KECH-FM


KECH-FM is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to Sun Valley, Idaho, United States, the station serves the Twin Falls area. The station is currently owned by Rich Broadcasting, LLC, through licensee RP Broadcasting LS, LLC.

History

The station was originally assigned the KWRU call sign by the FCC on February 16, 1988; it was to be a not-for-profit community radio station. When funding for the venture failed, it was acquired by Ketchum Radio, which built it out as commercial station KECH-FM and signed it on November 21, 1988. Ketchum Radio was a partnership headed by local resident Chris Haugh, and staff members including Larry Mott, Michael Hess, and others, with Gary Stivers handling the news duties. Disc jockeys included Rob Hunter, Sadie Word, and other local talent. The call letters were chosen as a result of a contest, where listeners were asked to pick the call sign for the station. One listener chose KECH. The listener won an all-expenses-paid trip to Belize.
In 1994, Ketchum Radio sold the station to another local operator, Scott Parker's Alpine Broadcasting, Ltd., who owned/operated the station for ten years as its flagship station. Alpine, also based in Ketchum, went on to grow to a-ten station group, then sold most of its stations to Chaparral Broadcasting, Inc.
Chaparral sold KECH-FM and seven other stations to Rich Broadcasting for $3.7 million; the transaction was consummated on April 1, 2013.
"KECH-95", continues to be the leading station in the Wood River Valley with local personalities and its service to community affairs.