KCAL-FM

KCAL-FM (96.7 FM) is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Redlands, California and broadcasts to the Inland Empire (Riverside-San Bernardino) area. The station is owned by Anaheim Broadcasting and airs an active rock format. The KCAL-FM studios are located in Redlands and the transmitter site is near Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains.

KCAL-FM
CityRedlands, California
Broadcast areaRiverside-San Bernardino, California
Frequency96.7 MHz
Branding96-7 KCAL Rocks
Slogan"Rockin' The 90s To Now" (general)
"The Inland Empire's Rock Station" (secondary)
Programming
FormatActive rock
Ownership
OwnerAnaheim Broadcasting
(SBR Broadcasting Corporation)
Sister stationsKOLA
History
First air date1965
Call sign meaningCALifornia
Technical information
Facility ID59272
ClassA
ERP1,750 watts
HAAT115 meters (377 ft)
Repeater(s)96.7 KCAL-FM1 (Twin Peaks, etc.)
Links
WebcastListen Liveor
Listen Live
Websitekcalfm.com

History

KCAL-FM first signed on in 1965[1] with a middle of the road (MOR) format. Originally owned by Southwest Broadcasting Company, it was the sister station of KCAL (1410 AM).

In 1969, KCAL-FM adopted a dayparted rock format, playing soft rock during daytime hours and harder album rock. This hybrid format, known as "The Rock Spectrum", was unique in the Inland Empire radio market. A prominent feature on KCAL-FM was a weekly program called Album Premiere, during which a newly released album was played Monday and Tuesday evenings — one side each evening. This eventually led to a switch to album-oriented rock (AOR) full-time in 1978.

In October 1986, Southwest Broadcasting sold KCAL-FM to San Bernardino Broadcasting, headed by Tim Sullivan, for $4 million; KCAL (AM) remained with Southwest.[2] On January 1, 1987, control of the station passed to Anaheim Broadcasting, also led by Sullivan; that March, the new owner installed former KGGI program director Cliff Roberts in the same position at KCAL-FM.[3]

During the 1990s, KCAL-FM adjusted its AOR format to active rock, mixing newer hard rock songs with classic rock.

In the late 1990s, the station began hosting a listener appreciation party known as the "KCAL Kegger". Held in the station's parking lot in Redlands three times a year, each party features live rock bands, local vendors, refreshments, and a beer garden; the station donated proceeds from beer sales to local charities.[4] Each year's final Kegger includes a bikini pageant called "Miss KCAL".

In January 2018, longtime KCAL-FM on-air personalities Michael "Stu-Man" Stewart, Tiffany Angelo, and James "Jimbo" Smith — the morning drive hosts collectively known as "STJ" — were dismissed from the station due to budget cuts. Morning show producer Steven Kibo was also let go. Patrick Tish took over morning host duties.[5]

Transmission issues

On December 31, 2014, high winds in the San Bernardino Mountains toppled KCAL-FM's transmission tower, knocking the station off the air. The station resumed broadcasting two days later on the evening of January 2, 2015, attaching its transmission equipment to KFRG's tower temporarily.[6]

References
  1. "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1968. p. B-22. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  2. "Duncan Grabs Oppenheimer Group For $38 Million" (PDF). Radio and Records. October 17, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  3. "Twin PD Changes In Riverside" (PDF). Radio and Records. March 20, 1987. p. 10. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  4. Waldner, Erin (May 15, 2013). "REDLANDS: KCAL radio station to throw kegger". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California: Southern California News Group. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  5. Larsen, Peter (January 10, 2018). "Jimbo talks about exit from KCAL 96.7 FM along with longtime fellow DJs Stu and Tiffany". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California: Southern California News Group. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  6. Rokos, Brian (January 2, 2015). "REDLANDS: KCAL-FM back on the air after storm knocks down tower". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California: Southern California News Group. Retrieved December 14, 2018.

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