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KRZR

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(Redirected from KEZL)
For the cellular phone, see Motorola KRZR. For the airport with the ICAO code KRZR, see Cleveland Regional Jetport. For the FM radio station known as KRZR from 1989 to 2010, see KFBT.
KRZR
Repeater of KALZ, Fowler
Broadcast areaTulare County, California
Frequency1400 kHz (HD Radio)
BrandingPowerTalk 96.7
Programming
FormatTalk (KALZ simulcast)
NetworkFox News Radio
AffiliationsFresno State Bulldogs
Premiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
KALZ, KBOS-FM, KCBL, KFBT, KFSO-FM, KHGE, KRDU, KSOF
History
First air date
December 5, 1946; 77 years ago (1946-12-05) (as KKIN)
Former call signs
KKIN (1948–1951)
KONG (1952–1984)
KNDE (1984–1985)
KVIS (1985–1988)
KODS (9/15/1988–9/22/1988)
KHTZ (1988–1990)
KEYX (1990–1994)
KTHX (1994–1999)
KVBL (1999–2006)
KEZL (2006–2010)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID2096
ClassC
Power1,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
36°21′14″N 119°17′02″W / 36.35389°N 119.28389°W / 36.35389; -119.28389
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitepowertalk967.iheart.com

KRZR (1400 AM) is an American radio station broadcasting a talk radio format, simulcasting KALZ 96.7 FM Fowler, California. Licensed to Visalia, California, United States. The station is currently owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.

The station was founded in 1946 as KKIN and was locally owned until 1957. For much of its early history, the station had multiple call signs and different music formats, such as MOR, country, and oldies. The station has been owned by iHeartMedia and its predecessor companies since being purchased by Chancellor Broadcasting in 1998.

Beginning in 1999, the station simulcast co-owned stations from Fresno. From 1999 to 2006, the station had call sign KVBL and simulcast sports station KCBL; KVBL changed to KEZL in 2006 and continued the KCBL simulcast, then took on its current call sign KRZR in 2010. KRZR's format changed from sports to talk as a simulcast of KALZ.

KRZR broadcasts conservative talk shows, Fox News Radio, and Fresno State Bulldogs sports.

History

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As KKIN (1946–1951)

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The first construction permit to broadcast on frequency 1400 kHz from Visalia was issued by the FCC on March 27, 1946 for radio station KKIN.[2] KKIN was founded by KKIN Inc., whose owner was local car dealer D.O. Kinnie.[3][2][4] On June 6, 1947, the FCC granted a broadcasting license for KKIN to broadcast with 250 watts of power.[2] The Visalia Times-Delta reported in late November 1946 that KKIN would begin broadcasting December 3 that year, quoting station manager Stanley S. Simpson: "...KKIN is coming into the radio field with local features and will be the first music and news station in the central San Joaquin valley."[5] But on December 4, the Times-Delta reported a further delay due to bad weather slowing air mail delivery of the FCC's approval documents to Visalia.[6]

Eventually, KKIN first signed on at 6 p.m. on December 5, 1946; it would broadcast at 250 watts of power between 6 a.m. to midnight daily.[3] KKIN broadcast news from the United Press.[4] Also among KKIN's early programming was a daily hour at 6 a.m. of Spanish music and news provided by Radio Programas de México.[7]

In February 1947, KKIN broadcast a local concert by Tex Ritter.[8]

For Public Schools Week, students from Visalia Senior High School were guest writers and announcers on April 23, 1951; the station manager praised their performances, saying that the day went by "without a hitch".[9]

In November 1951, KKIN Inc. sold KKIN for $37,500 to the Tulare County Broadcasting Company; the sale was finalized December 31.[2][10]

As KONG (1952–1984)

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Beginning January 1, 1952, KKIN changed its call sign to KONG.[2]

In 1955, KONG was transferred to The Voice of Fresno, the company that owned KYNO in Fresno, in a five-year rental contract at $5,000 annually with an option to buy the station for $10,000 after the fifth year.[11]

On June 1, 1957, Air Waves Inc. closed a $35,000 purchase of KONG; Air Waves Inc. was owned by Harry C. Layman of Phoenix, Arizona.[2][12] Air Waves started a KONG-FM station on 92.9 MHz in 1961.[13] By 1965, KONG increased its daytime power to 1 kW while reducing to 250 watts at night; KONG also broadcast 10 hours of Spanish programs per week.[13][2]

KONG joined the ABC Information Network around 1973; the 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook also listed KONG's format as MOR.[14]

Air Waves Inc. sold the KONG AM and FM stations to 2588 Newport Corporation for $600,000 plus a $100,000 non-compete clause in 1978.[15]

In 1980, KONG changed its national network affiliation from ABC to CBS.[16]

Various callsigns (1984–1999)

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KONG changed its call sign to KNDE in 1984.[17]

In April 1985, Americom II purchased KNDE and KNTN-FM for $1.3 million.[18] The call sign changed from KNDE to KVIS in June 1985, and Americom also changed the longtime format of MOR to country music.[19][20] KVIS had another format change, from country to oldies in 1987.[21]

The callsigns continued to have multiple changes throughout the 1980s and 1990s, to KODS for one week in September 1988; KHTZ beginning September 25, 1988; KEYX from January 12, 1990; and KTHX from August 17, 1994.[22][23][24] In 1998, Chancellor Broadcasting purchased KTHX.[25]

Sports format as KVBL and KEZL (1999–2010)

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On January 15, 1999, the station became KVBL, a simulcast of sports station KCBL in Fresno.[26]

In August 2001, KCBL/KVBL signed with the USC Football Radio Network to broadcast USC Trojans football in Fresno/Visalia.[27] KCBL/KVBL did not return to the USC network after the 2001 season.[28]

