KTAP
Broadcast areaSanta Maria—Lompoc, California
Frequency1600 kHz
BrandingRadio Ranchito
Programming
FormatRegional Mexican
Ownership
OwnerEmerald Wave Media
KIDI-FM, KRTO
History
First air date
June 10, 1962 (as KWHL)
Former call signs
KWHL (1962)
KHER (1962–1967)
KZON (1967–1986)
Technical information
Facility ID6142
ClassD
Power470 watts day
26 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
34°58′48″N 120°27′12″W / 34.98000°N 120.45333°W / 34.98000; -120.45333
Translator(s)92.9 K225CG (Santa Maria, California)

KTAP (1600 AM, "Radio Ranchito") is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Santa Maria, California and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc area. The station is owned by Emerald Wave Media and broadcasts a regional Mexican radio format. KTAP is rebroadcast on FM translator K225CG at 92.9 FM in Santa Maria.

History

The station originally was assigned the call sign KWHL by the Federal Communications Commission, but it first signed on June 10, 1962 as KHER.[1][2][3] The station adopted the KZON call letters in 1967.[4]

In August 1986, KZON changed its call letters to KTAP.[5]

In May 1989, Leo Kesselman sold KTAP to Buenos Diaz Broadcasting Inc., owned by Eduardo Diaz, for $425,000.[6] However, the station would return to Kesselman's possession only two years later.[7]

In March 1996, Kesselman's Boardwalk Broadcasting Company announced a sale of KTAP and sister station KIDI-FM to Hispanic Radio Partners L.P. for $550,000;[8] however, just eight months later in November, Boardwalk sold the combo to Emerald Wave Media for $475,000.[9] In February 2002, Emerald Wave president George Ruiz bought out his partner's shares, taking sole ownership of the station pair for $260,000. KIDI-FM aired a regional Mexican format at the time.[10]

In April 2016, Emerald Wave Media purchased an FM translator in Visalia, California from Living Proof, Inc. for $28,000. The translator was relocated to Santa Maria and began rebroadcasting KTAP as K225CG at 92.9 FM.[11]

On January 18, 2010, high winds in the Point Sal area caused a power outage that knocked 11 of 14 local radio stations (including KTAP) off the air. Using generators, KTAP quickly resumed broadcasting.[12]

References

  1. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. December 4, 1961. p. 127. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. January 29, 1962. p. 89. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  3. ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada" (PDF). Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1988. p. B-41. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. January 16, 1967. p. 77. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. September 1, 1986. p. 106. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. May 8, 1989. p. 89. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. February 25, 1991. p. 55. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  8. ^ "WAXQ: From GAF To Entercom To Viacom" (PDF). Radio & Records. March 22, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  9. ^ "Dorsey Goes Downtown In St. Louis" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 22, 1996. p. 6. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  10. ^ "Emmis Exits Denver With Two Big Sales" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 22, 2002. p. 6. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  11. ^ "Binnie Buys Two In Dover, NH". All Access. All Access Music Group. April 13, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  12. ^ Ramos, Julian J. (January 23, 2010). "Week's stormy weather causes local radio silence". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved July 10, 2018.

External links

Radio stations in the Santa Maria–Lompoc, California area
Categories