2005
While the year saw several notable stories in the D/FW radio landscape, without question the biggest story of the year was the debut of the latest full-market signal to enter the Hispanic radio fray. After only 15 months as "Sunny 97.1", the adult contemporary format was jettisoned in favor of a gold-based regional Mexican format. "La Preciosa" debuted on August 25 and the impact was immediate. Just one look at the Fall ratings report tells the story: Hispanic stalwarts KLNO and KESS both saw serious audience erosion (KLNO so much so that it fell out of the top 10), and the new KEGL made history with the highest debut ever seen in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. Its 2nd place finish with a 5.1 share eclipsed a record set almost three decades before, when in the Spring 1977 survey, KFJZ-FM "Z-97" earned a 4.6 in its first ratings period as a top 40 station. Coincidentally, both of these debuts occured on the same frequency: 97.1 FM.
The Fall of 2005 also saw the end of an era, as a fresh coat of paint was applied to the legendary 103.7 frequency. While the official call letters were left alone, as of the day after Christmas the station was no longer referenced on the air by those four legendary letters (with the exception of a quick top-of-the-hour ID), instead it was known as "Lite 103.7". Ironically, one of the many challengers KVIL faced in its dominant years was a station known as "Lite 97.9". Twelve years after KVIL ran that station out of the format, it adopted that very same moniker!
Also of note: KKDA-FM's three-year streak of first place finishes was put to an end in the Spring book by "La Que Buena" KESS-FM. The 12-book run at number one for K104 is the second-longest streak in market history. KESS-FM's finish in first was also the first time a Hispanic-formatted radio station finished first in the overall ratings.
| 12+ Ratings for Winter 2005 | ||||
| Call Letters | Frequency | Format | Fa 2004 | Wi 2005 |
| KKDA-FM | 104.5 | Urban | 6.1 | 5.6 |
| KESS-FM | 107.9 | Regional Mexican | 4.1 | 4.6 |
| WBAP | 820 | News/Talk | 5.2 | 4.6 |
| KPLX | 99.5 | Country | 4.0 | 4.6 |
| KBFB | 97.9 | Urban | 4.1 | 4.4 |
| KHKS | 106.1 | CHR | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| KLNO | 94.1 | Regional Mexican | 3.6 | 4.1 |
| KLTY | 94.9 | Christian AC | 2.9 | 3.5 |
| KSCS | 96.3 | Country | 4.2 | 3.3 |
| KDGE | 102.1 | Alternative | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| 12+ Ratings for Spring 2005 | ||||
| Call Letters | Frequency | Format | Wi 2005 | Sp 2005 |
| KESS-FM | 107.9 | Regional Mexican | 4.6 | 5.7 |
| KKDA-FM | 104.5 | Urban | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| KPLX | 99.5 | Country | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| KHKS | 106.1 | CHR | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| KLNO | 94.1 | Regional Mexican | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| WBAP | 820 | News/Talk | 4.6 | 4.1 |
| KSCS | 96.3 | Country | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| KLUV | 98.7 | Oldies | 3.1 | 3.5 |
| KDGE | 102.1 | Alternative | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| KBFB | 97.9 | Urban | 4.4 | 3.3 |
| 12+ Ratings for Summer 2005 | ||||
| Call Letters | Frequency | Format | Sp 2005 | Su 2005 |
| KKDA-FM | 104.5 | Urban | 5.5 | 5.9 |
| KESS-FM | 107.9 | Regional Mexican | 5.7 | 4.5 |
| KHKS | 106.1 | CHR | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| KSCS | 96.3 | Country | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| WBAP | 820 | News/Talk | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| KLUV | 98.7 | Oldies | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| KPLX | 99.5 | Country | 4.6 | 3.8 |
| KLNO | 94.1 | Regional Mexican | 4.2 | 3.6 |
| KBFB | 97.9 | Urban | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| KLLI | 105.3 | Talk | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| 12+ Ratings for Fall 2005 | ||||
| Call Letters | Frequency | Format | Su 2005 | Fa 2005 |
| KKDA-FM | 104.5 | Urban | 5.9 | 6.0 |
| KEGL * | 97.1 | Reg.Mex. Oldies | 2.9 | 5.1 |
| KHKS | 106.1 | CHR | 4.1 | 4.5 |
| KPLX | 99.5 | Country | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| WBAP | 820 | News/Talk | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| KBFB | 97.9 | Urban | 3.3 | 4.1 |
| KLUV | 98.7 | Oldies | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| KESS-FM | 107.9 | Regional Mexican | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| KSCS | 96.3 | Country | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| KDGE | 102.1 | Alternative | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| KVIL | 103.7 | Adult Contemporary | 2.5 | 3.2 |
* was Soft AC "Sunny 97.1" until August 25
ｩ2006 Arbitron Inc.