KRUZ (FM)

Last updated
KRUZ
KRUZ1033.png
Broadcast areaSanta Barbara-Oxnard-Ventura
Santa Maria-Lompoc-San Luis Obispo
Frequency 103.3 MHz
BrandingKRUZ 103.3
Programming
Format Classic hits
Ownership
Owner
KBBY-FM, KHAY, KVYB
History
First air date
April 18, 1961;62 years ago (1961-04-18) (as KMUZ)
Former call signs
KMUZ (1961–1972)
KRUZ (1972–2005)
KMGQ (2005)
KKSB (2005)
KVYB (2005–2019)
Call sign meaning
A play on the term "cruise" [1]
Technical information
Facility ID 8853
Class B
ERP 105,000 watts
HAAT 905 meters (2,969 ft)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Listen Live via iHeartRadio
Website kruz1033.com

KRUZ (103.3 MHz, "KRUZ 103.3") is a commercial FM radio station that is licensed to Santa Barbara, California and broadcasts a classic hits radio format throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and has its studios in Ventura.

Contents

KRUZ has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 105,000 watts. Its transmitter is atop Broadcast Peak north of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Mountains at a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 905 meters (2,969 ft). These factors give KRUZ one of the largest coverage areas of any FM station in the United States. [2] KRUZ broadcasts in analog only, not airing a digital HD Radio. [3] However, on February 16, 2021, the station began to carry RDS information.

History

KMUZ (1961–1971)

The station first signed on April 18, 1961 as KMUZ with a beautiful music format. It was originally owned by William H. Buckley, doing business as Tri-Counties Communications Inc. [4]

KRUZ First Generation (1972–2005)

On June 18, 1970, Tri-Counties Communications sold KMUZ to The Schuele Organization Inc. for $106,500. Carl Schuele, principal of the latter group, previously was owner and president of Broadcast Time Sales, a radio station consulting firm. [5] The new owner changed the call letters to KRUZ two years later. [6] The Schuele Organization owned KRUZ for nearly a quarter century, selling it in October 1995 to Pacific Coast Communications Inc. for $3 million. [7] The easy listening format gradually transitioned to adult contemporary (AC), and the station adopted a hot AC format full-time in 1996.

In December 1999, Pacific Coast Communications sold KRUZ to Cumulus Media for $10 million. This transaction, combined with a concurrent purchase of McDonald Media Group's eight stations, marked Cumulus' debut on the West Coast. [8]

KVYB (2005–2019)

In March 2005, Cumulus Media shuffled the formats of the stations within its Santa Barbara cluster. KRUZ's hot AC format moved to 97.5 FM, a frequency then occupied by smooth jazz station KMGQ, with the KRUZ call letters soon to follow. This paved the way for the launch of KVYB (103.3 The Vibe), the Santa Barbara market's first Hispanic-targeted rhythmic contemporary outlet. [9] KVYB also marked the return of top 40 radio to the area after KIST-FM flipped to modern rock in 2003.

Initially, KVYB's musical direction had featured Hispanic rhythmic artists as well as bilingual on-air personalities. The Vibe's first slogan "Hip Hop Y Mas" reflected the station's multicultural flavor. [9] Among the DJs hired to launch KVYB are Jaime "Rico" Rangel and Daniel "Mambo" Herrejon, two Latino men who hosted the morning show at rhythmic contemporary competitor KCAQ (Q104.7) in Ventura. While at KCAQ, the duo took the station to number one in the Arbitron ratings in the Oxnard—Ventura market. [10] They left in 2005 and brought The Rico and Mambo Show to KYVB, with Herrejon doubling as the new station's first programming director. [9] [10]

In 2008, 103.3 The Vibe adjusted its format to a conventional rhythmic top 40 presentation. Rangel and Herrejon were dismissed June 13; [11] they returned to KCAQ the following year.

