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Station moves fast to replace antenna
Writer
Elle Kehres
Content Producer, Radio World
Station moves fast to replace antenna K
KPT, a Class C FM in Little Rock, Ark., moved quickly to get back to full service after its main broadcast antenna system was zapped by lightning.
The classic rock station, owned by Signal Media of Arkansas, is licensed for 100 kW ERP at about 1,600 feet and has an auxiliary license for 8.7 kW at approximately 820 feet.
Mike Kennedy, program director for KKPT, said lightning whacked its ERI eight-bay antenna system during a severe thunderstorm on July 30. Kennedy said the 36-year-old fixture was 1,000 feet up on leased tower space. The transmission facilities are part of the Shinall Mountain antenna farm on the western edge of Little Rock.
KKPT/The Point 94.1 resumed broadcasting with its backup transmitter and six-bay antenna on another tower while a new eightbay antenna was custom-made by ERI. The antenna arrived on Aug. 29, and installation was expected shortly after.
On the backup, Kennedy said KKPT still covered all of the Little Rock metro area, which includes Pulaski, Saline, Lonoke and Faulkner counties.
“We’ve been telling listeners outside that area that if they have trouble hearing us, they can stream from www. kkpt.com, get our Alexa skill and listen with an Amazon device or get our free app for iPhone or Android.”
