KTNK explained

KTNK
City:Lompoc, California
Area:Santa MariaLompoc, California
Branding:Y'all 103.7
Frequency:1410 kHz
Airdate:May 25, 1963
Format:Country
Power:500 watts day
77 watts night
Class:D
Facility Id:51263
Owner:STICKS MEDIA, LLC
Licensee:STICKS MEDIA, LLC
Licensing Authority:FCC

KTNK (1410 AM) is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Lompoc, California, and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc area. The station, established in 1963,[1] is owned by STICKS MEDIA, LLC [2] and broadcasts a country music format. KTNK features programming from Westwood One.

History

The station first signed on May 25, 1963, as KKOK. The station underwent several call sign changes over the next two decades: first to KBIK in 1977; then, to KLVV two years later on November 8, 1979; and finally, to KLLB on August 22, 1983.[3]

In 1985, Sunshine Wireless sold KLLB and its FM sister station KRQK (100.9 FM, now 100.3) to Crystal Broadcasting Inc. for $1.75 million.[4] On September 1, 1987, the AM outlet changed its call letters to KTME. On December 22, 1989, Crystal Broadcasting sold KTME and KRQK to Nova Broadcasting—Santa Maria, headed by Gregg Peterson, for $1.47 million.[5]

The station changed hands several times in the 1990s. Nova Broadcasting sold KTME and KRQK to Padre Serra Communications for $450,000 in May 1993.[6] In March 1995, Padre Serra traded KTME for KSBQ (1480 AM), owned by Los Padres Broadcasting Corporation. Like KTME, KSBQ was licensed to Lompoc, California and broadcast in Spanish.[7] In November 1996, Classic Communications Corporation purchased the station for only $20,000.[8] KTME saw a new owner just one year later as Classic sold the then-silent station to Santa Maria-based Blackhawk Communications for $80,000.[9]

In April 2006, Mapleton Communications sold KTME and the station it was simulcasting, KUHL (1440 AM) in Santa Maria, to Knight Broadcasting Inc.[10] KTME changed its call letters to KINF on July 31, 2006, then to KUHL that September. On January 27, 2009, the station became KSMA.

In February 2014, Knight Broadcasting sold KSMA to Michael Alan Day's Cross and Crown Broadcasting Corporation for $160,000; the transaction closed in May. At the time of the sale, KSMA broadcast a classic country format that was branded as "AM 1410 The Range".[11] [12] The new owner changed the station's call sign to KTNK on May 6, 2014.

In September 2023, the station quietly relaunched as "Y'all 103.7", with the station adding a small, but noticeable, number of current and recurrent country hits to the still gold-based format. The previous iteration of the format continues on an online exclusive stream.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S. . Broadcasting Yearbook . 1964 . B-16 . Broadcasting Publications, Inc. . Washington, D.C. .
  2. Web site: KTNK Facility Record . FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access . . July 10, 2018 .
  3. Web site: Call Sign History: KTNK . FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access . .
  4. For the Record . Broadcasting . Broadcasting Publications Inc. . 124 . December 16, 1985 . July 28, 2018 .
  5. For the Record . Broadcasting . Broadcasting Publications Inc. . 46 . February 12, 1990 . July 28, 2018 .
  6. Changing Hands . Broadcasting & Cable . Cahners Publishing Company . 64 . May 24, 1993 . July 28, 2018 .
  7. NewCity Communications Picks Up $6 Million Daytona Beach FM . Radio & Records . 6 . March 17, 1995 . July 29, 2018 .
  8. Emmis Now A Potent Arch Rival . Radio & Records . 6 . November 8, 1996 . July 29, 2018 .
  9. For the Record . Broadcasting & Cable . R.R. Bowker . 90 . November 10, 1997 . July 29, 2018 .
  10. News: Knight Buys KUHL-KTME/Santa Maria . All Access . All Access Music Group . April 6, 2006 . July 10, 2018 .
  11. News: Price For Good Karma-Big Radio Janesville, WI Deal: $1.45 Million . All Access . All Access Music Group . February 10, 2014 . July 10, 2018 .
  12. News: FCC OKs Religious Stations Swap . All Access . All Access Music Group . May 5, 2014 . July 10, 2018 .
  13. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/258881/yall-debuts-in-lompoc/ Y'all Debuts in Lompoc