KRUZ (2019–present)

On June 28, 2019, KVYB changed its call letters back to KRUZ in preparation for a format flip. The following day, KRUZ began stunting with clips of 1980s events, movies, video games, and songs. Teasing the return of the KRUZ call letters, the montage announced that a new format would surface July 1 at 8 a.m., using snippets of such songs as "Cruisin'" by Smokey Robinson, "1985" by Bowling for Soup, and "California Love" by 2Pac. The Vibe moved to 106.3 FM, replacing the classic hip hop format on that frequency and adjusting its own presentation from rhythmic contemporary to mainstream top 40. [12] [13] [14] On July 1, 2019 at 8 a.m., KRUZ ended stunting and launched a classic hits format as "KRUZ 103.3", with the first song played being "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins. [15]

Signal coverage

KRUZ's signal blankets the Coastal California counties of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo. It can also be heard in parts of Los Angeles and Kern counties, as far north as San Lucas, and occasionally as far south as San Diego County. This is due to the station's 105,000-watt signal and 905-meter (2,969 ft) antenna (HAAT). [16] This configuration was grandfathered in when the Federal Communications Commission established limits on effective radiated power in 1962. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCAQ</span> Radio station in Camarillo–Ventura, California

KCAQ is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Camarillo, California and serves the Ventura County area. The station is owned by Gold Coast Broadcasting and airs a rhythmic contemporary music format. KCAQ was simulcast on AM sister station KKZZ in Port Hueneme until August 2019.

KCHZ, is a conservative talk radio station licensed to Ottawa, Kansas and serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. The Cumulus Media, Inc. outlet operates with an ERP of 98 kW. Its studios are located in Overland Park, Kansas, and its transmitter is located near Linwood, Kansas. KCHZ serves as an FM simulcast of KCMO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSZR</span> Radio station in Oro Valley, Arizona

KSZR is a radio station serving Tucson, Arizona, United States. It is licensed to broadcast from Oro Valley, Arizona,, but its reception is generally above average in most areas of Tucson. It is owned by Cumulus Media. Its studios are located north of downtown Tucson, and the transmitter is in Marana, Arizona.

WKHL is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to serve Palmyra, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by Educational Media Foundation and is an affiliate of K-LOVE, EMF's contemporary Christian music network.

KLSB is a non-commercial radio station that is licensed to Goleta, California and serves the Santa Barbara and Oxnard—Ventura areas. The station is owned by Educational Media Foundation and airs the contemporary Christian music format of its nationally syndicated K-Love network.

KLVP is a non-profit radio station licensed to Aloha, Oregon, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. The station is owned, and the broadcast license held, by the Educational Media Foundation. It airs the national contemporary Christian radio format known as "K-Love."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTYD</span> Radio station in Santa Barbara, California

KTYD is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Santa Barbara, California and serves Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The station is owned by Rincon Broadcasting and airs a classic rock format. KTYD is the flagship station of the nationally syndicated program Dennis Mitchell's Breakfast with the Beatles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVYB</span> Californian radio station

KVYB is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Oak View, California, United States, and serves the Oxnard—Ventura, California area. Owned by Cumulus Media, the station airs a contemporary hit radio (CHR) format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVEN (Ventura, California)</span> Radio station

KVEN was a radio station licensed to Ventura, California. Operating from 1948 to 2021, KVEN last carried sports radio programming from the national CBS Sports Radio network, with no locally-originated programming. It was owned by Cumulus Media and broadcast with a power of 1,000 watts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFYV</span> Radio station in Ojai–Ventura, California

KFYV is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Ojai, California and serves the Oxnard—Ventura radio market. The station is owned by Gold Coast Broadcasting and airs a top 40 (CHR) format. The KFYV studio is located in Ventura and the transmitter is situated among several other radio and television towers off Red Mountain Fire Road in Ventura. KFYV uses two booster stations to strengthen its signal: KFYV-FM1 in Oak View and KFYV-FM2 in Ventura, both on the 105.5 FM frequency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOCP</span> Radio station in Oxnard, California

