KBOX

This article is about the California radio station. For other uses, see KBOX (disambiguation).
KBOX
Broadcast areaSanta Maria—Lompoc, California
Frequency104.1 MHz
BrandingPirate Radio 104.1
Programming
FormatAdult hits
AffiliationsWestwood One
Ownership
Owner
KPAT, KRQK, KSNI-FM, KSMA
History
First air date
December 24, 1968 (as KLOM-FM at 92.7)
Former call signs
KLOM-FM (1968–1979)
KLPC-FM (1979–1984)
KXCC-FM (1984–1986)
Former frequencies
92.7 MHz (1968–1989)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID7049
ClassB1
ERP3,300 watts
HAAT274 meters (899 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
34°44′29.9″N 120°26′48.5″W / 34.741639°N 120.446806°W / 34.741639; -120.446806
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Website1041pirateradio.com

KBOX (104.1 FM, "Pirate Radio 104.1") is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Lompoc, California and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc area. The station is owned by American General Media and broadcasts an adult hits format. It is programmed locally with support from Radiocrunch and is no longer featuring programming provided via satellite by Westwood One.

History

The station first signed on December 24, 1968 as KLOM-FM on the 92.7 FM frequency. Originally, the station was owned by Communications Corporation of America and broadcast a middle of the road music format as a simulcast of its AM sister station KLOM (1330 AM, now defunct).[2] On October 9, 1975, Communications Corporation of America sold KLOM-AM-FM to Robert D. Janecek for $200,000.[3]

In April 1979, KLOM-FM changed its call letters to KLPC-FM.[4] Simultaneously, Janecek sold the station pair to D 'n' T Broadcasting Inc., owned by Richard N. Savage, for $1 million.[5] On August 24, 1984, the station switched its call sign to KXCC-FM.[4][6]

On July 16, 1986, Golden Coast Broadcasting Inc. sold KXCC-FM to Broadcast Management Consultants Inc. for $750,000.[7] The new owner changed the station's call letters to KBOX on November 1.[4][8]

On May 31, 1988, KBOX was granted a construction permit for a transmitter that would broadcast on the 104.1 MHz frequency with an effective radiated power of 5,700 watts at a height above average terrain of 208 meters (682 ft).[9] At the time of the frequency change the following year, the station aired a soft adult contemporary music format. The station was known as "Lite 104.1".[10]

In 2000, American General Media took control of KBOX upon closing on its purchase from Broadcast Management Consultants. By 2007, the station adopted an adult hits format under the branding "Pirate Radio".[11]

On January 18, 2010 at 11:30 a.m., high winds in the Santa Maria area triggered a power outage that knocked several stations off the air, including KBOX. The station resumed broadcasting one hour later under generator power.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KBOX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1971. p. B-21. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. October 20, 1975. p. 57. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Call Sign History: KBOX". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. April 30, 1979. p. 32. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. September 3, 1984. p. 74. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. July 28, 1986. p. 99. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  8. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. November 10, 1986. p. 102. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. August 22, 1988. p. 71. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  10. ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1989. p. B-43. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  11. ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. R.R. Bowker. 2007. p. D-98. ISBN 978-0-8352-4849-5. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  12. ^ Ramos, Julian J. (January 23, 2010). "Week's stormy weather causes local radio silence". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved July 22, 2018.