KMAK

For the Fresno, California, radio station licensed as KMAK from 1953 to 1988, see KCBL.
KMAK
Broadcast areaFresno, California
Frequency100.3 MHz
BrandingRadio 100.3 La Unika Mexicana
Programming
Language(s)Spanish
FormatRegional Mexican
Ownership
Owner
  • Richard B. Smith
  • (KMAK-FM, LLC)
History
First air date
1990
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID56145
ClassA
ERP72 watts
HAAT632 meters (2,073 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
36°44′45″N 119°16′58″W / 36.74583°N 119.28278°W / 36.74583; -119.28278
Links
Public license information
Websitekmakfm.com

KMAK (100.3 FM, "La Unika Mexicana") 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.

Programming

KMAK broadcasts a Spanish language Regional Mexican music format branded as "Radio 100.3 La Unika Mexicana" to the greater Fresno metropolitan area.[2] 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 Commission (FCC) for a construction permit to build a new FM radio station. This station would broadcast on 100.3 MHz with 72 watts of effective radiated power from an antenna 632 meters (2,073 ft) in height above average terrain. The FCC granted this permit on March 10, 1989, with a scheduled expiration date of September 10, 1990.[3]

The station was assigned the call sign "KMAK" by the FCC on March 23, 1989.[4] 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.[5][6][7] KMAK Fresno sported a rather unique radio tower, with the call letters K-M-A-K displayed in large, red neon characters on the tower, which was near Fresno and McKinley Streets in the city.

After one extension to its construction permit, the station's broadcast license was granted by the FCC on December 26, 1990.[8] The station's initial programming format was as a simulcast of the Christian programming of Merced-based KAMB (101.5 FM).[3][7] By the late 2000s, the station had segued to its current Regional Mexican music format.[2]

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.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KMAK". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b "Winter 2011 Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BPH-19880629MD)". FCC Media Bureau. March 10, 1989. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  4. ^ "KMAK Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  5. ^ "Directory of AM and FM Stations and Market Data for the United States". 1954 Broadcasting Yearbook-Marketbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1954. p. 84.
  6. ^ "KCBL Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Radio Station KRGO is Gone, But KMAK is Back". Fresno Bee. October 31, 1990. Retrieved March 2, 2011. The valley's newest radio station has one of the area's venerable call signs, KMAK. Owner-general manager Richard Smith said his Orange Cove-headquartered station simulcasts Christian programming of KAMB-FM (101.5) in Merced.
  8. ^ "Application Search Details (BLH-19900911KB)". FCC Media Bureau. December 26, 1990. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  9. ^ "Application Search Details (BALH-20100505AFO)". FCC Media Bureau. July 14, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2011.