XHLNC-FM

XHLNC-FM

Tecate, Baja California
Broadcast area	Tijuana/San Diego
Frequency	104.9 MHz
Branding	"XLNC1 104.9 FM"
Programming
Format	Classical music
Ownership
Owner	XLNC1 (license and transmitter owned by a Mexican company)
History
First air date	1998 as an Internet radio station February 14, 2000 on 90.7 MHz February 10, 2008 on 104.9 MHz
Call sign meaning	Excellency (the letters, XLNC, when spoken in English, sound like the word excellency).
Technical information
Class	C1
ERP	7,500 watts
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	hitsforever.org

XHLNC-FM (identified on-air as XLNC1) is a non-commercial radio station in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico, broadcasting on 104.9 MHz. It broadcasts in English and Spanish serving the Tijuana and San Diego, California, United States areas with studios in Chula Vista, California. The station was founded by Victor Diaz. Upon his death in 2004, Diaz stipulated that the station continue with a classical format.

Background

XLNC1 began as an internet radio project showcasing classical music. Station founder Victor Diaz eventually evolved it into its own regular radio station, although it is still broadcast over the Internet via its own webpage. As a Mexican-licensed station, and in an effort to serve both the Spanish and English speaking communities, nearly all the pieces it plays are introduced in Spanish, and at the conclusion of the piece the information is given in English.

There are many in-house productions showcasing classical music, many of these shows are hosted by announcer Kingsley McLaren. Aside from McLaren, other voices such as Sue Harland, Gabriela Guinea-Johnston (chief Spanish announcer), and Gordon Brown can be heard as announcers.

Controversy

The station was licensed for a Class A 1,000-watt signal, but due to the directional signal that it transmits to the north, Los Angeles's KPFK interfered with XLNC1 (on the same frequency). The frequency was assigned by the Mexican government according to the terms of a treaty between the US and Mexico concerning radio stations near the Border. However, there are reports that XHLNC-FM actually violates the treaty in several ways. In July 2007, XHLNC-FM announced that it had applied for a frequency change from 90.7 FM to 104.9 FM to improve its signal coverage and avoid controversy regarding the interference with KPFK.

Frequency Change

In July 2007, [1], XLNC1 announced that they would move up the dial to 104.9 FM. This would bring less interference to the station, allowed the station to boost its power from 1,000 watts to 7,500 watts. "The tower will also be raised from 600 to 4,200 feet above sea level, the highest point in Baja."

The frequency change finally occurred on February 10, 2008, although when this happened, nothing was airing on 90.7, except for a pre-recorded message by Gordon Brown stating that XLNC1 had moved to 104.9 FM. Because 104.9 had a noticeably narrower coverage area than 90.7 FM, many of their listeners lost their ability to listen to XLNC1's programs. About two weeks after the frequency change XLNC1's e-mail newsletter reported that there was a faulty component in the transmitter that would take some time to replace. On February 26, XLNC1 decided to simulcast programming on both 90.7 and 104.9 frequencies. [2] By fall of that year, XLNC1 had their 90.7 frequency taken back by the Mexican government and they were broadcasting only on 104.9 FM. Another station, unaffiliated with XLNC, has since begun broadcasting for the San Diego - Tijuana region on 90.7.

Format Change

As of July 2010, XLNC1 decided to remove the label "Classical Music" from its advertising and replace it with more generic terms such as "Great Music", "Beautiful Music", and "Music for all generations." The decision was also made to remove lengthy repertoire and opera from general programming in favor of lighter classical and crossover works. This was explained as a method to reach out to younger listeners. The station continues to broadcast lengthier works in the evenings with programs entitled "Gala Concerts"

Previous Logo

File:XLNC1 907.png (XHLNC's logo under previous 90.7 frequency)

External links

• XLNC1
• Transmitter pictures of XHLNC FM, by broadcast engineer Donald Mussell