KBBY-FM

KBBY-FM
City Ventura, California
Broadcast area Oxnard-Ventura, California
Branding 95-1 KBBY
Slogan "Today's Hits & Yesterday's Favorites"
Frequency 95.1 MHz
First air date December 27, 1962 (as KUDU-FM)
Format Adult Contemporary
ERP 12,500 watts
HAAT 267 metres (876 feet)
Class B
Facility ID 7745
Callsign meaning K-BaBY (previous progressive rock format)[1]
Former callsigns KUDU-FM (1962-1973)
KBBY (1973-1993)
Owner Cumulus Media
(Cumulus Licensing LLC)
Sister stations KHAY, KRUZ, KVEN, KVYB
Webcast Listen Live
Listen Live via iHeartRadio
Website 951kbby.com

KBBY-FM (95.1 MHz, "95-1 KBBY") is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Ventura, California, broadcasting to the Oxnard-Ventura, California area. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and airs an adult contemporary music format.

History

Early years

The station first signed on December 27, 1962 as KUDU-FM, simulcasting AM sister station KUDU.[2] Owned by Tri-Counties Public Service Inc., it was the first automated top 40 station in Southern California.

In 1969, KUDU-FM switched its call letters to KBBY[3] and changed to a progressive rock format. Branded "K-Baby", it was put on the air by John Hendrix and KACY-FM veteran Ron Herron. Within one year, KBBY had the largest share among rock stations in the Ventura-Santa Barbara-Oxnard radio market. K-Baby lasted only four years as the station reverted to top 40 programming in 1973.

Over the next two decades, KBBY underwent several format and ownership changes. In late 1978, Tri-Counties Public Service sold KBBY and KBBQ to Forrest Broadcasting Co. for $1.2 million;[4] the new owner flipped KBBY to a country music format. In July 1986, Forrest Radio sold KBBY and its AM sister station, then known as KOGO, to New York City-based ownership group Ventura Broadcasting Associates for $3 million.[5] The station then adopted an adult contemporary format. That group would in turn sell the combo three years later to Buena Ventura Inc., headed by George Duncan, for $6.7 million.[6]

The station's call sign became KBBY-FM on September 17, 1993 to accommodate its AM counterpart adopting the KBBY calls.[7]

In December 1996, Buena Ventura Inc. sold KBBY-FM to McDonald Media Group for $6.6 million, bringing it under common ownership with fellow Ventura-based stations KVEN and KHAY.[8]

Cumulus era (1999-present)

KBBY-FM once again changed hands in December 1999 as part of Cumulus Media's purchase of McDonald Media Group. The $41 million, eight-station transaction marked Cumulus' entry into the Pacific states.[9] Upon completion of the sale, Cumulus immediately flipped KBBY-FM's format to hot adult contemporary, rebranding the station "B95.1".

In April 2015, KBBY-FM reverted to its previous adult contemporary format and adopted the branding "95-1 KBBY".[10]

Programming

Dave Randall hosts the midday timeslot Monday through Saturday. A veteran of Southern California radio, he has previously worked with KNX in Los Angeles, Ventura County’s KCAQ in the early 1990s (when it was known as "Q105"), and most recently, KRTH (K-Earth 101), also in Los Angeles.[11] Bill Michaels is the weekday afternoon drivetime host.

Syndicated programming on KBBY-FM includes Intelligence for Your Life hosted by John Tesh weeknights, and both the 1980s and 1990s editions of Backtrax USA on Saturday evenings.

Holiday music

KBBY-FM plays holiday music from late November through Christmas Day. In the mid-2010s, the station employed a round-the-clock holiday format. As of 2016, this 24/7 format was discontinued in favor of adding Christmas songs to the station’s regular playlist for the season.

References

  1. ↑ "Call Letter Origins". Radio History on the Web. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1964. p. B-23. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Existing FM stations: Call letter actions" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 18, 1969. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. December 4, 1978. p. 28. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Hoker Lands WCRJ, WLLT For $12 Million" (PDF). Radio and Records. July 25, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Ragan Henry Gambles $13 Million In Atlantic City" (PDF). Radio and Records. September 15, 1989. p. 15. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Call Sign History: KBBY-FM". U.S. Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Entravision Eyes El Paso Pair" (PDF). Radio and Records. December 13, 1996. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Cumulus Hits the West Coast" (PDF). Radio and Records. December 31, 1999. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  10. ↑ Venta, Lance (April 20, 2015). "KBBY Flips To AC". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ "KBBY/Oxnard-Ventura Adds Radio Vet Dave Randall To Staff". AllAccess.com. All Access Music Group. October 6, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2017.

Coordinates: 34°06′47″N 119°03′36″W / 34.113°N 119.060°W / 34.113; -119.060

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