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{{Infobox Radio Station |
{{Infobox Radio Station |
image = [[File:91X logo (low res).jpg|150px]]|
image = [[File:91X logo (low res).jpg|150px]]|
name = XETRA-FM |
name = XHTRA-FM |
city = [[Tijuana, Baja California]] |
city = [[Tijuana, Baja California]] |
area = [[San Diego-Tijuana]]|
area = [[San Diego-Tijuana]]|
Line 18: Line 18:
website = [http://www.91x.com/ '''"91X"''']|
website = [http://www.91x.com/ '''"91X"''']|
}}
}}
'''XETRA-FM''' ('''91.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]''') — branded '''91X''', and sometimes identified as '''XTRA-FM''' — is an English language, Mexican-owned ([[border blaster]]) [[modern rock]] music [[radio station|station]] broadcasting from [[Tijuana, Baja California]] on 91.1 MHz. The studios are located in the [[Mira Mesa]] area of [[San Diego]]. The station is one of three outlets that are programmed by [[Local Media of America]], who took over the operations of XETRA-FM from [[Broadcast Company of the Americas]] in 2010.
'''XHTRA-FM''' ('''91.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]''') — branded '''91X''', and sometimes identified as '''XTRA-FM''' — is an English language, Mexican-owned ([[border blaster]]) [[modern rock]] music [[radio station|station]] broadcasting from [[Tijuana, Baja California]] on 91.1 MHz. The studios are located in the [[Mira Mesa]] area of [[San Diego]]. The station is one of three outlets that are programmed by [[Local Media of America]], who took over the operations of XETRA-FM from [[Broadcast Company of the Americas]] in 2010.


== History ==
== History ==
91X was formed in 1978 and signed on with an [[Album-oriented rock|AOR]] format. 91X's broadcast studios were located at the 91X transmitter site on Mount San Antonio in Tijuana. Initially, programming was recorded at the San Diego Studios in the [[Harcourt (publisher)|Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich]] building downtown and driven to the transmitter site several times a day. That proved to be uncompetitive. [http://www.jimlamarca.com/press/insideradio.pdf]. Disc jockeys then commuted from San Diego to Tijuana each shift. 91X was notorious for having DJs with no personality; they would simply announce the previous song, and the next song. On January 11, 1983, at 6 PM, 91X followed in the footsteps of [[KROQ-FM]] in [[Los Angeles]] and switched formats to "rock of the 80s" ([[modern rock]]). 91X played "[[Stairway to Heaven]]" ([[Led Zeppelin]]) as the final song of the AOR format. Immediately afterward, then-Executive Vice President and General Manager [[John Lynch (radio)|John Lynch]] made the announcement of the format change and disc jockey Todd Ralston went right into "[[Sex (I'm A...)]]" by [[Berlin (band)|Berlin]]. Former 91X on-air personality Jim LaMarca recounts the transition:
91X was formed in 1978 and signed on with an [[Album-oriented rock|AOR]] format. 91X's broadcast studios were located at the 91X transmitter site on Mount San Antonio in Tijuana. Initially, programming was recorded at the San Diego Studios in the [[Harcourt (publisher)|Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich]] building downtown and driven to the transmitter site several times a day. That proved to be uncompetitive. [http://www.jimlamarca.com/press/insideradio.pdf]. Disc jockeys then commuted from San Diego to Tijuana each shift. 91X was notorious for having DJs with no personality; they would simply announce the previous song, and the next song. On January 11, 1983, at 6 PM, 91X followed in the footsteps of [[KROQ-FM]] in [[Los Angeles]] and switched formats to "rock of the 80s" ([[modern rock]]). 91X played "[[Stairway to Heaven]]" ([[Led Zeppelin]]) as the final song of the AOR format. Immediately afterward, then-Executive Vice President and General Manager [[John Lynch (radio)|John Lynch]] made the announcement of the format change and disc jockey Todd Ralston went right into "[[Sex (I'm A...)]]" by [[Berlin (band)|Berlin]]. Former 91X on-air personality Jim LaMarca recounts the transition:


