KZER(1250AM,"Radio Lazer" ) is a commercialradio stationlocated inSanta Barbara, California.Owned by Lazer Broadcasting, the station airs aregional Mexicanmusic format.KZER is simulcast onFMtranslatorK293CK (106.5 FM) in Santa Barbara.
| Frequency | 1250kHz |
|---|---|
| Branding | Radio Lazer 106.5 FM y 1250 AM |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Spanish |
| Format | Regional Mexican |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | 1937 |
Former call signs | KTMS (1937–1998) KEYT (1998–2004) |
Former frequencies | 1220 kHz (1937–1941) |
Call signmeaning | KLaZER |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 3156 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 2,500wattsday 1,000 watts night |
| Translator(s) | 106.5 K293CK (Santa Barbara) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | Radio Lazer |
History
editKTMS
editThe station at the 1250kHzfrequency in Santa Barbara firstsigned onOctober 31, 1937 as KTMS, originally at 1220 kHz and powered at 500watts.[2]It was founded bySanta Barbara News-PresspublisherThomas More Storke(hence the stationcall sign). KTMS was anNBC Blue Networkaffiliate,carrying its schedule ofdramas,comedies,news, sports,game shows,soap operas,andbig bandbroadcasts during theGolden Age of Radio.Among the programs produced at the station was1-2-5 Club,which debuted in 1937 and was hosted bydisc jockeyBob Ruth for many years.
In 1941, KTMS moved to the 1250 AM frequency, where thecall letterswould stay for 57 years.[3]The move was coupled with a power increase to 1,000 watts. When the Blue Network becameABCin 1945, KTMS maintained its affiliation while also carrying shows from theMutual Broadcasting Systemand theDon Lee Network.On December 1, 1956, KTMS replacedKDBas the Santa Barbara affiliate of Don Lee.[4]
In March 1964, Storke sold News-Press Publishing to Robert McLean, owner of thePhiladelphia Bulletin,for an undisclosed amount; the radio station was valued at $350,000.[5][6]The new owner of KTMS acquiredKRCW(97.5 FM) the following year and changed its call sign to KTMS-FM.[7][8]At first the FM station mostlysimulcastprograms heard on 1250 AM but later became separately programmed with abeautiful musicformat. In 1985, KTMS-FM becametop 40outlet KHTY.[9]News-Press Publishing'scross-ownershipof KTMS-AM-FM predated theFederal Communications Commission's (FCC)1975 rulesprohibiting a person or entity from owning both a newspaper and a radio or television station in the same media market.[10]The company's mix of media outlets wasallowed to remain intact.
KTMS adopted amiddle of the road musicformat in the mid-1970s.[11]By 1983, the station became a full-timenews/talkoutlet.[12]
On July 12, 1985, News-Press Publishing sold KTMS and its FM counterpart, then known as KKOO-FM, to F&M Broadcasting for $2 million. This transaction marked the end of KTMS' common ownership with theNews-Pressafter nearly five decades.[13]
In January 1996, Engles Enterprises, Inc. purchased KTMS and KHTY for $2 million.[14]
KEYT
editIn September 1998, Engles sold KTMS for $1.6 million toSmith Broadcasting,owner of the local ABC television affiliateKEYT-TV(channel 3).[15]Smith immediately launched anall-newsformat on 1250 AM with new call letters KEYT to match those of its new TV sister. "KEYT 1250" featured news reports from theAssociated Pressand simulcasts of KEYT-TV newscasts. Meanwhile, the KTMS call sign and news/talk format moved to990 AM.
KZER
editKEYT 1250 was a financial drain on Smith Broadcasting from the beginning, losing $1 million over five years. In 2003, Smith sold the station to Lazer Broadcasting. Lazer changed the station's call letters to KZER and its format toregional Mexican.[16]
See also
edit- KZSB,a radio station (1290 AM) in Santa Barbara that is affiliated with, but not owned by, theSanta Barbara News-Press
References
edit- ^"Facility Technical Data for KZER".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^"Directory of Broadcasting Stations of the United States"(PDF).Broadcasting Yearbook.Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1938. p. 60.RetrievedMay 22,2018.
- ^"Directory of Broadcasting Stations of the United States"(PDF).Broadcasting Yearbook.1942. p. 112.RetrievedMay 22,2018.
- ^"KTMS Joins Don Lee"(PDF).Broadcasting-Telecasting.November 12, 1956. p. 78.RetrievedMay 23,2018.
- ^"Changing hands"(PDF).Broadcasting.Broadcasting Publications Inc. March 9, 1964. p. 60.RetrievedMay 31,2018.
- ^"Letters 7-20-2006".Santa Barbara Independent.July 20, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2006.RetrievedMay 23,2020.
- ^"For The Record"(PDF).Broadcasting.Broadcasting Publications Inc. May 24, 1965. p. 96.RetrievedMay 31,2018.
- ^"For The Record"(PDF).Broadcasting.Broadcasting Publications Inc. July 19, 1965. p. 86.RetrievedMay 31,2018.
- ^"Street Talk"(PDF).Radio & Records.October 11, 1985. p. 28.RetrievedMay 21,2018.
- ^"Consumer Guide: FCC Broadcast Ownership Rules"(PDF).Federal Communications Commission.October 27, 2017.RetrievedMay 31,2018.
- ^"Directory of Radio Stations of the United States and Canada"(PDF).Broadcasting Yearbook 1977.Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1977. p. C-28.RetrievedMay 23,2018.
- ^"Directory of Radio Stations of the United States and Canada"(PDF).Broadcasting Yearbook 1983.Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1983. p. B-34.RetrievedMay 23,2018.
- ^"For The Record"(PDF).Broadcasting.Broadcasting Publications Inc. July 22, 1985. p. 98.RetrievedMay 31,2018.
- ^"Remaining Douglas Stations Go To... Douglas"(PDF).Radio & Records.January 26, 1996.RetrievedApril 24,2018.
- ^"Chancellor Becomes The Biggest With Capstar Buy"(PDF).Radio & Records.September 4, 1998.RetrievedApril 24,2018.
- ^Savage, Sam (July 5, 2005)."KZSB News-Press Radio Heralds Return of Community News and Talk".redorbit.RetrievedAugust 18,2017.
External links
edit- Official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 3156 (KZER)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- KZERinNielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for KZER