station's call letters changed to KTUF, and switched its format to country music, a field where Owens was a noted singer. In April 1969, KTUF's programming began to be simulcast on 102.5 KNIX-FM during daytime hours when KTUF was on the air, with KNIX-FM continuing the format at night. KNIX-FM had been purchased by Buck Owens the previous year. During the period the station was KTUF, the station was branded as "All American Radio" and "All American Country Radio". KNIX In 1973 the station's call sign was changed to KNIX, matching the call letters of its FM sister station. In 1980, KNIX began broadcasting 24 hours a day. From 1973 to 1985, the station aired a more traditional country sound, while sometimes simulcasting the FM station. In 1985, the station began a fulltime simulcast of KNIX-FM. KCWW On January 1, 1990, the station became an affiliate of Satellite Music Network's "Real Country" format and the call sign was changed to KCWW. While its full call sign was given during station identifications, the station's primary branding and over the air identification was "KCW" with the CW standing for "Country & Western." During this period, KCWW served as the flagship station of the "Real Country" network, which station owner Buck Owens was co-owner of at the time. In July 1998, longtime station owner Buck Owens sold the station to ABC/Disney for $8,850,000. KCWW continued to air the "Real Country" country music format until its sale, when it flipped to Radio Disney on July 27, 1998. Radio Disney era After the station's purchase by ABC/Disney, the station became an affiliate of the children's/contemporary hit radio network Radio Disney. On December 4, 1998, the call sign was changed to KMIK, with the MIK standing for the Disney cartoon character "Mickey Mouse." On August 13, 2014, Disney put KMIK and twenty-two other Radio Disney stations up for sale, in order to focus on digital distribution of the Radio Disney network. Radio Disney programming for the Phoenix media market has since moved to the KOOL-FM 94.5-HD3 digital subchannel. Gabrielle Broadcasting/CRC ownership On August 16, 2015, ABC agreed to sell KMIK to Gabrielle Broadcasting Licensee for $1.4 million. Gabrielle is owned by Jacob J. Barker, the general manager of KXEG 1280. Gabrielle Broadcasting planned to carry a "locally focused spoken word format". KMIK would also change its call letters to KHEP. Gabrielle consummated the purchase on October