In 2010, the translator signed on carrying
KDWB-FM's HD2 sub-channel, which aired a
dance music format known as "The Party Zone." In 2013, this would be dropped for a relay of the
Air 1 network, which was carried on
KTCZ-HD2 at the time. The relay would move to W225AP (92.9 FM) and K249ED (97.7 FM). On June 5, 2015, at 3 p.m., after stunting for an hour with songs with the word "hot" in the name, KTCZ-HD3/K273BH launched with a classic hip hop format, branded as "Hot 102.5". The format would shift to urban on February 12, 2018, while retaining the "Hot" branding. On August 7, 2019, iHeartMedia subsequently announced its intent to acquire the station outright, citing EMF's discomforts of allowing an urban contemporary format on stations the organization owns. This acquisition was part of a complex swap deal, which would see EMF buying
K244FE. The deal was consummated on March 31, 2020. Hot 102.5's primary competition was from
Go 95.3, then KZGO. That station's format change occurred on January 5, 2016. KZGO was sold to EMF, and then back to its original owner, Christian Heritage Broadcasting, Inc. It's calls returned as
KNOF. Hot 102.5's competition is
KMOJ, which is owned by the non-profit Center for Communication and Development, and has been on the air since 1976. KMOJ's transmitter is located in
Arden Hills, allowing it larger coverage over the Twin Cities metro. ==References==