The year of 1999 is when I first started posting a weekly San Diego radio news blog at an old location under an old name Dave's Radio Waves. It's now located at sandiegoradionews.com.
During the year, we witnessed two Mexican stations flip to English language formats. 99.3 became Hot Country 99.3, and 91.7 became Galaxy 91.7 playing hot adult music.
February saw the launch of ksdo.com at 1130 AM as KSDO-AM called itself by its own website name. The format was business.
A pirate calling itself Power Moves 96.1 launched from somewhere near Downtown.
KCRW Santa Monica launches a translator station in Lemon Grove at 89.9 MHz. Before that, 89.9 MHz was a relay of K-Love during 1999 from the same location.
Clear Channel absorbs Jacor Communications. At the time in 1999, Clear Channel owned the stations on the frequencies of AM 600, 1130, and 1360, and FM 93.3, 94.1, 95.7, 101.5, and 105.3. In addition, Clear Channel acquired the rights Jacor had to operate the Mexican stations AM 690, FM 91.1, and FM 92.5, giving it 11 stations that it programmed.
1999 was also the last year the San Diego Padres aired on KFMB-AM. In 2000, rights to broadcast the games went to KOGO.
World Music Radio playing world beat music launched as an Internet-Only station originating from San Diego.
XLNC1 began its own Internet-only stream of classical music. It operated from the group that operated Z90 and several other Mexican stations. It launched on 90.7 FM the following February 2000.
KCBQ 1170 was sold to Salem Communications.
XHTJB channel 3 launches from Tijuana, causing havoc with Cox cable subscribers in the South Bay area.
In the fall of 1999, KGTV launches its digital TV channel on 25 while it settles a contractual discrepancy with ABC-TV regarding affilliate relations.
KXST (Sets 102.1) moves its city of license from Oceanside to Encinitas.
Clear Channel merged with AM/FM Inc. Since Clear Channel owned the maximum allowed in San Diego, it couldn't pick up FM 96.5 and 103.7 that AM/FM owned. Those two were sold to what is now CBS Radio.
XUPN channel 49 signed on from Tecate broadcasting UPN programs. KCOP (L.A.'s UPN affilliate) asked the cable systems to remove it from its lineup so XUPN could be carried.
Napster was revolutionizing the way people could listen to music on demand. Who needs radio anymore?
Y107.1 flipped its format to Spanish language in late 1999.
KNSD-DT signs on at channel 40.
Dave Smiley leaves Mix 95.7
Fox 6 News debut.
Pop culture items: Britney Spears and Christina Aguliera give us some pop tarts for Radio Disney listeners. Regis Philbin asks Who Wants to Be a Millionaire! "Sabrina" star bares almost all. Susan Lucci (today's her birthday) finally wins an Emmy. Home Improvement airs series finale. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is the geek movie hit of the year.
During the year, we witnessed two Mexican stations flip to English language formats. 99.3 became Hot Country 99.3, and 91.7 became Galaxy 91.7 playing hot adult music.
February saw the launch of ksdo.com at 1130 AM as KSDO-AM called itself by its own website name. The format was business.
A pirate calling itself Power Moves 96.1 launched from somewhere near Downtown.
KCRW Santa Monica launches a translator station in Lemon Grove at 89.9 MHz. Before that, 89.9 MHz was a relay of K-Love during 1999 from the same location.
Clear Channel absorbs Jacor Communications. At the time in 1999, Clear Channel owned the stations on the frequencies of AM 600, 1130, and 1360, and FM 93.3, 94.1, 95.7, 101.5, and 105.3. In addition, Clear Channel acquired the rights Jacor had to operate the Mexican stations AM 690, FM 91.1, and FM 92.5, giving it 11 stations that it programmed.
1999 was also the last year the San Diego Padres aired on KFMB-AM. In 2000, rights to broadcast the games went to KOGO.
World Music Radio playing world beat music launched as an Internet-Only station originating from San Diego.
XLNC1 began its own Internet-only stream of classical music. It operated from the group that operated Z90 and several other Mexican stations. It launched on 90.7 FM the following February 2000.
KCBQ 1170 was sold to Salem Communications.
XHTJB channel 3 launches from Tijuana, causing havoc with Cox cable subscribers in the South Bay area.
In the fall of 1999, KGTV launches its digital TV channel on 25 while it settles a contractual discrepancy with ABC-TV regarding affilliate relations.
KXST (Sets 102.1) moves its city of license from Oceanside to Encinitas.
Clear Channel merged with AM/FM Inc. Since Clear Channel owned the maximum allowed in San Diego, it couldn't pick up FM 96.5 and 103.7 that AM/FM owned. Those two were sold to what is now CBS Radio.
XUPN channel 49 signed on from Tecate broadcasting UPN programs. KCOP (L.A.'s UPN affilliate) asked the cable systems to remove it from its lineup so XUPN could be carried.
Napster was revolutionizing the way people could listen to music on demand. Who needs radio anymore?
Y107.1 flipped its format to Spanish language in late 1999.
KNSD-DT signs on at channel 40.
Dave Smiley leaves Mix 95.7
Fox 6 News debut.
Pop culture items: Britney Spears and Christina Aguliera give us some pop tarts for Radio Disney listeners. Regis Philbin asks Who Wants to Be a Millionaire! "Sabrina" star bares almost all. Susan Lucci (today's her birthday) finally wins an Emmy. Home Improvement airs series finale. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is the geek movie hit of the year.