 | |
| Broadcast area | Bakersfield metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 94.1MHz |
| Branding | Hot 94.1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Rhythmic Top 40 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | American General Media |
| KEBT,KERN,KGEO,KGFM,KKXX-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | 1948; 77 years ago (1948) (as KERN-FM) |
Former call signs | KERN-FM (1948–1970) KLYD-FM (1970-6/4/82) KQXR (6/4/82-8/9/89) KERN-FM (8/9/89-10/1/97)[1] |
Call sign meaning | TheKISs of theValley (Original moniker was "KISS 94.1" until 2002, when it lost the rights to use the "KISS" name in a court case) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 18060 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 4,500watts |
| HAAT | 406 meters (1,332 ft) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | hot941.com |
KISV (94.1FM, "Hot 94.1") is acommercialradio station inBakersfield, California. It airs aRhythmic Top 40radio format and is owned byAmerican General Media. Its studios are in the Easton Business Complex in southwest Bakersfield.
KISV is aClass B FM station. It has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 4,500watts. Thetransmitter is off Breckenridge Road, amid thetowers for several other Bakersfield FM and TV stations, east of the city.[2]
The stationsigned on the air in 1948; 77 years ago (1948).[3] Itscall sign was KERN-FM, thesister station to KERN 1410 AM (nowKERI). KERN-AM-FM wereCBS RadioNetwork affiliates and were owned by theMcClatchy Company, which published several California newspapers and owned other radio stations.
The station was well known in the 1980s as KQXR or Q94 FM. At that time it had a Top 40 format that leaned towards adult contemporary. After rhythmic KKXX 105.3FM beat it in the ratings, KQXR changed direction.
In 1989, the call letters returned to KERN-FM and it aired anoldies format as "94 Oldies." For the next eight years, the station played hits from the years 1955-1974. It featurednationally syndicated shows such asCruisin' America with Cousin Brucie andDick Clark's Rock, Roll & Remember. The oldies format performed fairly well in theArbitron ratings. But in 1997, management decided on a younger format.
The station was relaunched with arhythmic contemporary sound in 1997. It switched its call sign to KISV, representing the word "Kiss" and adding a V for "Valley," as in theCentral Valley of California, where Bakersfield is located. The station's slogan became "The All New KISS 94.1, The Rhythm Of The Valley." That put it back in a battle with 96.5KKXX. (That station would respond by switching signals and relaunching as anR&B/Hip-Hop outlet.)
In 2001,Clear Channel Communications (today's iHeartMedia) bought KKXX. The company sent a "cease and desist" order to KISV. Clear Channel demanded KISV stop using the trademarked"KISS" moniker because the company want to use that slogan for KKXX, which by then was called simply "X96.5". During the court proceedings, KISV 94.1 dropped "Kiss" from its name in compliance. It began calling itself simply "94.1" for the duration of the fight against Clear Channel.
A federal judge agreed and in February 2002 Clear Channel won the case. With the loss, KISV was forced to change its moniker. Shortly thereafter, KISV held a contest to let the listeners decide what the new name of the station would be. The result of this contest was the station's new listener-chosen moniker: "HOT 94.1." Despite having to give up its long-time name, KISV continued to beat KKXX "96.5 KISS-FM" in the ratings. KKXX ended its run as a rhythmic contemporary station in 2004.
A month later, KISV picked up competition from 103.9KBDS, which decided to join KISV as a rhythmic contemporary station. On November 14, 2008 KISV became the only rhythmic outlet in the market after KBDS wentdark due to financial problems caused by the economic recession. It is now ahip hop music station.
KISV continues to be Bakersfield's only rhythmic contemporary station. But it does compete with two mainstream Top 40 outlets, 95.3KLLY, owned byAlpha Media, and 93.1KKXX-FM, owned byAmerican General Media. While KISV is a full-power Class B FM station, KLLY and KKXX-FM have limited coverage areas.
Weekdays on KISV begin with Romeo on mornings. His show featuresHollywood Trash. Program director J. Reed is on middays. His show features the12 O' Clock Movie Match. In afternoondrive time, Randy is heard. His show features the5 O'Clock Traffic Jam with D.J. Wreck in the Mix. Bootleg Kev in heard evenings, with show producer Nico Blitz.
35°26′17″N118°44′24″W / 35.438°N 118.740°W /35.438; -118.740