KZTB
Encyclopedia
KZTB is a radio station
licensed
to serve Milton-Freewater, Oregon
, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in 1992, is currently owned by Adelante Media Group and the broadcast license
is held by Adelante Media Group of Eastern Washington License, LLC.
format as part of Adelante's nationally syndicated "La Gran D" radio network
. The station serves the greater Tri-Cities, Washington
, area. The Tri-Cities area, dubbed the "Heart of Washington's Wine Country", is now home to an increasing population of Hispanic
s, primarily immigrants from Mexico
.
for a new 500 watt
FM station broadcasting on 97.9 MHz from the Federal Communications Commission
on December 14, 1987
. The new station was assigned the call sign
KUDO by the FCC on April 29, 1988. The assigned callsign for the still-under construction station was changed to KLUB on August 1, 1989.
In April 1992, permit holder Nanette Markunas applied to the FCC to transfer the construction permit to Alexandria Communications. The transfer was approved by the FCC on October 2, 1992, and the transaction was consummated on October 16, 1992. While the transfer was in process, the callsign was changed once again, this time to KLKY, on September 21, 1992.
After several extensions, the permit transfer, and an authorization to increase effective radiated power
to 5,100 watts, KLKY received its license to cover
from the FCC on May 17, 1993.
. The deal was approved by the FCC on August 12, 1997, and the transaction was consummated on September 25, 1997. Between approval and consummation, the station's callsign was changed to KTHK on September 10, 1997.
In February 1999, Citadel License, Inc., agreed to sell KTHK to Marathon Media, L.P. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 13, 1999. An October 1999 internal corporate realignment saw Marathon Media, L.P., apply to transfer the license for KTHK to Marathon Media Group, LLC. The transfer was approved by the FCC on November 8, 1999, and the transaction was consummated on November 9, 1999.
In December 2000, Marathon Media Group, LLC, announced it had contracted to sell KTHK to Clear Channel Communications
through its Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc., subsidiary as part of a five-station deal valued at $11 million. The deal was approved by the FCC on February 15, 2001, and the transaction was consummated on February 21, 2001. A January 2001 internal restructuring had Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc., apply to transfer the broadcast license
to Capstar TX Limited Partnership. The transfer was approved by the FCC on February 5, 2001, and the transaction was consummated on April 16, 2001.
The station's call sign was changed to KOLW on July 3, 2003. Just over a year later, in August 2004, Capstar TX Limited Partnership reached an agreement to swap KOLW to ALC Communications in exchange for KHTO (97.5 FM, now KOLW
, in Basin City). ALC Communications also received $1 million cash as part of this transaction. The deal was approved by the FCC on November 9, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on January 11, 2005. While the sale was in progress, on October 31, 2004, the callsign was changed to KHTO, the other station involved in the swap.
In January 2005, ALC Communications applied to the FCC to transfer this station to Alexandra Communications, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 11, 2005, and the transaction was consummated on April 13, 2005.
(Amador S. Bustos, owner/president) for KMMG (101.9 FM, now KUJJ, in Weston, Oregon
) through their subsidiary Bustos Media of Eastern Washington License, LLC. In addition to the Weston station, Bustos Media agreed to pay Alexandra Communications $900,000 in cash at closing. The deal was approved by the FCC on February 22, 2006, and the transaction was consummated on April 10, 2006. At the time of the sale, KHTO broadcast a contemporary hit radio
music format.
The freshly swapped KHTO had its callsign changed to that of its counterpart in the exchange, KMMG, on March 1, 2006. This change was short-lived as less than two weeks later the station was assigned the current KZTB call letters by the FCC on March 14, 2006.
As recently as the Fall 2007 ratings period, KZTB ranked as the top radio station targeting Hispanic listeners in the Tri-Cities area, as defined by Arbitron
, and their 5.6 share tied them for 4th overall in the 12+ rankings. However, the station dropped the locally programmed "Zorro" programming in favor of the "Ke Buena" syndicated fare in April 2007 and the ratings have slipped sharply since then. The programming shift was described as "a reallocation of dollars" by station management. In the Fall 2008 ratings data, released in February 2009, the station had slipped to a 0.9 share 12+ and 22nd overall.
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 Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Milton-Freewater, Oregon
Milton-Freewater is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. The city received its current name in 1951 when the neighboring rival cities of Milton and Freewater voted to merge. The population was 6,470 at the 2000 census...
, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in 1992, is currently owned by Adelante Media Group 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 Adelante Media Group of Eastern Washington License, LLC.
Programming
KZTB broadcasts a Spanish-language regional MexicanRegional 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....
format as part of Adelante's nationally syndicated "La Gran D" radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
. The station serves the greater Tri-Cities, Washington
Tri-Cities, Washington
The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...
, area. The Tri-Cities area, dubbed the "Heart of Washington's Wine Country", is now home to an increasing population of Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
s, primarily immigrants from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The beginning
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...
for a new 500 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:...
