Horizon Broadcasting Group Makes Format Moves in Bend OR

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, April 1, 2022 | 11:54am CT

Horizon Broadcasting Group

Adult Hits KLTW-FM/Bend, OR, has rebranded as "Country's Greatest Hits 95.7 The Ranch" and changed call letters to KRCO-FM. Core artists include Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney and Luke Combs. 95.7 The Ranch will also be available on a translator at 93.3 FM (serving parts of Crook County) and will stream from its website at 957TheRanch.com.

"We have served listeners with the Classic Country format on KRCO-AM since 2000, and we have experienced phenomenal growth with this format on our heritage AM facility over the past three years, said Horizon Broadcasting Group President/CEO Keith Shipman. "It's time to provide this growing audience with a crystal clear 100,000 watt signal serving all of Central Oregon with hits from the greatest country artists of all time."

Jim "Jimbo" Schoebel, a longtime Central Oregon radio personality, will handle wake up duties on 95.7 The Ranch, while Dave Clemens -- one of the region's most popular air personalities over the past two decades -- will handle afternoon drive.

"I began my radio career on KRCO-AM some 25 years ago -- so I've kind of come full circle," said Clemens. "I'm excited about this music, this format, and the opportunity to entertain the passionate country music listener of Central Oregon."

Veteran Horizon Broadcasting Group news anchor/reporter Bill Baker will provide local news updates weekday mornings on 95.7 The Ranch.

Concurrently, KRCO-AM fills a gap in the Central Oregon radio landscape by launching an all-Sports format. The station is now known as "Sports Radio 96.9 The Ticket" and features a lineup of Sports/Talk hosts, including Dan Patrick, Colin Cowherd and Rich Eisen and is affiliated with the FOX Sports Radio Network. Sports Radio 96.9 The Ticket is also Central Oregon's home for the Portland Trailblazers, Oregon State University Football, Oregon State University Men's Basketball and the Seattle Seahawks.

"We are pleased to offer Central Oregon sports fans a place to go every waking moment of every day for sports talk radio from the very best personalities in all of sports," said Shipman. "Sports Radio 96.9 The Ticket's lineup is second to none - and we will be the only station to hear the state's most popular live sporting events - the Trailblazers, Beavers and Seahawks. In fact, we'll offer over 140 live sports broadcasts annually."

The station can be heard on 96.9 FM, on KRCO-AM's original 690 frequency (which recently celebrated 77 years of service to Central Oregon listeners), on the station website at 969TheTicket.com.