:"The day 91X (XETRA-FM) went Rock of the 80s, almost no one knew it was coming so there was no speculation. An air staff meeting was called for 3 pm. These really straight liner-card jocks were sitting around the conference room when in walks wild [[Rick Carroll]] with a cardboard box. He dumps it on the table and says, 'I'm Rick from Los Angeles and this is your new format.' The first song was played at 6 pm by Todd Tolkoff who was given the name Mad Max. He said, 'This is 91X Rock of the 80s and this is "Sex" from Berlin.' Everyone at the station (remember, he is now in Mexico 30 minutes away) thought this song was too weird. It seemed slow and goofy, but hey this was all new to us. It also took forever. Well no wonder, he was playing a long-play version so the LP should have been playing at 45 rpm. Since we had never heard the song no one knew. This happened a lot."<ref>http://www.440int.com/favesx.html</ref>
:"The day 91X (then known as XETRA-FM) went Rock of the 80s, almost no one knew it was coming so there was no speculation. An air staff meeting was called for 3 pm. These really straight liner-card jocks were sitting around the conference room when in walks wild [[Rick Carroll]] with a cardboard box. He dumps it on the table and says, 'I'm Rick from Los Angeles and this is your new format.' The first song was played at 6 pm by Todd Tolkoff who was given the name Mad Max. He said, 'This is 91X Rock of the 80s and this is "Sex" from Berlin.' Everyone at the station (remember, he is now in Mexico 30 minutes away) thought this song was too weird. It seemed slow and goofy, but hey this was all new to us. It also took forever. Well no wonder, he was playing a long-play version so the LP should have been playing at 45 rpm. Since we had never heard the song no one knew. This happened a lot."<ref>http://www.440int.com/favesx.html</ref>


During the 1980s and 1990s, 91X was one of the top-rated and most influential alternative stations in America.<ref>http://www.tangentsunset.com/radiosandiego.htm</ref>
During the 1980s and 1990s, 91X was one of the top-rated and most influential alternative stations in America.<ref>http://www.tangentsunset.com/radiosandiego.htm</ref>
Line 35: Line 35:


In December 2009, Finest City, faced with massive debt and foreclosure, put the entire cluster up for sale. On January 7, 2010, Broadcasting Corporation of the Americas, whose owner John Lynch (father of football player [[John Lynch (American football)|John Lynch]]) was also XETRA's VP/GM in its early days, emerged as the buyer in a foreclosure sale. John Lynch, operating under the name Noble Broadcast Consultants, also owned and operated XETRA-AM (now [[XEWW-AM]]), which shared staff and facilities with 91X. Clear Channel formerly owned the U.S. programming and sales rights to that station as well, and spun those rights off to a different operator.
In December 2009, Finest City, faced with massive debt and foreclosure, put the entire cluster up for sale. On January 7, 2010, Broadcasting Corporation of the Americas, whose owner John Lynch (father of football player [[John Lynch (American football)|John Lynch]]) was also XETRA's VP/GM in its early days, emerged as the buyer in a foreclosure sale. John Lynch, operating under the name Noble Broadcast Consultants, also owned and operated XETRA-AM (now [[XEWW-AM]]), which shared staff and facilities with 91X. Clear Channel formerly owned the U.S. programming and sales rights to that station as well, and spun those rights off to a different operator.

With former sister station, XETRA-AM changing call letters to XEWW, XETRA-FM has changed to XHTRA. Mexico stations on FM start with XH; and Mexico AM stations are XE. Only exception is combo stations.


==Programming==
==Programming==

Revision as of 20:03, 6 February 2015

XHTRA-FM
Broadcast areaSan Diego-Tijuana
Frequency91.1 (MHz)
Branding"91X"
Programming
FormatModern Rock
Ownership
XHITZ, XHRM
History
First air date
1978
Call sign meaning
E(X)TRA
Technical information
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT146 meters
Links
WebcastFlash Player, PLS
Website"91X"

XHTRA-FM (91.1 FM) — branded 91X, and sometimes identified as XTRA-FM — is an English language, Mexican-owned (border blaster) modern rock music station broadcasting from Tijuana, Baja California on 91.1 MHz. The studios are located in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego. The station is one of three outlets that are programmed by Local Media of America, who took over the operations of XETRA-FM from Broadcast Company of the Americas in 2010.

History

91X was formed in 1978 and signed on with an AOR format. 91X's broadcast studios were located at the 91X transmitter site on Mount San Antonio in Tijuana. Initially, programming was recorded at the San Diego Studios in the Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich building downtown and driven to the transmitter site several times a day. That proved to be uncompetitive. [1]. Disc jockeys then commuted from San Diego to Tijuana each shift. 91X was notorious for having DJs with no personality; they would simply announce the previous song, and the next song. On January 11, 1983, at 6 PM, 91X followed in the footsteps of KROQ-FM in Los Angeles and switched formats to "rock of the 80s" (modern rock). 91X played "Stairway to Heaven" (Led Zeppelin) as the final song of the AOR format. Immediately afterward, then-Executive Vice President and General Manager John Lynch made the announcement of the format change and disc jockey Todd Ralston went right into "Sex (I'm A...)" by Berlin. Former 91X on-air personality Jim LaMarca recounts the transition:

