KMAK
Encyclopedia
KMAK is an American radio station
licensed
to
serve the community of Orange Cove, California
, United States. The station, established in 1990, is owned by founder Richard B. Smith and the broadcast license
is held by KMAK-FM, LLC, a limited liability company
wholly owned by Smith.
Regional Mexican
music format
branded as "Radio Fiesta" to the greater Fresno metropolitan area. The station had previously broadcast a similar format under the "La Favorita" branding.
(FCC) for a construction permit
to build a new FM radio station. This station would broadcast on 100.3 MHz with 72 watt
s of effective radiated power
from an antenna 632 metres (2,073.5 ft) in height above average terrain
. The FCC granted this permit on March 10, 1989, with a scheduled expiration date of September 10, 1990.
The station was assigned the call sign
"KMAK" by the FCC on March 23, 1989. Previously, this call sign had been assigned to Fresno-licensed 1340 AM {now KCBL
), which featured now-legendary broadcasters Ron Jacobs
and Robert W. Morgan
in the mid-1960s, from its launch in 1953 until changing to "KKAM" in August 1988.
After one extension to its construction permit, the station's broadcast license
was granted by the FCC on December 26, 1990. The station's initial programming format
was as a simulcast
of the Christian programming of Merced
-based KAMB
(101.5 FM). By the late 2000s, the station had segued to its current Regional Mexican
music format.
In May 2010, license holder Richard B. Smith applied to the FCC to transfer control of KMAK's broadcast license to KMAK-FM, LLC, a new limited liability company
wholly owned by Smith. The FCC accepted this application on May 6, 2010, and approved the transfer on May 14, 2010. After resolving some paperwork in establishing the new company, Smith formally consummated the transfer on July 14, 2010.
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 the community of Orange Cove, California
Orange Cove, California
Orange Cove is a small city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 9,078 at the 2010 census, up from 7,722 at the 2000 census. Almost all of Orange Cove's residents are Hispanic, many of whom are farmers...
, United States. The station, established in 1990, is owned by founder Richard B. Smith and the broadcast license
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...
is held by KMAK-FM, LLC, a limited liability company
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
wholly owned by Smith.
Programming
KMAK broadcasts a Spanish languageSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
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....
music format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
branded as "Radio Fiesta" to the greater Fresno metropolitan area. The station had previously broadcast a similar format under the "La Favorita" branding.
History
In June 1988, Richard B. Smith applied to the Federal Communications CommissionFederal 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...
(FCC) for a construction permit
Construction 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...
to build a new FM radio station. This station would broadcast on 100.3 MHz with 72 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s of effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
from an antenna 632 metres (2,073.5 ft) in height above average terrain
Height above average terrain
Height above average terrain is used extensively in FM radio and television, as it is actually much more important than effective radiated power in determining the range of broadcasts...
. The FCC granted this permit on March 10, 1989, with a scheduled expiration date of September 10, 1990.
The station was assigned the call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
"KMAK" by the FCC on March 23, 1989. Previously, this call sign had been assigned to Fresno-licensed 1340 AM {now KCBL
KCBL
-External links:*...
), which featured now-legendary broadcasters Ron Jacobs
Ron Jacobs (broadcaster)
Ron Jacobs is an American broadcaster, author, record producer and concert promoter. He is best known as the program director of KHJ radio in Los Angeles during its ground-breaking "Boss Radio" period , and as co-creator of the countdown show American Top 40, and the seminal radio program The...
and Robert W. Morgan
Robert W. Morgan
Robert Wilbur Morgan was an award-winning morning radio personality best known for his work at several stations in Los Angeles, California, in particular KHJ-AM....
in the mid-1960s, from its launch in 1953 until changing to "KKAM" in August 1988.
After one extension to its construction permit, the station's broadcast license
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...
was granted by the FCC on December 26, 1990. The station's initial programming format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
was as a simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
of the Christian programming of Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
-based KAMB
KAMB
KAMB is an American radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to Merced, California, United States, KAMB is an independent, commercial-free, listener-supported station.-Translators:...
(101.5 FM). By the late 2000s, the station had segued to its current 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....
music format.
In May 2010, license holder Richard B. Smith applied to the FCC to transfer control of KMAK's broadcast license to KMAK-FM, LLC, a new limited liability company
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
wholly owned by Smith. The FCC accepted this application on May 6, 2010, and approved the transfer on May 14, 2010. After resolving some paperwork in establishing the new company, Smith formally consummated the transfer on July 14, 2010.