Flood Communications has launched the first full-power Spanish-language FM format in Nebraska’s Tri-Cities.
Regional Mexican-formatted “Fiesta 94.5” replaced “The Breeze” on KLIQ/94.5 (Hastings) on Monday, May 23. The lineup includes market veteran Edgar Fernandez mornings from 6 to 10, former Kansas City Royals sportscaster Jose Ramon “El Lobo” from 10 to 12, Gaby Moreno of sister station “Lobo 97.7” (KBBX Nebraska City-Omaha) from 1 to 4, and the syndicated “El Show de Erazno y la Chokolata” from 4 to 9.
The change comes after Flood Communications of Omaha, which also owns KBBX, closed on its purchase of KLIQ earlier this year. Sister Flood companies also own Telemundo Nebraska, which hosts the “Fiesta” website, as well as several other radio stations in the Tri-Cities.
Fall 2021 Nielsen Audio ratings showed KLIQ’s Adult Contemporary format had been the lowest-rated commercial FM station in the market, in a four-way tie for 12th place among listeners 12+. Meanwhile, Legacy Communications’ “La Gran D 93.3” (K227BQ/93.3 and KRGI-FM-HD2 Grand Island) ranked fourth.
KLIQ, a 100kW station, had carried AC formats since signing on two decades ago. Its previous daytime lineup had included syndicated announcers Bob & Sheri, John Hart, and Kiley Sommers.
The change leaves the Tri Cities with no AC or Hot AC format. Some parts of the playlist overlap with the Classic Hits format on Flood’s recently-rebranded “98.9 The Vibe” (KKPR-FM Kearney), which recently added a morning show co-hosted by market veteran Jason Murphy.