 | |
| Broadcast area | Santa Maria, California |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.5MHz |
| Branding | Sunny Country 102.5 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Country |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KBOX,KPAT,KRQK,KSMA | |
| History | |
First air date | 1960 (as KSMA-FM) |
Former call signs | KSMA-FM (1960–1980) |
Call sign meaning | KSuNny CountryI |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 4122 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 13,500watts |
| HAAT | 262 meters (860 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | sunnycountry.com |
KSNI-FM (102.5FM, "Sunny Country 102.5") is a commercialradio station that islicensed toSanta Maria, California, United States and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc, California area. The station is owned byAmerican General Media and broadcasts acountry music format.
The station was first signed on in 1960 asKSMA-FM by James M. Hagerman and John I. Groom.[2] Itsimulcast thefull service format of itsAM sister stationKSMA (1240 AM), airing a mix of news, sports, andmiddle of the road music.[3]Stereophonic sound broadcasts began in 1970.[4]
In January 1980, Hagerman and Nona M. Groom sold KSMA-AM and FM to Bayliss Broadcasting Company for $1.4 million. The company was owned by John Bayliss, who resigned from his position as president ofGannett Company's radio division to manage the Santa Maria stations.[5] TheFederal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the sale on May 12.[6]
Upon the change in ownership, Bayliss ended KSMA-FM's simulcast of KSMA after two decades and programmed it separately as abeautiful music outlet.[7] The FM station changed itscall sign to KSNI-FM in August 1980.[8] The format lasted only three years as the station flipped tocountry music in 1983,[9] adopting the branding "Sunny Country".
On March 1, 1989, the transmitters for KSNI-FM and three other stations in Santa Maria were knocked off the air due to acts of vandalism. Around 1 a.m., two males, ages 18 and 15, broke into the transmitters' circuit breakers and switched them off; the signals were restored within an hour. That same day at 9:14 p.m., the towers fell asguy wires supporting the structures had been severed. Total damage was estimated to be $100,000.[10][11]
In August 1999, Bayliss Broadcasting sold KSNI-FM and KSMA toFresno, California-based Mondosphere Broadcasting for $3.75 million.[12][13] The new owner took possession of the combo on September 30.[14]
KSNI-FM changed hands twice in the 2000s. In September 2000, Mondosphere sold 11 stations throughout Central California, includingKSNI-FM, plus aconstruction permit for a twelfth station, toClear Channel Communications for $45 million.[15] In July 2007, KSNI-FM was one of 16 stations in California and Arizona which Clear Channel sold to El Dorado Broadcasters for $40 million.[16]
During the week of January 18, 2010, a storm in the Santa Maria area triggered a power outage that knocked KSNI-FM and several other stations off the air. The station resumed broadcasting under generator power after two hours of silence.[17]
From April 2012 to April 2016, KSNI-FM was simulcast on sister stationKSLY-FM (96.1 FM) in the adjacentSan Luis Obispo market. The two stations co-branded as "Sunny Country 102.5 & 96.1".[18]
In early 2016, El Dorado began selling off its stations on theCentral Coast of California. KSNI-FM and KSMA constituted the first of these divestments as, on February 26,American General Media purchased the pair for $1.5 million.[19][20] The close of the transaction in April ended the simulcast of Sunny Country on KSLY-FM, which remained with El Dorado and launched a competing country format.[21]
34°50′10″N120°24′11″W / 34.836°N 120.403°W /34.836; -120.403