KKBZ

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KKBZ
Broadcast area Fresno, California
Frequency 105.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingCaliente 105.1
Programming
Format Hispanic rhythmic
Affiliations United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner
KLBN, KSEQ, KHIT-FM, KGST
History
First air date
July 12, 1992 (as KSLK)
Former call signs
KXDR (1990–1992, CP)
KSLK (1992–1994)
KGST-FM (1994–1995)
KLBN (1995–2008)
Call sign meaning
"Blaze" (previous branding)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 38455
Class B1
ERP 4,700 watts
HAAT 234 meters (768 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
36°56′54.8″N119°29′12.5″W / 36.948556°N 119.486806°W / 36.948556; -119.486806
Links
Public license information
Website caliente1051.com

KKBZ (105.1 FM, "Caliente 105.1") is an American radio station broadcasting a Hispanic rhythmic format. Licensed to Auberry, California, the station serves the greater Fresno/Clovis area. The station is currently owned by Lotus Communications. [2] Its studios are located just north of downtown Fresno.

Contents

History

The station was assigned call sign KXDR on July 12, 1990. On March 27, 1992, the station changed its call sign to KSLK, on October 7, 1994, to KGST-FM, on August 1, 1995, to KLBN, and on May 5, 2008, to the current KKBZ. At that time, the station picked up what would be its most prominent format, active rock as "105.1 The Blaze". The station made headlines when they fired their very popular morning show "Jen Lipp in the Morning," hosted by largely popular morning rock DJ Jennifer Lipp and co-hosted by a new-to-the business Kris DeVold. The station got major backlash from social media as well as local press. They then cycled through a syndicated morning show out of Sacramento only to eventually return to an all-music morning.

On May 3, 2023 KKBZ rebranded as "Rock 105.1". [3]

On March 1, 2025 at Midnight, after signing off the rock format with "Sad But True" by Metallica, KKBZ flipped to a hybrid Spanish/English language rhythmic contemporary format as "Caliente 105.1". The first song on "Caliente" was "Baile Inolvidable" by Bad Bunny. [4]

Previous Programming

The previous weekday lineup included music in the mornings followed by a 105-minute commercial-free music block. The mid-day shift allows listeners to make requests and win concert tickets, prizes, and food. Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe airs overnight. Weekends included Dee Snider with a 2-hour show called House Of Hair which features hair and metal bands from the 1980s. In 2016, the station was made an affiliate for the Los Angeles Rams.

Previous logos

KKBZ-FM 105.1 The Blaze logo.jpg 105.1 The Blaze.jpg

References

  1. '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000003-QINU`"' "Facility Technical Data for KKBZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "KKBZ Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. KKBZ Extinguishes Its Blaze But Continues to Rock Radioinight - May 3, 2023
  4. Fresno's Blaze Turns Caliente Radioinsight - March 2, 2025