 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Lincoln metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 104.1MHz |
| Branding | 104.1 The Blaze |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Active rock |
| Affiliations | United Stations Radio Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | August 20, 1976 (48 years ago) (1976-08-20) |
Former call signs |
|
Former frequencies | 103.9 MHz (1976–1989) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 640 |
| Class | C2 |
| ERP | 31,000 watts |
| HAAT | 187 meters (614 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kibz.com |
KIBZ (104.1 FM, "104.1 The Blaze") is acommercial radio stationlicensed toCrete, Nebraska, and serving theLincoln metropolitan area. It airs anactive rockradio format and is owned byAlpha Media. KIBZ's studios are on Cornhusker Highway (U.S. Route 6) in Northeast Lincoln. KIBZ is aClass C2 station. It has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 31,000 watts. Thetransmitter is off SW 29th Road near West Gage Road inHallam.[2]
The stationsigned on the air on August 20, 1976; 48 years ago (August 20, 1976).[3] The originalcall sign was KTAP, targetingSaline County. It was owned by Airwaves Broadcasting Service and it originally broadcast on 103.9 FM, aClass A frequency with only 3,000 watts of power.
In 1986, the call letters changed to KBVB. In January 1989, after the station was sold to new owners, KBVB moved to 104.1 FM, which allowed it to increase its power as a Class C2 station. After an 82-hourstunting with a loop of "Rock Around the Clock" byBill Haley & His Comets, on January 10, the station relaunched as KKNB', "B104", and began airing aTop 40 (CHR) format, competing withKFRX.[4] In March 1993, it flipped toalternative rock as "The Planet".[5] On June 20, 1996, KKNB shifted tomodern adult contemporary as "The Point", and would network with its then-sister stationKTNP inOmaha.[6]
On November 24, 2000, at 8 am, after three days of stunting with a loop of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" byThurl Ravenscroft, KKNB flipped back to Top 40/CHR as "Kiss 104 FM", and changed call letters to KSLI-FM.[7][8]
On March 17, 2004, at noon, KIBZ and itsactive rock format known as "The Blaze" moved to 104.1 from 106.3 FM. After two days of simulcasting, the 106.3 frequency would stunt with construction sounds ahead of a flip toadult contemporary as KLMY on March 24.[9][10][11]
Clear Channel Communications sold KIBZ to Three Eagles Communications on April 10, 2007. Three Eagles Communications sold KIBZ to Digity, LLC on February 10, 2014. The sale, which included KIBZ and 47 co-owned stations, was consummated on September 12, at a price of $66.5 million.
On January 23, 2012, KIBZ was granted aFederal Communications Commission (FCC)construction permit to move to a new transmitter site, increase ERP to 40,000 watts and decrease HAAT to 116.1 meters. It later increased its HAAT to 187 meters (614 feet) while dropping power to 31,000 watts.
Effective February 25, 2016, Digity, LLC, and its 124 radio stations including KIBZ, were acquired byAlpha Media for $264 million.
40°31′06″N96°46′08″W / 40.5183°N 96.7689°W /40.5183; -96.7689