KFRC-FM: Difference between revisions
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==KFRC Today== |
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On Thursday, [[2007#May|May 17, 2007]], KIFR dropped the low-rated Free FM format and switched to [[classic hits]], reviving the previously abandoned format of [[KMVQ|KFRC]] format on 99.7 FM. Local management announced that some of the Free FM shows and hosts, such as Carolla, Leykis, and Opie and Anthony, would move to [[KYCY]] 1550 AM. |
On Thursday, [[2007#May|May 17, 2007]], KIFR dropped the low-rated Free FM format and switched to [[classic hits]], reviving the previously abandoned format of [[KMVQ|KFRC]] format on 99.7 FM. Local management announced that some of the Free FM shows and hosts, such as Carolla, Leykis, and Opie and Anthony, would move to [[KYCY]] 1550 AM. |
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Revision as of 22:36, 20 August 2007
| File:KFRC-horz-logo.gif | |
| Broadcast area | San Francisco Bay Area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 106.9 (MHz) |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic Hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | CBS Radio |
| KCBS, KITS, KLLC, KMVQ, KYCY also part of CBS Corp. cluster: KPIX-TV and KBCW | |
| History | |
First air date | December 10, 1959 |
Former call signs | KIFR-FM (2005-2007) KEAR (1978-2005) KMPX (1962-1978) KHIP (1960-1962) KPUP (1959-1960) |
Call sign meaning | KFRC, former AM station |
| Technical information | |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 80,000 watts |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | http://www.kfrc.com |
KFRC-FM is an FM commercial radio station in San Francisco, California, serving the San Francisco Bay Area on 106.9 MHz. The station adopted its current classic hits format and KFRC call letters on May 17, 2007
106.9 before KFRC
see KIFR
KFRC-FM History
In the 1990s, KFRC changed to a nostalgia format by playing the rock hits of the 1960s and '70's, recreating the successful Bill Drake years.
When, in 1977, KFRC sold off its money-losing FM station at 106.1 (to become KMEL), it soon became clear that the owners had made a mistake. This was corrected in 1991 with the purchase of the station at 99.7. The frequency for many years had been KNBR-FM, and later KNAI, KYUU and KXXX. Under KFRC, the FM signal at 99.7 was simulcast with the popular AM station at 610. The oldies format proved very successful in the Bay market reaching number one with the popular 25-54 demo. Oldies program directors included Bob Hamilton of KRTH fame Brian Thomas from 1994 to 2003, Tim Marinville in 2003-04 and Bob Harlow became the last PD to play oldies on KFRC.
Recent events, heritage
In 2005, the owners, Infinity Broadcasting (now CBS Radio), announced the sale of the AM station, which was anticipated to receive new call letters. The sale price was reported to be $35 million. The oldies format of KFRC AM and FM was scheduled to continue on the FM frequency.
The sale of the AM station came about as a result of the purchase of CBS' Sacramento television affiliate, KOVR, by Viacom, at the time the owner of both CBS and Infinity. Because KFRC's strong 5,000 watt AM signal from the Berkeley Marina was heard as a local station not only in San Francisco, but in Sacramento as well, the FCC required Infinity to sell either one of its Sacramento stations or a Bay Area station that had Sacramento as part of its city-grade coverage.
Gerry Cagle, who programmed KFRC in the early eighties, and now writes for MusicBiz.com, commented in 2005:
- "KFRC wasn't a position on the dial. It was a place in the hearts of the many professionals who worked there to build and continue a legacy unmatched in radio. It was also a place in the hearts of the listeners who made it important in their lives. 610 means nothing. 'KFRC San Francisco with the Best Music!' will live forever in that magical place we all go when we think about the good things of the past." [1]
Infinity sold the AM station to Family Stations, the owners of KEAR 106.9 FM, a Christian radio station. Shortly thereafter, Family Stations sold their FM station to Infinity. On April 29, 2005, Family Stations began simulcasting the signal of their FM station on 610 AM. The Oakland Athletics baseball team, which was the only sports tenant the past few years on the AM side, negotiated with Family Stations to have their games broadcast until the end of the 2005 baseball season.
On September 5, 2005, KFRC-FM, the only oldies outlet in San Francisco moved their format ahead ten years switching to a '70s & '80s music format. The station billed itself as "the Bay Area's Classic Hits". However, more Oldies from the 1960s had been added in months around this time.
The legendary KFRC call letters left the AM band on October 17, 2005, when the KEAR call letters were transferred from 106.9 FM to 610 AM. Meanwhile, 106.9 FM had become KIFR, an outlet for CBS Radio's new Free FM talk format.
Format Change to Movin 99.7
At 10:03 a.m. on Friday, September 22, 2006, KFRC-FM changed their format to a Rhythmic Hot AC format. Closing off their oldies broadcast with American Pie, by Don McLean, they changed to "The New Movin' 99.7 KFRC" with Gonna Make You Sweat by C+C Music Factory. The "MOViN'" brand had previously been picked up by KQMV/Seattle, KMVN/Los Angeles, KYMV/Salt Lake City, KMVK/Dallas and WMVN/St. Louis. The format switch was met with sharp criticism from long time listerners of KFRC because it was the last remaining Oldies station in the region.
KFRC Today
On Thursday, May 17, 2007, KIFR dropped the low-rated Free FM format and switched to classic hits, reviving the previously abandoned format of KFRC format on 99.7 FM. Local management announced that some of the Free FM shows and hosts, such as Carolla, Leykis, and Opie and Anthony, would move to KYCY 1550 AM.
On October 30, 2006, CBS Radio and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a three year contract to broadcast Oakland Athletics baseball games, 162 regular season games and 15 spring training games, and all playoff games. The contract lasts through 2009 and notes 106.9 as the "official radio home of the Oakland A's." [1]