KWAI (FM)
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2009) |
 | |
| Broadcast area | San Francisco Bay Area San Jose, California |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.7 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Air1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary worship music |
| Subchannels | HD1: KWAI analog HD2: Same as HD1 HD3: Radio Nueva Vida |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Educational Media Foundation |
| KJLV, KLVS, KMVS | |
| History | |
First air date | October 1, 1960 (as KPGM) |
Former call signs | KPGM (1960–1969) KPEN (1969–1984) KLZE (1984–1988) KHQT (1988–1995) KFFG (1995–2019) KJLV (2019–2023) |
Call sign meaning | AIr1 |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 58843 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 4,000 watts |
| HAAT | 125 meters (410 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 37°18′25″N 122°05′46″W / 37.307°N 122.096°W |
| Translator(s) | 100.9 K265CV (Fremont) 104.1 K281BL (Coyote) HD2: 88.9 K205BN (Los Gatos) HD3: 91.9 K220BV (San Jose) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | air1.com nuevavida.com (HD3) |
KWAI (97.7 MHz) is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Los Altos, California, owned by the Educational Media Foundation. Its transmitter is located near Cupertino, California. It is the San Jose affiliate for the Air1 religious network. No local programming originates from the station, and it carries network programming full-time. KWAI's transmitter is located near Stevens Creek Reservoir.
KWAI broadcasts in HD Radio.[2][3]
History
97.7 FM signed on the air on October 1, 1960 as KPGM. The station picked up the KPEN call sign in 1969 after they were dropped by KIOI in 1968. The call sign was changed to KLZE (Classy FM) in October 1984.
In January 1988, 97.7 became KHQT ("Hot 97.7"), with a Rhythmic Top 40 format.[4] They became very popular in the South Bay, competing with mainstream Top 40 station KWSS during its first few years.
The format continued until August 7, 1995, when the station was sold to Susquehanna Radio and turned into a simulcast of KFOG[5] as KFFG. Susquehanna was acquired by Cumulus Media in 2006.
On February 16, 2017, KFFG filed an application for a Federal Communications Commission construction permit to change the city of license to San Jose. The application was accepted for filing on February 17, 2017.[6] However, the station still maintains Los Altos as its city of license.
On February 13, 2019, Cumulus Media announced it would sell six stations, including KFFG, to the Educational Media Foundation for $103.5 million, indicating that the KFFG would become a CCM station. EMF announced that the station would join their K-Love network upon the sale's closure.[7] The sale was approved on May 13, and the deal closed at the end of the month. At 7:00 p.m. on May 31, 2019, after playing "High Hopes" by Panic! at the Disco, the simulcast broke and KFFG flipped to CCM programming, joining K-Love. As part of the format change, KFFG's call sign became KJLV, which was transferred from a K-Love affiliate in Arkansas.[8]
Following EMF's purchase of 95.3 KRTY (now KJLV), the K-Love format was moved to 95.3 FM, with 97.7 FM joining the Air 1 network.[9] On August 8, 2023, the station's call sign was changed to KWAI.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KWAI". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Station Search Details". licensing.fcc.gov. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "HD Radio station guide for Nashville, TN". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-05-18. HD Radio Guide for San Jose
- ^ American Radio History [dead link]
- ^ "Vox Jox". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 30. July 29, 1995. p. 114.
- ^ "Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. February 17, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
- ^ "Cumulus Sells Six To EMF & Swaps With Entercom In New York & Indianapolis". RadioInsight. 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
- ^ Venta, Lance (27 May 2019). "New EMF Acquisitions". Radio Insight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ "Bay Area to Lose Country with KRTY Sale - RadioInsight". 23 March 2022.
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID 58843 (KWAI) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KWAI in Nielsen Audio's FM station database