KSAQ - 102.3 - Charlotte, TX

[fredcantu]

As for AM 930, it was KLLS 930 AM first, then KISS 930 AM in '87...

Wasn't it KITE first? And somewhere in there KCCW?

 

[Kent]

Indeed, Salem got KLUP in '04, after owning KSLR for some time before that...Was it Salem in '84 when 630 went religious?

No. Salem didn't buy KSLR 630 until shortly after the Telecommunications Act of '96 passed. It was previously owned by a small company (whose name escapes me) that owned several AM's, all of which were religious (and mostly music). Salem converted them to their version of religion (mostly talk) shortly after taking over.

But KRNN was 1985. It was Stanley Rosenberg's real estate deal to develop the transmitter site at I-35/NE 410. They launched in July of '85, and began 'downsizing' that fall. (Gabe may know more about that). It all fell apart with the S&L crisis and the oil bust of the mid-80's. The land never did get developed. The towers are still there. They flipped spanish about a year later.

Correct. KRNN came before KRIA. Shortly before becoming KISS (AM), KRIA ran a bilingual format of tejano and oldies. That format briefly went to KFHM 1160 after 930 switched to oldies, but it didn't last long there either.

 

[Kent]

Rusk acquired KISS-AM and FM and flipped KISS-AM to KLUP on 1-1-92.
Salem bought a second AM station (930) in 2004.

Rusk actually took over KISS AM/FM around October '91 and aired Magic 105.3 on both of them for a couple of months. KLUP launched just before Christmas '91 while KISS-FM switched back to rock a week or so later. The call letter change may not have been official until 1-1-92, but the change happened several weeks earlier. Somewhere I probably still have a letter from Gerry Olert, the GM's assistant, explaining the changes. The envelope had the KISS oldies logo with the return address on Vantage Dr crossed out.

Rusk also didn't technically "acquire" KISS AM/FM until a year or two after taking over. The FCC didn't allow actual multiple ownership of stations in the same band until August 1, 1992. LMA's, however, had been permitted for a couple of years prior.

 

[gabigley1]

The KSAQ call letters first appeared in San Antonio back in 1975 when then KBER-FM, 100.3 was sold.
Apparently, this may be why the new owners picked these call letters. They were also on 96.1
from the mid 80s to early 90s if memory serves me correct.

I recall them on 96.1 back in the late 70's as a really good Top 40 station...wasn't the station referred to as Q-96? I remember listening to it on our summer trips to New Braunfels...

Since you were referring to the late 70's you were probably listening to KITY 92.9. Q-100 became the Buzzard in late 1977. I think during that brief period KTFM was either Disco or Rock.

Unless you were referring to the late 80's. I remember it was KSAQ 96.1 FM Georgetown, San Antonio Q96fm killer new music were their calls at the top of the hour. The only CHR station to play extended 12" versions in it's entirety in San Antonio.

Did some research on the history KSAQ cal letters in San Antonio. The FCC database is not correct
as someone posted here...

The KSAQ call letters were first on 100.3 FM from early 1975 until mid 1977 when 100.3 FM became KZZY the Buzzard. I was listening to the station when it first used these call letters in 1975.

In the second reincarnation of the KSAQ call letters in San Antonio, they wre then were assigned to 96.1, then KSLR on September 15 of 1983. The new owners do not officially use them on the air until January 1, 1984 when they came back on the air after a few weeks off silence. Do recall
this now,

 

[gabigley1]

More here: The call letters on 96.1 were then changed to KSJL-FM when the station was sold to
Inner City Broadcasting on Jan 14, 1987..

In the third reincarnation of the KSAQ call letters, then KSJL-FM 96.1 then changed it call letters back KSAQ in late 1987 until 1993(?). The KSAQ call letters were then changed to something else in the early 90s. This should clear up some confusion. The KSAQ set of call letter were used three
different times in San Antonio. Once on 100.3 in the 70s and twice on 96.1 in the 80s. Not counting
102.3 BTY.

 

[willdav713]

As for AM 930, it was KLLS 930 AM first, then KISS 930 AM in '87...

Wasn't it KITE first? And somewhere in there KCCW?

You are correct, it was KITE throughout the 70's then KCCW-AM which did the opposite of KILT-FM they started on the AM band first and then KCCW started simulcasting on 100.3, followed by a flip to KLLS AM/FM.

Kiss Radio Inc. acquired KLLS-AM from Radio Alamo in the 80's after they sold KMAC in 1984 to Salem Communications and spun it off in 1988 to Communicom Corporation of America.

Interesting, KVAR calls were once used on 104.5 and 1250 AM. Their format was Urban Contemporary according to the Broadcasting Yearbook.

