KESP

KESP (970 AM) is an all-sports radio station in Modesto, California, United States. The station serves Modesto, Stockton, Lodi, and surrounding communities of the northern San Joaquin Valley. It is currently owned by Cumulus Media.[1] Its studios are in Stockton, and its transmitter is located in Modesto.

KESP
CityModesto, California
Broadcast areaModesto, California
BrandingSportsradio 970
Frequency970 kHz
First air dateNovember 1, 1951 (as KBOX)
FormatSports
Power1,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
ClassB
Facility ID11233
Transmitter coordinates37°41′23″N 120°57′12″W
Call sign meaningK ESPN (former affiliation)
Former call signsKBOX (1951–1956)
KBEE (1956–1983)
KHYV (1983–1988)
KOOK (1988–1992)
KBEE (1992–1996)
KBUL (1996–1998)
KANM (1998–2000)
AffiliationsCBS Sports Radio
Modesto Nuts Minor League Baseball
Pacific Tigers College Basketball
OwnerCumulus Media
(Radio License Holding Cbc, LLC)
Sister stationsKATM-FM, KDJK/KHKK, KHOP, KJOY, KWIN/KWNN
Websitesportsradio970.com

KESP is the flagship station of the Modesto Nuts of the California League (baseball), and the flagship station of Pacific Tigers college basketball team. It is also a member of the Oakland Athletics, San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Sharks, Golden State Warriors, and California Golden Bears radio networks. Most of its daily programming, as the call letters imply, comes from ESPN Radio, until January 2, 2013, when KESP switched to CBS Sports Radio.

KESP gained its current call sign, and format, in the early 2000s. Other call signs used since it came on the air in 1951 were: KBOX (1951–1956), KBEE (1956–1983), KHYV (1983–1988), KOOK (1988–1992(?)/1996(?)),[2] KBUL (1996–1998), and KANM (1998–2000).[2]

The station was owned by the McClatchy family, which also owned McClatchy Newspapers, publisher of the Modesto Bee. (The McClatchy Company has since sold the station to Citadel Broadcasting, which merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[3])

In a sports-related note, Kevin McClatchy, a member of the publishing family, owned the Pittsburgh Pirates until the team was sold to Robert Nutting in 2007.

Previous Logos
  • Logo of ESPN Radio 970 used until 2008
  • KESP's logo used from 2002–2012

References
  1. "KESP Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  2. Modesto Radio Museum (retrieved 2009-05-13). Note, however, that the FCC Call Sign History Database (retrieved 2009-05-13) indicates that the station was KBEE in 1992–1996.
  3. "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
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