 | |
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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Sacramento metro area |
| Frequency | 96.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 96-9 The Eagle |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Classic rock |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | October 2, 1959 (1959-10-02) |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "Sacramento's Eagle" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 11281 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 152 meters (499 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 38°38′53″N121°28′42″W / 38.6480°N 121.4783°W /38.6480; -121.4783 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (via Audacy) |
| Website | www |
KSEG (96.9MHz "The Eagle") is acommercialFMradio station inSacramento, California. It airs aclassic rockradio format and is owned byAudacy, Inc. Thestudios and offices are located on Madison Avenue inNorth Highlands (with a Sacramento address).[2] KSEG is co-owned with five other Sacramento Audacy radio stations.
KSEG has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000watts. Thetransmitter is off North Market Boulevard in Sacramento, nearSteelhead Creek.[3] KSEG broadcasts in theHD Radio hybrid format.
On October 2, 1959, after beginning testing the previous month, the stationsigned on. Itscall sign was KSFM. It was owned by local radio personality Fred White andKXTV engineer Bob Stofan, doing business as the Audiolab Company.[4] KSFM playedclassical music from studios and a transmitter site in Arden Town.[5] In 1961, the station moved its studios and transmitter to a site on Rosebud Lane, increasing power from 6,400 to 64,000 watts.[4]
KSFM went silent for 90 days on October 11, 1963, to permit a financial reorganization of the station.[6] That December, a judge ordered the station to return $16,000 worth of equipment to the Collins Radio Company after not making monthly payments on its purchase.[7] It was announced in August that the Belltone Music Company would assume operations of the silent station, with an affiliated background music service broadcast on its subcarrier.[8]
This prompted a lawsuit from Dale Flewelling, founder ofKXRQ (98.5 FM). Flewelling, who had bought KSFM's existing background music business in December 1962, charged that KSFM's reentry into that market violated a non-compete clause and sought an injunction to prevent such activity at KSFM until December 1965.[9] The Flewelling lawsuit was dismissed in January 1965.[10]
In 1971, KSFM was acquired by PSA Broadcasting, a division ofPacific Southwest Airlines. While there were no changes in personnel as a result of the purchase, PSA changed the station to abeautiful music format, as its other stations had, and the call letters changed to KPSC.[11] (The KSFM call letters were adopted by102.5 FM in June 1972.) PSA chosecall signs for its four stations in California with designations including the letters "EZ." KPSC thus became KEZS in 1973.[12]
In 1975, Atlantic States Industries, owners of popularTop 40 stationKROY1240 AM, acquired KEZS. To echo its newsister station, the call letters were changed to KROI.[13] KROY-KROI was acquired in 1978 by Jonsson Broadcasting Corporation, with the two stations fetching $1.65 million and $1.1 million, respectively.[14] While separately programmed from the AM station as analbum-oriented rock station, KROI became KROY-FM on April 23, 1979. Management believed the separate KROI designation confused advertisers used to the more familiar KROY call letters.[15]
The rapid rise ofKZAP after its 1978 sale to Western Cities Broadcasting gave KROY-FM a powerful rock competitor.
In 1984, KROY-FM became adult contemporary outlet KSAC, doing what a number of Sacramento radio stations had attempted to do but fail—secure the call letters that had belonged tothe radio station of Kansas State University since the early days of radio.[16] That station had been KSAC, since the university was known as Kansas State Agricultural College when it was founded. 1984 was its 60th anniversary, and the station's longtime desire to obtain call letters containing KSU, plus a $25,000 offer from the Sacramento station and FCC deregulation, helped secure the change.[17]
Dick Tracy, radio columnist for theSacramento Bee, questioned Jonsson's management of its Sacramento stations, noting that "long-range ineptitude" had caused listenership to its local stations to decline considerably.[18] Jonsson moved its stations to new quarters in the American River Commons office park.[19]
In 1985, Jonsson sold its two Sacramento radio stations to Commonwealth Broadcasting for $12 million.[20] Commonwealth relaunched 96.9 FM ashot adult contemporary/contemporary hit radio KROY-FM (branded as "97 KROY"), restoring the call letters that Jonsson had moved toa station in Reno, and moved KSAC to 1240 AM.[21] Ratings surged from a 2.2 to a 5.9 in 1987, coming close to beatingKSFM (102.5 FM), which had led the market overall prior to the creation of 97 KROY.[22]
In 1988,Great American Broadcasting acquired KROY for $11.8 million.[23]
On November 12, 1990, KROY became KSEG, flipping from CHR to classic rock; the first song under the new format was "Fly Like an Eagle" by theSteve Miller Band.[24] The move came as the CHR format was in a decline, and Sacramento had three stations in the format.[25] The flip to classic rock put KZAP on notice and surpassed it in the ratings; ultimately, that station bowed out of the competition and flipped to country in January 1992.[26]
KSEG attracted local attention in its early years for giving away condoms in anAIDS education campaign,[27] while in 1993, GovernorPete Wilson took an air shift on its "Classic Nine at 9" program for his 60th birthday, taking KSEG up on a long-standing offer.[28]
In 1993, Great American Broadcasting acquired rock outletKRXQ (93.7 FM), which targeted a younger audience.[29] AfterJacor Communications acquired Great American, it sold both Sacramento stations to Entercom, which at the same time purchasedKXOA-FM 107.9; the two Jacor pickups sold for $45 million.[30] In the wake of the sale, KSEG dismissed its morning show team of Jeff McMurray and Mark Davis, ultimately replacing them withThe Mark & Brian Show from Los Angeles.[31] The current morning show is hosted by market veteran Pat Martin, who joined the station on July 6, 2021, after a 33 year run at sister station KRXQ.
KSEG was the Sacramento market affiliate forSan Francisco 49ers game broadcasts, directly contracting with San Francisco stationKGO for the rights. When the Niners changed flagships toKNBR ahead of the 2005 season, however, KSEG lost the rights alongside KGO and opted not to even pursue a new deal, citing KNBR's strong signal into Sacramento.[32]