KVAR is now used on 92.5 Elgin as part of the K-Love network.

 

[willdav713]

Indeed, Salem got KLUP in '04, after owning KSLR for some time before that...Was it Salem in '84 when 630 went religious?

No. Salem didn't buy KSLR 630 until shortly after the Telecommunications Act of '96 passed. It was previously owned by a small company (whose name escapes me) that owned several AM's, all of which were religious (and mostly music). Salem converted them to their version of religion (mostly talk) shortly after taking over.

Salem owned it and then spun it off to Communicom Corporation of America in 1988, and then bought it back in 1994 – August, Salem re-acquires KSLR-AM, Carl Dean stays with Communicom of America. John Walk promoted to interim GM.

 

[willdav713]

More here: The call letters on 96.1 were then changed to KSJL-FM when the station was sold to
Inner City Broadcasting on Jan 14, 1987..

In the third reincarnation of the KSAQ call letters, then KSJL-FM 96.1 then changed it call letters back KSAQ in late 1987 until 1993(?). The KSAQ call letters were then changed to something else in the early 90s. This should clear up some confusion. The KSAQ set of call letter were used three
different times in San Antonio. Once on 100.3 in the 70s and twice on 96.1 in the 80s. Not counting
102.3 BTY.

Was it a simulcast of All Hit 76? The KSAQ calls were changed to KSJL when KSJL-AM flipped to KZXS-AM billing itself as "WOAI-760" in April of 1993. After KSRR flipped to Spanish.

 

[grantchester]

Willdave notes:

Interesting, KVAR calls were once used on 104.5 and 1250 AM. Their format was Urban Contemporary according to the Broadcasting Yearbook.

I'll never forget those calls. Doubleday got out of S.A., and sold 104.5 to Lotus. They changed the calls in Feb of '77 to KVAR, and became the first spanish language fm in San Antonio. They hired all of their announcers from Mexico City. They played only music from the Mexican music charts. When asked by one of the locals if they would consider playing some local artists, the programmer told the reporter "We don't play Cantina Music". They flopped. Gary Burns convinced them that, 4 years after going off the air, KEXL was still showing up as the most popular rock station in town. Lotus changed the calls to KXZL and pretended to be KEXL. A few years later they made it KZEP, and classic rock.

KVAR, as far as I know, was never Urban Contemporary.

 

[willdav713]

Willdave notes:

Interesting, KVAR calls were once used on 104.5 and 1250 AM. Their format was Urban Contemporary according to the Broadcasting Yearbook.

I'll never forget those calls. Doubleday got out of S.A., and sold 104.5 to Lotus. They changed the calls in Feb of '77 to KVAR, and became the first spanish language fm in San Antonio. They hired all of their announcers from Mexico City. They played only music from the Mexican music charts. When asked by one of the locals if they would consider playing some local artists, the programmer told the reporter "We don't play Cantina Music". They flopped. Gary Burns convinced them that, 4 years after going off the air, KEXL was still showing up as the most popular rock station in town. Lotus changed the calls to KXZL and pretended to be KEXL. A few years later they made it KZEP, and classic rock.

KVAR, as far as I know, was never Urban Contemporary.

According to the Radio Broadcasting Yearbook it lists it as Sp. Urban Contemporary. I kid you not well for KVAR-AM that is.

 

[grantchester]

Ah, AM. I'm sure I never listened to it. Quite possible. It certainly wasn't Tejano or Conjuto. Or Norteno. Or Salsa. Or Banda. Most likely K*K* .

 

[willdav713]

Rusk acquired KISS-AM and FM and flipped KISS-AM to KLUP on 1-1-92.
Salem bought a second AM station (930) in 2004.

Rusk actually took over KISS AM/FM around October '91 and aired Magic 105.3 on both of them for a couple of months. KLUP launched just before Christmas '91 while KISS-FM switched back to rock a week or so later. The call letter change may not have been official until 1-1-92, but the change happened several weeks earlier. Somewhere I probably still have a letter from Gerry Olert, the GM's assistant, explaining the changes. The envelope had the KISS oldies logo with the return address on Vantage Dr crossed out.

Rusk also didn't technically "acquire" KISS AM/FM until a year or two after taking over. The FCC didn't allow actual multiple ownership of stations in the same band until August 1, 1992. LMA's, however, had been permitted for a couple of years prior.

Is there a way you could scan that letter and logo online? I always been waiting that KISS Oldies logo.

 

[Anonymouse]

All the complicated talk on station swaps and call letters and I am too young to remember much of it... LOL

Glad to see KSAQ 102.3 seems to still be doing pretty well and posting LOCAL news reports on it's Facebook!
I just can't hear it unless I'm in the service area. It would be cool if they could get a website and stream up, someday...