KTEK-AM

Ever heard of a radio station that started with Vietnamese broadcasts? That’s KTEK-AM for you. Right here in Houston this station has a rich and surprising history. KTEK-AM 1110 AM began broadcasting on March 18 1980. Initially it served Greater Houston. It wasn’t always a Catholic talk radio station. In the 1990s it was known as the “Voice of Vietnam in Houston” broadcasting in Vietnamese. Later Salem Communications bought the station using it for its Christian programming. A fascinating twist occurred in 2007. Biz Radio purchased KTEK to separate from a lease agreement with KXYZ. This made KTEK Biz Radio’s first owned and operated station. But the move didn’t last. The weaker signal of KTEK compared to its previous affiliate proved challenging. In 2010 Salem Communications reacquired the station. The deal included settling a loan from 2008 worth 1.26 million dollars. Salem even received an additional 800000 dollars in cash. BizRadio was allowed to buy airtime on other Salem stations. Finally on August 15 2019 Salem decided to sell KTEK and its 96.1 FM translator to Immaculate Heart Media. The sale was finalized on November 14 2019. KTEK then became an affiliate of Relevant Radio. Today you hear Relevant Radio’s Catholic talk programming. KTEK-AM continues its broadcast but only during the day. It shares its frequency with another station in Omaha Nebraska. Its translators however keep the Relevant Radio network on air 24 hours a day. The station’s story is one of change adaptation and a surprisingly diverse past. Isn’t it remarkable how one radio station can have such a varied history reflecting Houston’s own vibrant culture? KTEK-AM truly showcases Houston’s evolving soundscape.