KVRE 92.9 FM
Village Radio Entertainment
When Tom and Polly Nichols signed KVRE 92.9 FM on the air in February 1994, little could they have envisioned the changes that would come with the reputation and longevity of owning and operating the only radio station licensed to Hot Springs Village.
“When we first began, Tom was still operating a station in Glenwood,” said Polly Nichols. “So, I stayed at the station in the Village during the week and Tom visited me on the weekends. We were that devoted to making KVRE a success.”
In 1997, the Glenwood station was sold and all efforts were turned to KVRE, serving Central and West Central Arkansas with 25,000 watts.
KVRE now plays Adult Standard Radio.
“We know that our listening audience has changed and we changed, too,” Tom Nichols said. “The key has been to keep the uniqueness with programs like ‘Ask Your Neighbor’ and ‘The Scotty and Polly Show’ yet create a new and fresh morning show with Tracy Simpson. Listeners requested the return to Big Band and music from the Greatest Generation, thus ‘40s at 4’ hosted by John Chapman was created.
“A family owned and operated radio station can do that — react and respond to what listeners and advertisers want,” continued Nichols.
Daughter Alice Bates is very active in the radio station serving as assistant manager. Bates was instrumental in the addition of internet radio with live streaming at KVRE.com in 2016.
“Live streaming was a big step for us. Now we get calls from Palm Springs, California to Jersey City and Fort Lauderdale — all over the map,” said Bates. “It’s exciting to get a request from across the country. Our audience has expanded greatly. And now you can listen from your smartphone either by finding us at iTunes or downloading the new KVRE app.”
KVRE has earned and maintained the reputation of the first “go-to” source for up-to-date and accurate news, weather, area road conditions and closures. Oaklawn Racing & Gaming continues to be a listener favorite with “The Morning Line with Tracy Simpson” and “The Back Stretch Show” with Tom Nichols and Terry Wallace. Community Calendar announcements and Take-5 interviews lend a local flavor that only a locally family owned operation can offer. Mark Oliver and Tracy Simpson broadcast Fountain Lake Football. And the “Name That Sponsor Game” continues in popularity, giving away more than $10,000 to date.
“We are thrilled to still be here, going strong, serving the community where we live and expanding our audience,” said Polly Nichols. “We may be family owned and operated, but we consider our listeners to be family, too. From song requests to missing pet announcements to local election returns; we take pride in this station.”
Some advertisers have been with KVRE a long time and new services and businesses have joined those who reap the success of measurable return with a market of loyal consumers who tune in to KVRE.
“Polly, Alice, and I thank those advertisers who help us continue to run this business,” said Tom Nichols. Those with advertising inquiries may call 501-922-5678.
Visit http://www.kvre.com for programming information, the latest in news, programming and the Business Quick List. Whether in the car, sitting on the deck, in the boat on the water, or just sipping your morning coffee, set your dial on 92.9 FM KVRE. Since 1994, family owned and operated, still going strong!