 | |
| Broadcast area | Sacramento metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | V101.1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic hip hop-leaningRhythmic AC |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | December 21, 1961; 63 years ago (1961-12-21) (as KAFI) |
Former call signs | KAHI-FM (CP; 1960) KAFI (1960–1978) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 10144 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 36,000watts |
| HAAT | 176 meters (577 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | V1011fm.com/ |
KHYL (101.1FM) is acommercialradio station,licensed toAuburn, California, and serving theSacramento metropolitan area. It broadcasts aclassic hip hopradio format and is owned byiHeartMedia, Inc. Thestudios and offices are on River Park Drive, off theCapital City Freeway in North Sacramento near theArden Fair Mall.[2]
KHYL has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 37,000watts. Thetransmitter is on Catecroft Lane inPilot Hill, California.[3] KHYL broadcasts in theHD Radio hybrid format; the HD-2 subchannel formerly playedclassic hits music.
On December 21, 1961, the station firstsigned on with thecall lettersKAFI.[4] It largelysimulcastedsister stationKAHI (950 AM) in Auburn. KAFI and KAHI were owned by Donnelly C. Reeves. KAFI only broadcast at 3,200 watts, with a short antenna, so it could only be heard in and around Auburn.
KAFI got a signal upgrade in 1977 to target theSacramento metropolitan area. In addition, the call letters were changed toKHYL.
As KHYL, the station switched to anoldies format, known as "K-HYL". It dabbled withadult contemporary music in the mid 1980s.
The studios were moved to 2435 Marconi in Sacramento and the branding became "Solid Gold 101" on June 6, 1988,[5] and "Oldies 101" until 1991. John Parker owned the station until American Media purchased and re-branded the station as "COOL 101" in 1991.
COOL 101 was imaged in the style of Drake-Chenault (KYNO/KHJ/KFRC) Top 40 Radio delivery, with the use of theJohnny Mann Boss Radio Jingles, top the hourtimpani and the booming voice ofCharlie Van Dyke. COOL 101 also added theSan Francisco 49ers football broadcasts to the station's schedule, which was not a common move for FM music stations in those days. KHYL was usually one of the top 5 stations in the 25-54 ratingsdemographic during this time (perArbitron).[6]
In 1996, Chancellor Media (later AMFM) purchased American Media, and in 1997, moved to the current location at 1440 Ethan Way in Sacramento. On May 25, 1999, AMFM changed the longtime "Cool" oldies format toRhythmic Oldies as "Magic 101".[6] Rival station KCCL (now known asKHHM) would adopt the "Cool" oldies format after KHYL's flip.
In July 2001, the "Magic 101" branding was dropped in favor of "V101.1." After the switch, the station added R&B songs to theplaylist, followed by more Rhythmic Pop tracks. KHYL made adjustments in its direction by becoming more current with Rhythmic hits and less focused on R&B and Old School product, possibly to entice younger listeners away from Rhythmic Top 40 rivalsKSFM andKHHM.
By August 2014, KHYL officially transitioned torhythmic contemporary, giving Sacramento three different stations with the same format.
With KHYL seeing the lowest ratings of the three, it transitioned toclassic hip hop on January 9, 2015.[7]
From 2008 to 2013, KHYL's HD2 subcarrier offered theDance Top 40 "Club Phusion" format, which was programmed throughiHeartMedia's "Format Lab."[8] Club Phusion replaced anUrban Ballads & Love Songs format, which was launched in 2006.
In 2013, Club Phusion's successor "Evolution" took its place. A few years later, Evolution was replaced with "BigClassic Hits."
38°51′29″N121°01′44″W / 38.858°N 121.029°W /38.858; -121.029