Ads for car dealers, mattress stores and all-you-can-eat buffets aren't what keeps 91.7 KOOP-FM going.

It's mostly contributions from listeners — and lots of them — that have allowed the community-focused radio station to remain on the air for almost 20 years.

KOOP hit its fall fundraising goal Sept. 9, collecting more than $70,000 from Central Texans, Executive Director Kim McCarson said.

"Financially, community support has more than doubled in recent years," she told me. "KOOP is nearly 90 percent community supported, which indicates that the station is a coveted treasure trove of rare and unique music and talk programs that aren't heard elsewhere."

McCarson and her team work hard to make those dollars stretch as far as possible. The hosts you hear, for instance, are unpaid volunteers. Together, they produce more than 80 unique shows. Volunteers also help manage KOOP.

The station is on the air from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends. At other times, catch programs at koop.org.

University of Texas-based KVRX-FM shares the 91.7 FM frequency with KOOP, producing shows you'll hear during the late night and early morning hours.

One of the coolest things about KOOP is that you never know what you'll get. (Unless, of course, you peeked at the online schedule.) The lineup is, to say the least, eclectic.

"KOOP's listenership is the epitome of diversity, even by Austin standards, with bluegrass, reggae, soft rock, punk rock, news/talk, soul and even polka represented," McCarson said. "For example, our Friday afternoon transition includes our news show ‘Rag Radio' followed by a black metal show, ‘Under the Eternal Night.'

"Hanging on to listeners from one show to the next is a unique challenge that other stations in our market don't have, yet our audience is on the rise as we increasingly receive positive comments from the community about our diversity."

New additions include "A Blues Groove," which can be heard online at 8 a.m. Fridays. The show, hosted by Ted Branson, looks at the "roots and history of all blues through recorded music, interviews and live in-studio performances," according to McCarson.

Another newcomer, "Dirty Coast Revue," features "Gulf Coast juke joint blues" and classic rhythm-and-blues tunes. It airs at 8 a.m. Wednesdays on koop.org.

The station's winter schedule, due out in early November, will feature even more new programming, McCarson promises.

LHN on Google Fiber

Good news for folks craving the Longhorn Network ... in Kansas City.

Google Fiber, the search giant's new Internet and cable TV service, has added LHN to its lineup.

Right now, the service will be available only in Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., with plans to eventually expand to a handful of nearby cities. If it takes off, expect a bigger rollout.

Austin was one of many cities across the nation that submitted proposals to Google, hoping to become Fiber's test market. That, obviously, didn't happen.

Channel surfing ...

J.B. and Sandy's Bikes for Kids Classic is just around the corner. It happens Oct. 3 at Barton Creek Country Club, 8212 Barton Club Drive. Tee time is 11:30 a.m. Funds raised will help buy bicycles and helmets for needy Central Texas children this holiday season. Get more details at mix947.com. ... Congrats to 90.5 KUT-FM reporter Matt Largey, who received the National Headliner Award for best radio reporter. ... A new show has joined the 590 KLBJ-AM lineup. "Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis" focuses on the paranormal. Catch it from 9 p.m. to midnight weekdays. ... Read my blog at austin360.com/tvblog or follow @gdinges on Twitter to get the latest updates on local radio and TV stations.

Contact Gary Dinges at gdinges@statesman.com or 912-5987