KZEP-FM
 | |
| City | San Antonio, Texas |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | San Antonio, Texas |
| Branding | 104.5 Latino Hits |
| Slogan | San Antonio's Latino Hits Station |
| Frequency | 104.5 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| Translator(s) | 93.3 K227BH (San Antonio, relays HD3) |
| First air date |
104.5: October 1, 1966 as KITE (April 19, 2017 as "104.5 Latino Hits") 93.3: March 16, 2015 |
| Format |
104.5: Spanish CHR HD2: Classic rock "K-Zep" HD3/93.3: Classic country (KRPT simulcast) |
| Language(s) |
104.5: Spanish and English HD2/HD3: English |
| ERP |
104.5: 100,000 watts 93.3: 250 watts |
| HAAT |
104.5: 202 m (663 ft) 93.3: 177.4 m (582 ft) |
| Class |
104.5: C1 93.3: D |
| Facility ID |
104.5: 65329 93.3: 155989 |
| Callsign meaning | K Led ZEPpelin (former main, current HD2 format) |
| Former callsigns |
KITE-FM (1966-1971) KEXL (1971-1978) KITE (1978-1983) KXZL (1983-1986) |
| Owner |
iHeartMedia, Inc. (Citicasters Licenses, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | KXXM, KAJA, KQXT-FM, KRPT, KTKR, WOAI |
| Webcast |
Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) |
| Website |
1045latinohits.iheart.com kzep.iheart.com (HD2) |
KZEP-FM (104.5 FM) is a Spanish CHR radio station broadcasting in and around San Antonio, Texas, United States. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., formerly known as Clear Channel Communications until September 2014. Its studios are located on Interstate 10 in Northwest San Antonio near Wonderland of the Americas Mall, and the transmitter site is atop Tower of the Americas downtown.
History
Early Days
KZEP signed on as KITE-FM on 104.5 MHz with a "beautiful music" format in 1966. Toward the end of the 1960s, KITE-FM began experimenting with a multi-formatted station, i.e., beautiful music during the day and album rock after 11 PM. The underground rock segment was known as "Now Sounds." The Album Underground Rock format began after the classical music segment. Disc jockey Alan Grimm broadcast a different length show every night, sometimes until 6 AM. Underground rock artists included: It's A Beautiful Day, Bubble Puppy, The 13th Floor Elevators, Procol Harum, Ten Years After, Jefferson Airplane, Savoy Brown, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Love, Pink Floyd, Josefus, etc. KITE-FM evolved into a full-time rocker as KEXL in the 1970s.
K-ZEP 104(.5)
In 1986, the station dropped the KXEL call letters for KZEP-FM, and continued to broadcast classic rock at 104.5 FM for the next 28 years. KZEP's call letters are a reflection of the music that 104.5 was known for during the majority of its life, as Led Zeppelin was one of the station's core artists during its entirety of airing rock music. KZEP faced competition from several stations over its lifetime, including KISS, and KMFR, KTKX. Despite being one of as many as 4 different rock oriented stations in San Antonio, KZEP maintained a strong presence in the ratings, leading to a nearly 3 decade tenure as "San Antonio's Classic Rock Station".
K-ZEP Gets "Hot"; Rock Moves to 93.3
On August 8, 2014, at Noon, KZEP's classic rock format moved to broadcast at FM translator 93.3 K227BH and 104.5 KZEP's HD2 channel, as KZEP-FM's main signal flipped to a classic-leaning Rhythmic CHR format known as "Hot 104.5."[1][2] Clear Channel refers to the classic rock station as KZEP-HD and on-air promotions still use the name KZEP.[3]
The flip had been expected to give rival Rhythmic KBBT a serious competitor, as they have dominated the San Antonio Nielsen Audio ratings since its 2000 sign on, which has seen the last four Rhythmic competitors who have tried to take KBBT out within the past decade come and go.[4][5]
On June 24, 2015, translator 93.3 K227BH switched to a simulcast of KZEP's HD3 subchannel (a simulcast of classic country-formatted KRPT ("K-Buc Country"), ending KZEP's nearly 30-year run with classic rock over the air in San Antonio.[6]
Latino Hits
On April 19, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., KZEP changed their format to Spanish CHR, branded as "104.5 Latino Hits".[7] The final song on "Hot" was "What Goes Around...Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake, while the first song on "Latino Hits" was "Chantaje" by Shakira.
KZEP-HD2 programming
KZEP-HD2 currently airs the classic rock format formerly broadcast on both 93.3 and the main signal of KZEP before that. The KZEP-HD2 classic rock format also continues to broadcast online at the website.
KZEP plays two songs back to back from the same artist every Tuesday calling it "Two for Tuesday". KZEP also airs a classic disc at midnight, playing an album's worth of music from the same artist. The album usually ties in with an event that occurred on said day (for instance, a Rolling Stones album on Mick Jagger's birthday). Weeknights, the station airs the Sixx Sense rock radio show. On Sunday mornings it airs the nationally syndicated show Flashback.
Former KZEP-HD2 jocks
- Laura Steele
- Craig "Crash" Chambers
- Nikki Sixx (as part of Sixx Sense)
- Steve Coffman
Former calls/formats
- KZEP 2014-2017 Rhythmic Contemporary
- KZEP 1986-2014 Classic Rock
- KXZL 1983-1986 Rock
- KITE 1978-1983 Album Rock
- KEXL 1969-1978 Album Rock
- KITE-FM 1966-1969 Beautiful Music/Classical Music/Underground Album Rock
Previous logo
References
- ↑ "KZEP Moves & Hot 104.5 Launches In San Antonio". Radio Insight. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ↑ "Clear Channel Launches Hot 104.5/San Antonio, KZEP Moves to 93.3 Translator". All Access. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ↑ Jakle, Jeannie (8 August 2014). "John Lisle gone! KZEP moved; Hot 104.5 launched - Jakle's Jacuzzi". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ↑ "KZEP Moves & Hot 104.5 Launches In San Antonio". Radio Insight. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ↑ "Clear Channel Launches Hot 104.5/San Antonio, KZEP Moves to 93.3 Translator". All Access. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ↑ 93.3 KZEP Returns to K-Buc Simulcast
- ↑ Two Spanish CHRs Launch Within Minutes of One Another in San Antonio