De La Hunt Broadcasting

De La Hunt Broadcasting is a privately held American radio broadcasting company based in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Its business is centered on operating local AM and FM radio stations serving small communities in north-central Minnesota, with programming that includes country music, oldies, adult-oriented music, local information, and general-interest radio. The company operates its stations through De La Hunt Media, Inc., which holds the relevant Federal Communications Commission licenses and maintains corporate offices in Park Rapids. The company was established in 1962 by Ed and Carol De La Hunt. Before starting their own station, the couple had worked in several radio positions. Their first application to the FCC was rejected, but a second application was approved in September 1962. They then constructed a 153-foot transmission tower approximately one mile west of Park Rapids, and the station began operating by the middle of November that year. This beginning shaped the company's long-term identity as a locally focused broadcaster rather than a national media conglomerate. De La Hunt Broadcasting expanded into FM radio in 1967, when it received an FM permit and launched KDKK with a 100,000-watt transmitter. KDKK originally promoted an adult-music format and later became associated with the StarStation 97.5 identity. Over time, the company assembled a group of stations across three nearby markets. Its Park Rapids operations include KPRM AM 870, branded 870 KPRM; KXKK FM 92.5, branded Hot Country 92.5; and KDKK FM 97.5, branded StarStation 97.5. In Bemidji, the group operates KKWB FM 102.5, branded Coyote Country 102.5. Its Walker operations include KAKK AM 1570, branded Oldies 1570, and KQKK FM 101.9, branded KQ 102. The company has also periodically reshaped its portfolio through station divestitures. Former holdings included KKCQ AM and KKCQ-FM, originally identified as KEHG AM-FM; KDLB; WBKK; KKWZ; and KSKK. These stations were sold to different regional broadcasters between 1983 and 2021. The sales indicate a strategy of concentrating the business on a smaller group of stations in its core northern Minnesota markets. In October 2021, Butch and Tammy De La Hunt purchased the station group from Ed and Carol De La Hunt. Before the transaction, Butch and Tammy owned and operated KKWB FM in the Bemidji market through Bemidji Radio, Inc. Following the acquisition, the stations operated under De La Hunt Media, Inc., with corporate offices in Park Rapids and studios in Park Rapids and Bemidji. The company remains a local-market radio operator whose value proposition is based on community presence, recognizable local brands, and terrestrial broadcast service.

De La Hunt Broadcasting originated in Park Rapids, Minnesota, in 1962, when Ed and Carol De La Hunt moved from employment in other radio positions toward ownership of a local station. Their initial FCC application was rejected. A subsequent application was approved in September 1962, allowing the couple to begin building the facilities required for operation. They erected a 153-foot tower about one mile west of Park Rapids, and the station was ready to broadcast by mid-November. The company expanded its presence in FM radio in 1967 after receiving an FM permit. KDKK FM went on the air with a 100,000-watt transmitter and an adult-music positioning. KDKK later operated under the StarStation 97.5 identity, becoming one of the group's principal Park Rapids outlets. Over the following decades, De La Hunt Broadcasting developed a portfolio of AM and FM stations in several small Minnesota markets. Its operating footprint came to include Park Rapids, Bemidji, and Walker. The portfolio combined music formats with local broadcasting and advertising services. The group also bought and sold stations as its market strategy evolved. Former stations included KKCQ AM and KKCQ-FM, which began as KEHG AM-FM and were sold in 1983; KDLB, sold in 2015; WBKK, also sold in 2015; KKWZ, sold to Rugby Broadcasters; and KSKK, sold to Gabriel Media in September 2021. The De La Hunt family's role in Minnesota broadcasting was recognized in 2006, when Ed and Carol De La Hunt were inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The honor recognizes notable contributions to the state's broadcasting community. A generational ownership transition occurred in October 2021. Butch and Tammy De La Hunt acquired the radio group from Ed and Carol. Before the purchase, the younger De La Hunts had operated KKWB FM, known as Coyote Country 102.5, in the Bemidji market through Bemidji Radio, Inc. After the acquisition, the stations were licensed under De La Hunt Media, Inc. Corporate offices remained in Park Rapids. The company also maintained studios on the east side of Park Rapids, at a Highway 34 address, and in downtown Bemidji. Its current station portfolio serves Park Rapids, Bemidji, and Walker through six AM and FM outlets.

