up to Hispanic market. Odessa American. Corky. Johnson. May 24, 1981. June 25, 2019. 1C.
  3. News: KOYL-AM has new format. November 21, 1985. Odessa American. June 25, 2019. 5B.
  4. News: Station reaches out to bilingual audience. June 4, 1989. Kerry. Haglund. Odessa American. June 25, 2019. 9A, 18A.
  5. News: Financial difficulties force KNDA to sign off. Odessa American. Martin. Hobratschk. June 14, 1991. June 25, 2019. 1B, 2B.