In February 1984, the Diocese of Corpus Christi received construction permits to build new radio stations on 89.5 MHz in Robstown and 88.1 MHz in Laredo, which was then part of the diocese. The names KLUX, with lux meaning "light" in Latin, and KHOY, with hoy meaning "today" in Spanish, were chosen for the new stations. KLUX was also to be known as the "Light of the Coastal Bend".[1]
The construction of the radio stations represented part of an ambitious media project for the diocese, known as the Catholic Communications Network. It also included building a television station in Laredo. The diocese already produced television programs for public-access cable channels and commercial stations. An $860,000 grant from the John G. and Maria Stella Kenedy Foundation supported the project.[5]
KLUX began broadcasting on March 13, 1985; 39 years ago (March 13, 1985).[a] with a formal dedication ceremony being held at the studios in Robstown in late May. The station played blocks of easy listening music. The diocese hired a company to screen out songs with suggestive or degrading lyrics. There was also Christian music at specific times on Sundays, plus Spanish-language programming in the early afternoon hours.[7] Surveys carried out by the diocese indicated that 40 percent of Corpus Christi-area listeners preferred Spanish-language programming.[5] That figure was higher in Laredo, where KHOY began broadcasting on December 17.[8] The studios remained in Robstown until 1989, when the facilities relocated to the Catholic Communications Network complex on Lantana Street in Corpus Christi. Also at that time, the station increased power from 3,000 watts and adopted its current music format throughout the day.[4] The exception on Sundays continued, when it airs a mass from Corpus Christi Cathedral as well as several local talk programs.[6]
From its beginning, KLUX has employed a "velvet hammer approach to promoting Christianity", in the words of Marty Wind, longtime station manager. Wind noted that it helped the station reach a larger audience than a traditional Christian outlet.[9] On at least one occasion, the Christianity soft sell was so understated that the station was heard as hold music for callers to Corpus Christi City Hall. That ended when a city official heard a message "about the evils of fornication and masturbation".[9]
In the 1990s, the diocese made an incursion into for-profit broadcasting with the establishment of Paloma Communications, which owned Fox Television Networkaffiliate K47DF "KDF" and Telemundo station K68DJ "KAJA". This lasted from 1990 to 1997, when the firm filed for bankruptcy and sold the stations.[10][11][12]
In 2006, KLUX began HD Radio broadcasting, making it the first such station in the Coastal Bend area. It carries Catholic talk and preaching programming from Wisconsin-based Relevant Radio on its HD2 digital subchannel.[13]
^ abGoodwin, Tela (June 9, 1984). "Diocese to begin broadcasts". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 16A. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"New TV station". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. February 7, 1991. p. People 2. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^George, Ron (January 30, 1997). "New firm buys KDF and KAJA". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. A1, A12. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