"The day 91X (then known as XETRA-FM) went Rock of the 80s, almost no one knew it was coming so there was no speculation. An air staff meeting was called for 3 pm. These really straight liner-card jocks were sitting around the conference room when in walks wild Rick Carroll with a cardboard box. He dumps it on the table and says, 'I'm Rick from Los Angeles and this is your new format.' The first song was played at 6 pm by Todd Tolkoff who was given the name Mad Max. He said, 'This is 91X Rock of the 80s and this is "Sex" from Berlin.' Everyone at the station (remember, he is now in Mexico 30 minutes away) thought this song was too weird. It seemed slow and goofy, but hey this was all new to us. It also took forever. Well no wonder, he was playing a long-play version so the LP should have been playing at 45 rpm. Since we had never heard the song no one knew. This happened a lot."[1]

During the 1980s and 1990s, 91X was one of the top-rated and most influential alternative stations in America.[2]

U.S. marketing and operating rights

In 1996, the U.S. marketing and operating rights to 91X were acquired by Jacor Communications. Jacor was acquired by Clear Channel Communications in 1999.

On December 1, 2005, Clear Channel Communications was forced to spin off the U.S. rights to program and sell advertising time on XETRA-FM, XHITZ-FM (90.3) and XHRM-FM (92.5). This was an effort to satisfy existing consolidation laws. Stations based in Tijuana, Baja California and operated by U.S. broadcasters are now considered as part of the San Diego radio market for ownership limit purposes. The Mexico-based stations put Clear Channel over the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) limit of eight local broadcast outlets in San Diego. [2] Clear Channel operates seven stations in the San Diego market.

Finest City Broadcasting, a new company under the direction of former Clear Channel/San Diego VP/Market Manager Mike Glickenhaus, took over operations of the three stations. Glickenhaus left FCB in May 2007.

In December 2009, Finest City, faced with massive debt and foreclosure, put the entire cluster up for sale. On January 7, 2010, Broadcasting Corporation of the Americas, whose owner John Lynch (father of football player John Lynch) was also XETRA's VP/GM in its early days, emerged as the buyer in a foreclosure sale. John Lynch, operating under the name Noble Broadcast Consultants, also owned and operated XETRA-AM (now XEWW-AM), which shared staff and facilities with 91X. Clear Channel formerly owned the U.S. programming and sales rights to that station as well, and spun those rights off to a different operator.

With former sister station, XETRA-AM changing call letters to XEWW, XETRA-FM has changed to XHTRA. Mexico stations on FM start with XH; and Mexico AM stations are XE. Only exception is combo stations.

Programming

When Howard Stern was on terrestrial radio, 91X was his original San Diego affiliate.

On December 27, 2007, Chris Cantore was let go from the alternative rocker after a decade of service.

On April 1, 2008 "The 91X Morning Show" debuted after a month-long marketing campaign that centered around the question "who is Mat Diablo?". On May 7, 2010, the 91X Morning Show was canceled after 91X was purchased in a foreclosure sale.[3]

"Music In The Morning" was hosted by Oz Medina, who previously worked as 91X's Music Director and Afternoon Host from 1987-1993. Then one day he was gone, replaced by Matt Stone, no explanation given. Robin "What's Up?" Roth says she isn't privy to what happened to him.

91X's Music Director is Christy Taylor, who handles middays on-air.

Up until January 2012, 91X carried the syndicated Loveline weeknights.

Until 2008, 91X aired Reggae Makossa, a program featuring reggae and roots music that now airs on Fusion Radio 102.5. The program was originally hosted by Makeda Dread and Demaja Le. Demaja Le left in 1998 to program Jazz 88.3. Makeda Dread still hosts the show. Despite the move, 91X still plays occasional reggae music, most notably daily around 4:20 pm to honor 420.

Under the rules and regulations of the Secretary of Communication and Transportation of Mexico, 91X (and other Mexico-licensed stations) concludes its broadcast week with public affairs and other mandatory programming in the Spanish language Sunday evenings beginning at 10 p.m. Pacific time.

Notable staff


References

  1. ^ http://www.440int.com/favesx.html
  2. ^ http://www.tangentsunset.com/radiosandiego.htm
  3. ^ "Local Media of America acquires Finest City Broadcasting in Foreclosure Sale". Retrieved 22 May 2011.


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