KISV

Last updated

KISV
Broadcast area Bakersfield metropolitan area
Frequency 94.1 MHz
BrandingHot 94.1
Programming
Format Rhythmic Top 40
Ownership
Owner American General Media
KEBT, KERN, KGEO, KGFM, KKXX-FM
History
First air date
1948;77 years ago (1948) (as KERN-FM)
Former call signs
KERN-FM (1948–1970)
KLYD-FM (1970-6/4/82)
KQXR (6/4/82-8/9/89)
KERN-FM (8/9/89-10/1/97) [1]
Call sign meaning
The KISs of the Valley (Original moniker was "KISS 94.1" until 2002, when it lost the rights to use the "KISS" name in a court case)
Technical information
Facility ID 18060
Class B
ERP 4,500 watts
HAAT 406 meters (1,332 ft)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website hot941.com

KISV (94.1 FM, "Hot 94.1") is a commercial radio station in Bakersfield, California. It airs a Rhythmic Top 40 radio format and is owned by American General Media. Its studios are in the Easton Business Complex in southwest Bakersfield.

Contents

KISV is a Class B FM station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 4,500 watts. The transmitter is off Breckenridge Road, amid the towers for several other Bakersfield FM and TV stations, east of the city. [2]

History

KERN-FM

The station signed on the air in 1948;77 years ago. [3] Its call sign was KERN-FM, the sister station to KERN 1410 AM (now KERI). KERN-AM-FM were CBS Radio Network affiliates and were owned by the McClatchy Company, which published several California newspapers and owned other radio stations.

The station was well known in the 1980s as KQXR or Q94 FM. At that time it had a Top 40 format that leaned towards adult contemporary. After rhythmic KKXX 105.3FM beat it in the ratings, KQXR changed direction.

In 1989, the call letters returned to KERN-FM and it aired an oldies format as "94 Oldies." For the next eight years, the station played hits from the years 1955-1974. It featured nationally syndicated shows such as Cruisin' America with Cousin Brucie and Dick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember . The oldies format performed fairly well in the Arbitron ratings. But in 1997, management decided on a younger format.

Rhythmic Contemporary KISV

The station was relaunched with a rhythmic contemporary sound in 1997. It switched its call sign to KISV, representing the word "Kiss" and adding a V for "Valley," as in the Central Valley of California, where Bakersfield is located. The station's slogan became "The All New KISS 94.1, The Rhythm Of The Valley." That put it back in a battle with 96.5 KKXX. (That station would respond by switching signals and relaunching as an R&B/Hip-Hop outlet.)

In 2001, Clear Channel Communications (today's iHeartMedia) bought KKXX. The company sent a "cease and desist" order to KISV. Clear Channel demanded KISV stop using the trademarked "KISS" moniker because the company want to use that slogan for KKXX, which by then was called simply "X96.5". During the court proceedings, KISV 94.1 dropped "Kiss" from its name in compliance. It began calling itself simply "94.1" for the duration of the fight against Clear Channel.

A federal judge agreed and in February 2002 Clear Channel won the case. With the loss, KISV was forced to change its moniker. Shortly thereafter, KISV held a contest to let the listeners decide what the new name of the station would be. The result of this contest was the station's new listener-chosen moniker: "HOT 94.1." Despite having to give up its long-time name, KISV continued to beat KKXX "96.5 KISS-FM" in the ratings. KKXX ended its run as a rhythmic contemporary station in 2004.

A month later, KISV picked up competition from 103.9 KBDS, which decided to join KISV as a rhythmic contemporary station. On November 14, 2008 KISV became the only rhythmic outlet in the market after KBDS went dark due to financial problems caused by the economic recession. It is now a hip hop music station.

KISV continues to be Bakersfield's only rhythmic contemporary station. But it does compete with two mainstream Top 40 outlets, 95.3 KLLY, owned by Alpha Media, and 93.1 KKXX-FM, owned by American General Media. While KISV is a full-power Class B FM station, KLLY and KKXX-FM have limited coverage areas.

Programming

Weekdays on KISV begin with Romeo on mornings. His show features Hollywood Trash. Program director J. Reed is on middays. His show features the 12 O' Clock Movie Match. In afternoon drive time, Randy is heard. His show features the 5 O'Clock Traffic Jam with D.J. Wreck in the Mix. Bootleg Kev in heard evenings, with show producer Nico Blitz.

References

  1. ↑ "Call Sign History".
  2. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KISV
  3. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 78. Retrieved Feb. 7, 2025.

35°26′17″N118°44′24″W / 35.438°N 118.740°W / 35.438; -118.740

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