KNZR-FM

Last updated
KNZR-FM
Broadcast area Bakersfield metropolitan area
Frequency 97.7 MHz
BrandingKNZR AM1560 & FM97.7
Programming
Format Conservative talk radio
Network Fox News Radio
Affiliations Premiere Networks
Salem Radio Network
Westwood One
Ownership
Owner
KKBB, KLLY, KNZR
History
First air date
March 3, 1978;46 years ago (March 3, 1978) (as KQEZ) [1]
Former call signs
KQEZ (1978–1979) [1]
KMGN (1979 [1] -1983)
KLYD-FM (1983–1988)
KKBB (1988–1994)
KZBA (1994–1996)
KRME (1996–2001)
KSMJ (2001–2013) [2]
Technical information [3]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 8109
Class A
ERP 4,100 watts
HAAT 121 meters (397 feet)
Transmitter coordinates
 35°27′33″N119°01′13″W / 35.45917°N 119.02028°W / 35.45917; -119.02028
Repeater(s) 1560 KNZR (Bakersfield)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website knzr.com

KNZR-FM (97.7 MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Shafter, California, and broadcasting to the Bakersfield radio market. KNZR-FM airs a conservative talk radio format. It is owned by Alpha Media, LLC, through licensee Alpha Media Licensee LLC. The studios and offices are on Pegasus Drive in Bakersfield. [4]

Contents

KNZR-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 4,100 watts. It is a Class A FM station, limited to the communities in and adjacent to Bakersfield. The transmitter is off Warehouse Road in Oildale. [5]

Programming

The schedule on KNZR-AM-FM features one local talk show heard in late mornings, hosted by Terry Maxwell, a former Bakersfield City Council member and restaurateur. The rest of the weekday line-up is nationally syndicated conservative talk shows: The Glenn Beck Program , The Sean Hannity Show , The Sebastian Gorka Show , The Mark Levin Show , The Ramsey Show with Dave Ramsey , Coast to Coast AM with George Noory and The Hugh Hewitt Show . [6]

On weekends, syndicated shows include At Home with Gary Sullivan , Bill Handel on the Law , Gun Talk with Tom Gresham , The Dennis Prager Show , Somewhere in Time with Art Bell and Rich DeMuro on Tech . Most hours begin with world and national news from Fox News Radio.

History

Early years

The station signed on the air on March 3, 1978;46 years ago. The original call sign was KQEZ. [7] The following year, it switched its call sign to KMGN, airing a country music format. The station was owned by Brandon-Dorsey Communications.

In 1986, Community Service Broadcasters took over as debtor in possession. [8] The call letters switched to KKBB and the station featured an album rock sound, using NBC Radio's "The Source" young adult network for news and features. In 1996, the station switched to a Regional Mexican format as KRME, when it was owned by Spanish-language broadcaster Eduardo Caballero.

The station was assigned the KSMJ call letters by the Federal Communications Commission on February 6, 2001. As its call sign implies, the station carried a smooth jazz format.

Changes in ownership

Buckley Broadcasting acquired KSMJ in 2001. Buckley decided to pair 97.7 FM with AM 1560, to give Bakersfield listeners the choice to hear the talk programming on KNZR on either AM or FM. KSMJ changed to its current KNZR-FM call sign on September 11, 2013. [9] The two stations began simulcasting around the clock.

In 2014, Buckley Broadcasting sold its California stations, including KNZR-AM-FM, to Alpha Media of Portland, Oregon. [10] Alpha Media Chairman Larry Wilson said, "The Buckley clusters in California will be a great addition to the West Coast footprint. Bakersfield is a rich and vibrant city full of live and local opportunities."

Racial controversy

On January 18, 2018, Midday host Jaz McKay was told that due to budgetary concerns he would be replaced the next week with Sean Hannity in the noon to 3pm slot which he had occupied for 14 years. McKay then took to social media and used derogatory language to describe Hispanic radio broadcasts in the area. McKay claimed the large number of Spanish language radio stations in Bakersfield made it increasingly difficult for English speaking announcers to find employment. [11] At 45.5%, Hispanics comprise the largest demographic group in Bakersfield. [12] On January 24, McKay’s time slot was indeed taken over by the syndicated radio show from Sean Hannity. [13] On the same day, it was also reported that McKay’s fellow conservative talk show host Inga Barks was, for unspecified reasons, no longer associated with the station. [14]

McKay was later hired for the 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. time slot on KERN 1180 AM & 96.1 FM, in December, 2018. [15] KERN 1180, KNZR's chief talk radio competitor, is owned by American General Media.

Former programming

Previous logos

Breeze (KSMJ) logo.jpg KSMJ Logo.png

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References

  1. 1 2 3 History Cards for KNZR-FM, fcc.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  2. ↑ Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KNZR-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ↑ KNZR.com/contact
  5. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KNZR-FM
  6. ↑ KNZR.com/shows
  7. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1980 page C-31
  8. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1989 page B-44
  9. ↑ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  10. ↑ RadioOnline.com "Alpha Media to Purchase Buckley California Outlets" Oct. 10, 2014
  11. ↑ “Facebook ablaze over racist comment by local talk radio host”, ‘’Bakersfield Californian’’, January 19, 2018
  12. ↑ Race and Ethnicity in Bakersfield at Statistical Atlas
  13. ↑ “Sean Hannity Is Back In Bakersfield”, KNZR.com, January 24, 2018
  14. ↑ "“Two conservative radio talk show hosts lose jobs at KNZR", Bakersfield Californian , January 24, 2018
  15. ↑ "Jaz McKay set to return to radio following racist video", 23ABC News, December 19, 2018
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