KHIF Radio

“Is that music coming from that tower?” KHIF Radio stands tall against the Austin skyline. It’s more than just a tower. It’s a beacon of sound, a testament to Austin’s enduring love affair with radio. KHIF Radio broadcasts across the Austin-San Marcos-Round Rock metropolitan area, filling the airwaves with music and stories. You might be surprised to know that 1490 AM, the frequency on which KHIF Radio broadcasts, is the oldest continuously licensed radio station in Austin. The station first crackled to life way back in 1926, originally under the call sign KGDR. Imagine the early days of radio, when the airwaves were new and filled with the promise of connecting people across vast distances. Back then, KGDR broadcast from San Antonio. It wasn’t until 1929 that the station moved to Austin and changed its name to KUT. In 1932, the call letters shifted again, becoming KNOW. Throughout its history, KHIF Radio has been a chameleon, adapting to the changing tastes and times. In the golden age of radio, it was Austin’s ABC Radio Network affiliate, bringing dramas, comedies, and news into homes across the city. As music preferences shifted to FM, KHIF Radio served Austin’s growing African American community with an urban contemporary format. It’s played oldies, talk radio, sports talk, and Regional Mexican music. KHIF Radio has seen it all. Today, KHIF Radio, known as “96.3 Jack FM”, keeps the spirit of radio alive with its adult hits format. But the essence of KHIF Radio, its ability to connect, to inform, to entertain, remains as strong as ever. So next time you hear that familiar jingle, remember the journey of KHIF Radio, a story woven into the fabric of Austin.