KBDS
Encyclopedia
KBDS is a radio station
licensed
to serve Taft, California
. The station is owned by Radio Campensina Bakersfield, Inc., which is itself owned by the United Farm Workers
. While the station normally broadcasts to the Kern County, California
, area, as of November 14, 2008, it is temporarily off the air.
Before the station was silenced on November 14, 2008, it broadcast a Rhythmic Top 40 music format. Branded as "Play 103.9", the station's slogan was "Blazin' Hip Hop Y Mas."
from the Federal Communications Commission
on January 18, 1985
. The new station was assigned the call letters KTLM by the FCC on December 3, 1985. During that time, the station featured a "Big Band
" format, playing Swing Era music from the 1930s and 40's. In March 1988, Louise E. Mann's Mann Broadcasting Company reached an agreement to transfer the permit for this station to The Great Southwest Broadcasting Company. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 27, 1988, and the transaction was consummated on September 13, 1988.
KTLM received its license to cover
from the FCC on August 22, 1989. However, in July 1989 Bakersfield Radio Partners L.P. reached an agreement to acquire this station's permit and license. The deal was approved by the FCC on November 1, 1989, and the transaction was consummated on December 19, 1989. The new owners had the FCC change the station's callsign to KMYX-FM on January 8, 1990
. By that point, the station was broadcasting a "soft rock" format featuring adult contemporary hits of the 1970s and 80's.
In July 1993, Bakersfield Radio Partners reached an agreement to sell this station to Adelman Communications, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 2, 1993, and the transaction was consummated on October 1, 1993. The format switched once again to country, with the monicre "Thunder Country".
In June 1994, Adelman Communications, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Radio Campesina Bakersfield, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on July 13, 1994, and the transaction was consummated on August 4, 1994. The station was assigned the KBDS call letters by the FCC on March 2, 2000
.
Prior to its flip to Rhythmic Top 40 in November 2004, KBDS' previous format was Regional Mexican
. During its four-year run "Play 103.9" did well, despite competition from Rhythmic rival KISV
("Hot 94.1"), who they decided to take on after KKXX-FM flipped formats three months earlier in August 2004. Indeed, when KBDS went silent in November 2008, they were experiencing their highest 12+ Arbitron
ratings to date.
. In fact, she and another winner were each presented with a remote-control toy model of an H2. The lawsuit seeking $60,000, the approximate cost of a real Hummer H2, further claims that KBDS ran a week's worth of promos mocking her as a victim of the station's April Fool's Day joke (even though the contest itself was a week long and started in March).
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to serve Taft, California
Taft, California
Taft is a city in the foothills at the extreme southwestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley, in Kern County, California. Taft is located west-southwest of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 955 feet . The population was 9,327 at the 2010 census...
. The station is owned by Radio Campensina Bakersfield, Inc., which is itself owned by the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
. While the station normally broadcasts to the Kern County, California
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
, area, as of November 14, 2008, it is temporarily off the air.
Before the station was silenced on November 14, 2008, it broadcast a Rhythmic Top 40 music format. Branded as "Play 103.9", the station's slogan was "Blazin' Hip Hop Y Mas."
History
This station received its original construction permitConstruction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on January 18, 1985
1985 in radio
The year 1985 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 1 - CKLW Windsor, Ontario adopts the Music of Your Life format.*March 28 - A Roger Waters concert is broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall...
. The new station was assigned the call letters KTLM by the FCC on December 3, 1985. During that time, the station featured a "Big Band
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
" format, playing Swing Era music from the 1930s and 40's. In March 1988, Louise E. Mann's Mann Broadcasting Company reached an agreement to transfer the permit for this station to The Great Southwest Broadcasting Company. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 27, 1988, and the transaction was consummated on September 13, 1988.
KTLM received its license to cover
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
from the FCC on August 22, 1989. However, in July 1989 Bakersfield Radio Partners L.P. reached an agreement to acquire this station's permit and license. The deal was approved by the FCC on November 1, 1989, and the transaction was consummated on December 19, 1989. The new owners had the FCC change the station's callsign to KMYX-FM on January 8, 1990
1990 in radio
The year 1990 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*KJJO in Minneapolis, Minnesota transitions from active rock to alternative rock.*KBLN in Dallas, Texas becomes KXEB.*Daytimer KKDA in Dallas, Texas begins nighttime broadcasting....
. By that point, the station was broadcasting a "soft rock" format featuring adult contemporary hits of the 1970s and 80's.
In July 1993, Bakersfield Radio Partners reached an agreement to sell this station to Adelman Communications, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 2, 1993, and the transaction was consummated on October 1, 1993. The format switched once again to country, with the monicre "Thunder Country".
In June 1994, Adelman Communications, Inc., reached an agreement to sell this station to Radio Campesina Bakersfield, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on July 13, 1994, and the transaction was consummated on August 4, 1994. The station was assigned the KBDS call letters by the FCC on March 2, 2000
2000 in radio
The year 2000 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*The Real Radio & Century Radio networks become active on - air, through the United Kingdom....
.
Prior to its flip to Rhythmic Top 40 in November 2004, KBDS' previous format was Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican
Regional Mexican is a radio format for music radio, typically defined to include Banda, Ranchera, Mariachi and Norteña. It is the most popular radio format targeting Hispanic Americans in the United States....
. During its four-year run "Play 103.9" did well, despite competition from Rhythmic rival KISV
KISV
KISV is a Rhythmic Top 40 music formatted radio station based in Bakersfield, California. The American General Media outlet broadcasts with an ERP of 4.5 kW.-History:...
("Hot 94.1"), who they decided to take on after KKXX-FM flipped formats three months earlier in August 2004. Indeed, when KBDS went silent in November 2008, they were experiencing their highest 12+ Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings to date.
Controversy
On June 21, 2005, KBDS was sued by contest winner Shannon Castillo, claiming she was misled by the station's promotions to believe she had won a new Hummer H2Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 is an SUV and SUT that was marketed by General Motors under the Hummer brand. It is a large truck , while longer, heavier , and taller with room for six passengers , seven passengers in some models. The rearmost part of the H2 SUV was modified to a pickup truck bed for the 2005 H2 SUT...
. In fact, she and another winner were each presented with a remote-control toy model of an H2. The lawsuit seeking $60,000, the approximate cost of a real Hummer H2, further claims that KBDS ran a week's worth of promos mocking her as a victim of the station's April Fool's Day joke (even though the contest itself was a week long and started in March).