KCAL-FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | Riverside-San Bernardino, California |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.7 MHz |
| Branding | 96-7 KCAL Rocks |
| Programming | |
| Format | Active rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KOLA | |
| History | |
First air date | 1965 |
Call sign meaning | CALifornia |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 59272 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 1,750 watts |
| HAAT | 115 meters (377 ft) |
| Repeater(s) | 96.7 KCAL-FM1 (Twin Peaks, etc.) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Liveor Listen Live |
| Website | kcalfm.com |
KCAL-FM (96.7 FM) is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Redlands, California and broadcasts to the Inland Empire (Riverside-San Bernardino) area. The station is owned by Anaheim Broadcasting and airs an active rock format. The KCAL-FM studios are located in Redlands and the transmitter site is near Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains.
History
KCAL-FM first signed on in 1965[1] with a middle of the road (MOR) format. Originally owned by Southwest Broadcasting Company, it was the sister station of KCAL (1410 AM).
In 1969, KCAL-FM adopted a dayparted rock format, playing soft rock during daytime hours and harder album rock. This hybrid format, known as "The Rock Spectrum", was unique in the Inland Empire radio market. A prominent feature on KCAL-FM was a weekly program called Album Premiere, during which a newly released album was played Monday and Tuesday evenings — one side each evening. This eventually led to a switch to album-oriented rock (AOR) full-time in 1978.
In October 1986, Southwest Broadcasting sold KCAL-FM to San Bernardino Broadcasting, headed by Tim Sullivan, for $4 million; KCAL (AM) remained with Southwest.[2] On January 1, 1987, control of the station passed to Anaheim Broadcasting, also led by Sullivan; that March, the new owner installed former KGGI program director Cliff Roberts in the same position at KCAL-FM.[3]
During the 1990s, KCAL-FM adjusted its AOR format to active rock, mixing newer hard rock songs with classic rock.
In the late 1990s, the station began hosting a listener appreciation party known as the "KCAL Kegger". Held in the station's parking lot in Redlands three times a year, each party features live rock bands, local vendors, refreshments, and a beer garden; the station donated proceeds from beer sales to local charities.[4] Each year's final Kegger includes a bikini pageant called "Miss KCAL".
In January 2018, longtime KCAL-FM on-air personalities Michael "Stu-Man" Stewart, Tiffany Angelo, and James "Jimbo" Smith — the morning drive hosts collectively known as "STJ" — were dismissed from the station due to budget cuts. Morning show producer Steven Kibo was also let go. Patrick Tish took over morning host duties.[5]
Transmission issues
On December 31, 2014, high winds in the San Bernardino Mountains toppled KCAL-FM's transmission tower, knocking the station off the air. The station resumed broadcasting two days later on the evening of January 2, 2015, attaching its transmission equipment to KFRG's tower temporarily.[6]
References
- ^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1968. p. B-22. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "Duncan Grabs Oppenheimer Group For $38 Million" (PDF). Radio and Records. October 17, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "Twin PD Changes In Riverside" (PDF). Radio and Records. March 20, 1987. p. 10. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ Waldner, Erin (May 15, 2013). "REDLANDS: KCAL radio station to throw kegger". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California: Southern California News Group. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ Larsen, Peter (January 10, 2018). "Jimbo talks about exit from KCAL 96.7 FM along with longtime fellow DJs Stu and Tiffany". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California: Southern California News Group. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ Rokos, Brian (January 2, 2015). "REDLANDS: KCAL-FM back on the air after storm knocks down tower". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California: Southern California News Group. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
External links
- Official website
- KCAL-FM listener club
- Facility details for Facility ID KCAL ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- Radio stations in California
- Active rock radio stations in the United States
- Mass media in the Inland Empire
- Redlands, California
- Mass media in Riverside, California
- Mass media in San Bernardino, California
- Mass media in Riverside County, California
- Mass media in San Bernardino County, California
- Radio stations established in 1965
- 1965 establishments in California