KNZR (AM)
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Facility ID | 7715 |
Class | A |
Power |
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Public license information | |
Website | www |
KNZR (1560
KNZR broadcasts with 25,000 watts of power by day and 10,000 watts at night from its
in New York City.Programming
The station's schedule features (formerly on AM, still on FM) 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 schedule is
On weekends, syndicated shows include
History
W6XAI
On December 19, 1933, the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) authorized three new frequencies, between 1500 and 1600 kHz, for high-fidelity operation. (At the time, the AM broadcast band ended at 1500 kHz.) These new 20 kHz-wide channels were twice as wide as the standard AM broadcasting channels. Six applications were submitted to the FRC, including one for 1550 kHz in Bakersfield from the Pioneer Mercantile Company.[5]
The Pioneer application was one of the four approved in April,[6] and the station went on the air under the experimental call sign W6XAI. Although licensed as an experimental station, it was authorized to conduct commercial operations. The initial authoruzation was for a power of 1,000 watts, and this was the second station on the air in Bakersfield, after KERN.
KPMC
In 1934, the Federal Radio Commission was replaced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In November 1936, the FCC allowed the high-fidelity stations to adopt conventional call letters, and the call sign was changed to KPMC, named after the Pioneer Mercantile Company. When the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement came into effect on March 29, 1941, the high-fidelity stations were converted to standard AM stations and relocated, with KPMC reassigned to 1560 kHz.
KPMC was an
KNZR
In the 1980s, KPMC eliminated its music programming and went full-time as a
In January 1990, Buckley Broadcasting bought KPMC for $1 million.[9]
Changes in Ownership
Buckley Broadcasting acquired
Buckley switched the call sign to KNZR on September 21, 1990. An FM simulcast on KNZR-FM began in November 2011.
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 3p.m. 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.
Spanish-language era
KNZR (AM) switched to a Spanish-language conservative talk format on June 29, 2023. Much of its programming came from Americano Media in Miami, Florida, which airs the format on WAXY.[16] The Spanish-language format was short-lived. It returned to English on September 12, 2023.[17]
References
- ^ a b "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KNZR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "KNZR-AM 1560 kHz - Bakersfield, CA". radio-locator.com.
- ^ "Shows". KNZR 97.7 FM.
- ^ "Six 1500–1600 Kc. Applicants Heard by Commission en Banc", Broadcasting, April 15, 1934, page 14 & page 40.
- ^ "Four Get Permits On New Channels, Broadcasting, May 1, 1934, page 13.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 78
- ^ "Broadcasting Yearbook 1960 page A-115" (PDF).
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1991 page B-28
- ^ "Radio Industry News, Radio Show Prep, Radio Promotions, Radio Station Data, Podcast News". RADIO ONLINE.
- ^ "Facebook ablaze over racist comment by local talk radio host", Bakersfield Californian, January 19, 2018
- ^ "The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas". statisticalatlas.com.
- ^ "Sean Hannity Is Back In Bakersfield", KNZR.com, January 24, 2018
- Bakersfield Californian, January 24, 2018
- ^ "Jaz McKay set to return to radio following racist video", 23ABC News, December 19, 2018
- ^ "KNZR to Flip to Spanish Conservative Talk - RadioInsight". June 27, 2023.
- ^ "re: KNZR". International Radio Club of America Groups.io. September 26, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
External links
- KNZR in the FCC AM station database
- KNZR in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for KNZR (covering 1934-1980 as W6XAI/KPMC)