FM station broadcasting on 97.9 MHz 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 December 14, 1987
1987 in radio
The year 1987 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 1 — WBEA-FM in Elyria, Ohio drops their "B107" top 40 format to become the second affiliate for the Satellite Music Network's "Z Rock" service, with new WCZR calls....
. The new 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...
KUDO by the FCC on April 29, 1988. The assigned callsign for the still-under construction station was changed to KLUB on August 1, 1989.
In April 1992, permit holder Nanette Markunas applied to the FCC to transfer the construction permit to Alexandria Communications. The transfer was approved by the FCC on October 2, 1992, and the transaction was consummated on October 16, 1992. While the transfer was in process, the callsign was changed once again, this time to KLKY, on September 21, 1992.
After several extensions, the permit transfer, and an authorization to increase 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...
to 5,100 watts, KLKY 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 May 17, 1993.
Major chain ownership
In June 1997, Alexandria Communications reached an agreement to sell this station to Citadel License, Inc., a subsidiary of Citadel BroadcastingCitadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
. The deal was approved by the FCC on August 12, 1997, and the transaction was consummated on September 25, 1997. Between approval and consummation, the station's callsign was changed to KTHK on September 10, 1997.
In February 1999, Citadel License, Inc., agreed to sell KTHK to Marathon Media, L.P. The deal was approved by the FCC on September 13, 1999. An October 1999 internal corporate realignment saw Marathon Media, L.P., apply to transfer the license for KTHK to Marathon Media Group, LLC. The transfer was approved by the FCC on November 8, 1999, and the transaction was consummated on November 9, 1999.
In December 2000, Marathon Media Group, LLC, announced it had contracted to sell KTHK to Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
through its Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc., subsidiary as part of a five-station deal valued at $11 million. The deal was approved by the FCC on February 15, 2001, and the transaction was consummated on February 21, 2001. A January 2001 internal restructuring had Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc., apply to transfer 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...
to Capstar TX Limited Partnership. The transfer was approved by the FCC on February 5, 2001, and the transaction was consummated on April 16, 2001.
The station's call sign was changed to KOLW on July 3, 2003. Just over a year later, in August 2004, Capstar TX Limited Partnership reached an agreement to swap KOLW to ALC Communications in exchange for KHTO (97.5 FM, now KOLW
KOLW
KOLW is a radio station broadcasting Christmas music during the holidays and a Classic Hits format the rest of the year. Licensed to Basin City, Washington, USA, the station serves the Tri-Cities area. The station is currently owned by Townsquare Media.-History:The station went on the air as...
, in Basin City). ALC Communications also received $1 million cash as part of this transaction. The deal was approved by the FCC on November 9, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on January 11, 2005. While the sale was in progress, on October 31, 2004, the callsign was changed to KHTO, the other station involved in the swap.
In January 2005, ALC Communications applied to the FCC to transfer this station to Alexandra Communications, Inc. The deal was approved by the FCC on April 11, 2005, and the transaction was consummated on April 13, 2005.
Swap to Bustos
In December 2005, Alexandra Communications, Inc. (Tom Hodgins, president/treasurer) reached an agreement to swap this station with Bustos MediaBustos Media
Bustos Media Holdings, L.L.C. is a media company headquartered in Portland, OregonBustos Media is a broadcast company specializing in the operation of Spanish-language, and other ethnic, radio stations in the United States. It currently operates a total of seven radio stations in the Portland...
(Amador S. Bustos, owner/president) for KMMG (101.9 FM, now KUJJ, in Weston, Oregon
Weston, Oregon
Weston is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. It was originally a post office called Mitchell's Station, established in February 1867. In September 1869, T.T. Lieuallen renamed the post office after his hometown, Weston, Missouri. The population was 717 at the 2000 census...
) through their subsidiary Bustos Media of Eastern Washington License, LLC. In addition to the Weston station, Bustos Media agreed to pay Alexandra Communications $900,000 in cash at closing. The deal was approved by the FCC on February 22, 2006, and the transaction was consummated on April 10, 2006. At the time of the sale, KHTO broadcast a contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
music format.
The freshly swapped KHTO had its callsign changed to that of its counterpart in the exchange, KMMG, on March 1, 2006. This change was short-lived as less than two weeks later the station was assigned the current KZTB call letters by the FCC on March 14, 2006.
As recently as the Fall 2007 ratings period, KZTB ranked as the top radio station targeting Hispanic listeners in the Tri-Cities area, as defined by 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...
, and their 5.6 share tied them for 4th overall in the 12+ rankings. However, the station dropped the locally programmed "Zorro" programming in favor of the "Ke Buena" syndicated fare in April 2007 and the ratings have slipped sharply since then. The programming shift was described as "a reallocation of dollars" by station management. In the Fall 2008 ratings data, released in February 2009, the station had slipped to a 0.9 share 12+ and 22nd overall.