KOCP is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Oxnard, California and broadcasts to the Oxnard–Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara areas. The station is owned by Gold Coast Broadcasting and airs a rhythmic oldies music format. KOCP is partially simulcast on sister station KQIE in Redlands, California, also at 104.7 FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBBY-FM</span> Radio station in Ventura, California

KBBY-FM is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Ventura, California and serves the Oxnard–Ventura, California area. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts an adult contemporary music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSPE</span> Radio station in Ellwood, California

KSPE is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Ellwood, California, a district of Goleta in Santa Barbara County. It is owned by Rincon Broadcasting and broadcasts a classic regional Mexican music format. The KSPE studios and offices are on East Cota Street in Santa Barbara and the transmitter is located on West Camino Cielo in the Los Padres National Forest. While the station's effective radiated power is only 810 watts, the tower is 2,949 feet (899 m) in height above average terrain, making KSPE a Class B FM station covering the Santa Barbara radio market and parts of Oxnard—Ventura.

KVTA is a commercial radio station licensed to Ventura, California, and serves Ventura County and southern Santa Barbara County. The station is owned by Gold Coast Broadcasting and airs a talk radio format.

KIIS was a commercial radio station licensed to Thousand Oaks, California, United States. It operated from 1971 to 2004. At the time of its sign-off, KIIS was owned by Salem Media Group and broadcast a top 40 music format as a simulcast of KIIS-FM in Los Angeles.

Classic hip hop is a music radio format focusing primarily on hip hop music from the 1980s, 1990s, and the early to mid-2000s.

KRTO is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Santa Maria, California, United States and broadcasts to the Central Coast of California from Paso Robles to the Santa Ynez Valley. KRTO's studios are located in Santa Maria and its transmitter is near Point Sal just outside of Guadalupe. The station is owned by Emerald Wave Media and airs a bilingual English—Spanish rhythmic format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRAJ</span> Radio station in Johannesburg, California, United States

KRAJ is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Johannesburg, California, United States and serves the Antelope Valley area. The station is owned by Adelman Broadcasting and airs a rhythmic contemporary music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQIE</span> Radio station in Redlands, California

KQIE is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Redlands, California and serves the Inland Empire area. The station is owned by LC Media and airs a rhythmic oldies music format. KQIE's studios are located in San Bernardino and the transmitter tower is in Yucaipa. The station is partially simulcast on sister station KOCP in Oxnard, California, also at 104.7 FM.

References

  1. ↑ "Call Letter Origins". Radio History on the Web. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Superpower" Grandfathered FMs, W9WI, Sept. 9, 1998
  3. ↑ "Station Search Details". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Federal Communications Commission. November 23, 1999. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-1962. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1961. p. B-25. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  5. ↑ "For The Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. June 29, 1970. p. 88. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  6. ↑ "For The Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. July 5, 1971. p. 74. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  7. ↑ "No Fish Story: Dodge's ARS Lands A $70 Million Marlin" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 27, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Cumulus Hits The West Coast" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 31, 1999. p. 6. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "Street Talk" (PDF). Radio & Records. April 15, 2005. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Mclain, Jim (October 23, 2009). "Rico and Mambo back on air at Q1047" . Ventura County Star. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  11. ↑ Hernandez, Raul (June 17, 2008). "Radio station KVYB changes its format, drops Rico, Mambo" . Ventura County Star. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ "KVYB (103.3 The Vibe)/Oxnard-Ventura And Santa Barbara Flips To Classic Hits KRUZ 103.3". All Access. All Access Music Group. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Classic Hits 'KRUZ 103.3' Pulls Into Santa Barbara". Inside Radio. Atlanta. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  14. ↑ Venta, Lance (June 30, 2019). "KVYB Moves To 106.3 (Without Bothering To Tell Anyone); KRUZ Prepares For Rebirth". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  15. ↑ Venta, Lance (July 1, 2019). "KRUZ 103.3 Debuts With Classic Hits". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Grandfathered Super-power FM Stations". The Boston Radio Archives. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  17. ↑ 47 CFR 73.211

34°31′30″N119°57′36″W / 34.525°N 119.960°W / 34.525; -119.960

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.