Due to low ratings, specifically a 0.5 share in the first quarter of 2002, KCBL/KVBL switched its national network affiliation from Sporting News Radio to Fox Sports Radio in September 2002.[29] Another program change in 2002 was the addition of Sacramento Kings basketball; KCBL/KVBL remained with the Kings until the 2006–07 season.[30][31]

In 2005, KCBL/KVBL rejoined the USC Trojans Radio Network.[32]

Beginning in January 2006, KVBL became KEZL.[22] KEZL retained its simulcast of KCBL; the pair of stations was with the Oakland Raiders Radio Network from 2006 to 2009.[33][34] After the 2006 season, KCBL/KEZL lost the USC rights to KFPT.[35]

Talk format as KRZR (2010–present)

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KEZL became KRZR beginning October 2010.[22] KRZR continued to simulcast KCBL until January 1, 2013, when KRZR changed to a conservative talk format simulcast with KALZ in Fowler.[36]

In February 2022, KALZ/KRZR signed a contract with the Bulldog Sports Network to broadcast Fresno State Bulldogs football, men's basketball, and baseball games, in addition to the network's existing contract with KCBL.[37]

Programming

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The weekday schedule on KALZ/KRZR has conservative talk shows, with local shows during the 3 to 7 p.m. afternoon drive hours and nationally syndicated programs during other hours including The Glenn Beck Program, The Sean Hannity Show, and Coast to Coast AM.[38] KALZ/KRZR also carries Fresno State Bulldogs sports live on the Bulldog Sports Network along with sister station KCBL.[39][40]

Technical information

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KRZR's transmitter tower is located in northern Visalia.[22] Its studios are located in northern Fresno near State Route 41 and Shaw Avenue.[41]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KRZR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Broadcasting Station License Record: KKIN et al". FCC. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Station KKIN Plans To Start Broadcasting This Evening; Local Programs Stressed". Visalia Times-Delta. Vol. 38, no. 81. December 5, 1946. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via UC Riverside.
  4. ^ a b 1948 Yearbook Number (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. 1948. p. 96. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  5. ^ "New Radio Station Will Open Tuesday". Visalia Times-Delta. Vol. 38, no. 76. November 29, 1946. p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via UC Riverside Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research.
  6. ^ "Opening Of KKIN Delayed Few Days". Visalia Times-Delta. Vol. 38, no. 80. December 4, 1946. p. 4. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via UC Riverside.
  7. ^ Visalia Times-Delta, Dec. 6, 1946, p. 9.
  8. ^ Advertisement on front page of Visalia Times-Delta on February 20, 1947.
  9. ^ "School operation" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 40, no. 19. May 7, 1951. p. 77. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  10. ^ "FCC actions" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 41, no. 20. November 12, 1951. p. 103. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ "Ownership Changes" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. Vol. 49, no. 13. September 26, 1955. p. 116. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ "KONG Visalia Sold for $35,000" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. April 1, 1957. p. 9. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ a b 1965 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. 1965. p. B-23. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ 1973 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. p. B-30. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ "For the record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 95, no. 6. August 7, 1978. p. 67. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1980 (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. p. C-32. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ "Call letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 106, no. 16. April 16, 1984. p. 102. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  18. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 108, no. 4. January 28, 1985. p. 95. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  19. ^ "Call Letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 108, no. 24. June 17, 1985. p. 79. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  20. ^ Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook 1986 (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. p. B-42. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  21. ^ Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook 1987 (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. 1987. p. B-44. Retrieved April 22, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  22. ^ a b c d "KRZR". FCC Data. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  23. ^ "Call letter changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. Vol. 11, no. 34. August 24, 1994. p. 5. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  24. ^ "Call letter changes" (PDF). The M Street Journal. Vol. 15, no. 14. April 8, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  25. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. p. D-67. Retrieved April 23, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  26. ^ "Format Changes & Updates" (PDF). The M Street Journal. January 1999. Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  27. ^ "Stations Announced For USC Football Radio Network". University of Southern California. August 22, 2001. Archived from the original on January 8, 2002. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  28. ^ "USC Football To Air On KMPC Radio, Five Other Local Stations, Plus In Spanish". University of Southern California. August 28, 2002. Archived from the original on September 3, 2002. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  29. ^ Bentley, Rick (September 19, 2002). "Radio stations drop Papa Joe and sports network". The Fresno Bee. p. E3. Archived from the original on November 27, 2002. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  30. ^ "Sacramento Kings TV & Radio Networks". Sacramento Kings. Archived from the original on February 15, 2003. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  31. ^ "Sacramento Kings TV & Radio Networks". Sacramento Kings. Archived from the original on October 10, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  32. ^ "KMPC 1540". University of Southern California. August 24, 2005. Archived from the original on December 18, 2005. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  33. ^ "Radio Network". Oakland Raiders. Archived from the original on September 27, 2006. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  34. ^ "Raiders Radio Network". Oakland Raiders. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  35. ^ "No. 1 USC football opens 2007 season at home against former foe Idaho" (PDF). University of Southern California. August 27, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  36. ^ Bentley, Rick (December 16, 2012). "Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck are back in Valley". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  37. ^ "BSN, iHeartMedia expanding in 2022". California State University, Fresno. February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  38. ^ "On-Air Schedule (Monday)". PowerTalk 96.7/1400. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  39. ^ "2023 Ultimate Broadcast Guide". Fresno State Bulldogs. August 15, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  40. ^ "Fresno State Baseball 2024 Broadcast Guide". Fresno State Bulldogs. January 26, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  41. ^ "Contact". PowerTalk 96.7/1400. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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