• 2021

  Ownership transferred to the next generation

  [1]De La Hunt Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  Butch and Tammy De La Hunt acquired the station group from Ed and Carol De La Hunt in October, with operations conducted through De La Hunt Media, Inc.

• 2015

  KDLB and WBKK sold

  [1]De La Hunt Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  The company sold KDLB to Radio Fargo-Moorhead in June and WBKK to Real Presence Radio in October.

• 2006

  Founders inducted into the Pavek Museum Hall of Fame

  [1]De La Hunt Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  Ed and Carol De La Hunt were inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame in recognition of their contribution to Minnesota broadcasting.

• 1983

  KKCQ AM and KKCQ-FM divested

  [1]De La Hunt Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  The former KEHG AM-FM stations, later known as KKCQ AM and KKCQ-FM, were sold to Dale Olmstead.

• 1967

  KDKK FM begins broadcasting

  [1]De La Hunt Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  The company received an FM permit and launched KDKK with a 100,000-watt transmitter and an adult-music format.

• 1962

  Founding and first station launch

  [1]De La Hunt Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org

  After a second FCC application was approved in September, Ed and Carol De La Hunt built a transmission tower near Park Rapids and brought their first station into operation by mid-November.

A locally oriented independent radio group serving small-market communities in northern Minnesota through multiple AM and FM formats.

• AM radio station

  KPRM

  KPRM operates at 870 AM and is branded 870 KPRM. It is one of De La Hunt Broadcasting's Park Rapids outlets and forms part of the company's local terrestrial-radio service.

• FM radio station

  KXKK

  KXKK broadcasts at 92.5 FM under the Hot Country 92.5 identity. The station is part of the company's Park Rapids cluster and provides a country-music format for its local market.

• FM radio station · 1967

  KDKK

  KDKK broadcasts at 97.5 FM and is branded StarStation 97.5. It traces its history to the company's 1967 FM expansion, when it launched with a 100,000-watt transmitter.

• FM radio station

  KKWB

  KKWB broadcasts at 102.5 FM in the Bemidji market and is branded Coyote Country 102.5. Before the 2021 group acquisition, Butch and Tammy De La Hunt operated the station through Bemidji Radio, Inc.

• AM radio station

  KAKK

  KAKK operates at 1570 AM in the Walker market under the Oldies 1570 brand. It is one of the company's two Walker-area stations.

• FM radio station

  KQKK

  KQKK broadcasts at 101.9 FM in the Walker market and uses the KQ 102 identity. It complements the company's AM oldies service in that market.

• 2021

  Transfer of the De La Hunt station groupM&A

  Background

  Ed and Carol De La Hunt had operated the family broadcasting business since its founding in 1962. Butch and Tammy De La Hunt already operated KKWB in the Bemidji market before acquiring the wider group.

  Action taken

  Butch and Tammy De La Hunt purchased the station group in October 2021. The stations were subsequently licensed under De La Hunt Media, Inc.

  Aftermath

  The company continued operating six stations across Park Rapids, Bemidji, and Walker, with corporate offices in Park Rapids.

  Source

• 2021

  Sale of KSKK to Gabriel MediaM&A

  Background

  KSKK was among the former stations associated with De La Hunt Broadcasting before the company's 2021 ownership transition.

  Action taken

  The company sold KSKK to Gabriel Media on September 27, 2021.

  Aftermath

  KSKK was no longer part of the De La Hunt station portfolio.

  Source

1. 1De La Hunt Broadcastingen.wikipedia.org