KSUN
 | |
| Broadcast area | Phoenix metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1400 kHz |
| Branding | La Mejor 1400 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Regional Mexican |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
Former call signs | KONI, KXIV |
Call sign meaning | Valley of the SUN (a common nickname for the Phoenix area) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 21430 |
| Class | C |
| Power | 1,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 33°23′23.00″N 111°59′52.00″W / 33.3897222°N 111.9977778°W |
| Translator(s) | K293CO (106.5 MHz, Phoenix) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen (requires RealPlayer or Winamp) |
| Website | www |
KSUN (1400 AM) is a Spanish-language radio station broadcasting out of Phoenix, Arizona and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is locally owned by the Marques brothers and operates a regional Mexican music format under the branding "La Mejor". The station is also the Spanish-language play-by-play home of Arizona Diamondbacks baseball games and Phoenix Suns basketball games.
History
1400 AM in Phoenix received its license in 1955; originally KBLR, the station's callsign became KONI by the time it signed on and KXIV in 1961. Until 1982, KXIV was programmed with a middle of the road (MOR) music format. The station was co-owned by Ira Lavin and actor Dick Van Dyke (a Phoenix resident). Disc jockeys included George Scott, Jack Dey, Jim Hutton, Paul B. Mundt, and Jim Spero (who also served as program director).[1]
Van Dyke and Lavin sold KXIV in 1982 to local real estate developer Michael Levin, who relaunched the station with an all-talk format as KSUN, featuring personalities from NBC's Talknet and audio from CNN 2. [2] Levin's tenure running KSUN was marred by suspicious vandalism [3] and layoffs. [4] The station fell into bankruptcy and went silent on Memorial Day weekend 1983.
CAZ Broadcasting bought KSUN out of bankruptcy in 1984, [5] and brought the station back the next year as an affiliate of the original Radio AAHS, a radio service developed for children, with adult-oriented music at night. [6] By 1986, KSUN was running jazz full-time with minor league baseball play-by-play of the Phoenix Firebirds. [7] After an abortive attempt of selling the station [8] and going silent again, Fiesta Radio purchased the station in November 1986. [9]
The station changed to a Spanish-language format in 1987, adopting the long-running name Radio Fiesta.[10]
In 2015, the station partnered with Mexican radio company MVS Radio to launch its regional Mexican La Mejor format in Phoenix. However, KSUN retained its local sports coverage and events, thus airing it under the Deportes MVS brand.
References
- ^ http://keyproductionstv.com/kxiv.html
- ^ Wilkinson, Bud (August 8, 1982). "Owner tones down programming game plan for KSUN". Arizona Republic. p. 99. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "KSUN down". Arizona Republic. February 21, 1983. p. D20. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Wilkinson, Bud (January 2, 1983). "Stiff competition inspired better programming in 1982". Arizona Republic. p. F12. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Wilkinson, Bud (June 21, 1984). "KSUN sold; new owners plan autumn debut". Arizona Republic. p. F5. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Wilkinson, Bud (May 17, 1985). "KSUN plans to usher in dawn of children's radio programs". Arizona Republic. p. E15. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Wilkinson, Bud (April 3, 1986). "Radio station KSUN forced to drop children's format". Arizona Republic. p. E5. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Wilkinson, Bud (June 25, 1986). "'NewsChannel 3' adds new sportscasters to lineup". Arizona Republic. p. G5. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Wilkinson, Bud (December 11, 1986). "NBC's '1986' TV news magazine will never see 1987". Arizona Republic. p. F6. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ http://www.radiofiesta.net/somos.html
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID KSUN ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
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