| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Fresno metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 97.9MHz |
| Branding | Mega 97.9 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Rhythmic oldies |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KMJ,KMJ-FM,KSKS,KWYE | |
| History | |
First air date | March 15, 1948; 77 years ago (1948-03-15) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Mega Variety" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 18409 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 2,100 watts |
| HAAT | 611 meters (2,005 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 37°4′28.8″N119°25′55.5″W / 37.074667°N 119.432083°W /37.074667; -119.432083 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
KMGV (97.9FM) is acommercial radio station inFresno, California. It is owned byCumulus Media and it airs arhythmic oldies radio format. The station's studios are in the Radio City building on West Shaw Avenue in North Fresno.
KMGV is aClass B station with aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 2,100 watts. Itstransmitter andtower are on Radio Lane in theSierra National Forest, inAuberry, California.
The stationsigned on the air on March 15, 1948.[2] It was originally owned by theMcClatchy Company, publisher ofThe Fresno Bee daily newspaper. FM 97.9 was originally thesister station toKMJ (580 AM), and had thecall sign KMJ-FM. Those call letters are now used on a co-owned station at105.9 FM.
Known as "Music 98", KMJ-FM broadcast classical music for much of its early years. Its studios were at 3636 North First Street. It later switched toautomatedbeautiful music.
In 1981, the call sign was changed to KNAX and the format was flipped tocountry music.[3] KNAX's competition at that time was 1340KMAK, an AM station that had adopted the country format around 1966. By 1985, KMAK had changed format toNews/Talk. That left 97.9 KNAX as the sole country outlet for the Fresno area.
This lasted until 1992 when a station at 93.7 FM became "Kiss Country"KSKS. Both stations co-existed until KNAX was sold to Henry Broadcasting, which also owned KSKS. Management did not want to have two country stations competing with each other. The format of KNAX was altered to a mix ofclassic country with a few currents, while KSKS focused on contemporary country hits. KNAX adopted the nickname of "Kickin' Country 98", and the original KNAX logo was replaced.
In July 1996, KNAX andKRBT were sold from Osborn Communications toAmerican Radio Systems, which would then sell toInfinity Broadcasting in 1998. Infinity Broadcasting was renamedCBS Radio in 2005.
On July 3, 1998, the owners decided to take KNAX in a different direction. The station dropped country music, switching to "Jammin' Oldies" a mix of ClassicR&B,soul music anddisco. The call letters became KMGV, and the moniker was changed to "Mega 97.9".[4] In November 2006, Peak Broadcasting acquired KMGV and several other Fresno market stations from CBS Radio.
On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in whichTownsquare Media would purchase Peak Broadcasting, and then immediately swap Peak's Fresno stations, including KMGV, toCumulus Media in exchange for Cumulus' stations inDubuque, Iowa andPoughkeepsie, New York. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition ofDial Global; Peak, Townsquare, and Dial Global were all controlled byOaktree Capital Management.[5][6] The sale to Cumulus was completed on November 14, 2013.[7]