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KKSM
Broadcast areaNorth County San Diego
Frequency1320 kHz
Programming
FormatAlternative rock, freeform
Ownership
OwnerPalomar College
History
First air date
1956
Former call signs
  • KSLR (1956–1958)
  • KUDE (1958–1983)
  • KEZL (1983–1985)
  • KNNC (1985–1986)
  • KGMG (1986–1994)
  • KKLQ (1994–1996)
Call sign meaning
SM for San Marcos
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID51506
ClassB
Power500 watts
Transmitter coordinates
33°12′08″N 117°20′17″W / 33.20222°N 117.33806°W / 33.20222; -117.33806
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.palomar.edu/kksm

KKSM (1320 AM) is a college radio station broadcasting full-time at 1320 kHz from the campus of Palomar College in San Marcos, California, United States. The station, licensed to nearby Oceanside, simulcasts via Cox Cable channel 957 and streams via the internet. Its format includes freeform programs, alternative rock music, and local sports and talk shows; students make up the on-air staff and handle most of the station's operations.

Palomar began broadcasting on 1320 kHz in 1996, when it was donated the former KKLQ AM. The facility had been in Oceanside since 1956 under various call letters and formats, the longest-lasting call sign being KUDE. Palomar's radio program began with the establishment of carrier current and later cable radio station "KSM" in 1976. In 2016, the station operated on a $10,000 budget from the college.[2]

1320 kHz in Oceanside

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On November 2, 1955, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted an application from the San Luis Rey Broadcasting Company to build a new 500-watt AM radio station on 1320 kHz in Oceanside.[3] The station began broadcasting as KSLR in June 1956. It was sold to Pacific Broadcasters in 1958 and changed its call sign to KUDE; the next year, it was acquired by the Dolph-Pettey Broadcasting Company.[3] A companion FM station, KUDE-FM 102.1, was established in 1962.

KUDE and the FM station, then known as KJFM, were acquired by Par Broadcasting Corporation in 1982. Writing for North County Magazine, Ken Leighton described KUDE as "an automated country station that was not held in high esteem by those in the broadcasting community".[4] The two stations were relaunched as KEZL with an adult standards format until the FM flipped to adult contemporary in 1984. Larry Shushan, the general manager, then overhauled KEZL AM as KNNC "K-News North County" in 1985. The idea was to give North County a localized version of an all-news station, much like the popular KNX in Los Angeles.[4] However, ratings were poor.[5]

As a result of the low ratings, KEZL and KNNC dropped their formats in 1986 and became a simulcasting oldies station, "Magic 102", with KGMG call letters.[6] The nostalgic music format survived an intended format flip in 1989 after more than 1,000 listener comments were received.[7][8]

In 1994, the nostalgia format was ended for a simulcast of another station Par Broadcasting owned, KKLQ-FM 106.5.[9]

History of radio at Palomar College

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In 1976, "KSM" began as the carrier current radio station at Palomar College. It first broadcast from a closet in the former drama lab.[10] By the late 1980s, it was only available outside of campus as a cable radio channel on the local Cox cable system.[11] During the week, it aired blocks of Top 40, alternative, and album-oriented rock formats, along with specialty programming on weekends.[12]

Par Broadcasting agreed to acquire six radio stations from Compass Radio Group, including San Diego's KCBQ-AM-FM, in late 1995. In order to meet ownership limits, Par had to divest itself of KKLQ AM, and Par negotiated to donate it to Palomar College.[13] The transaction took effect on April 1, 1996, when 1320 was turned over to Palomar College and became KKSM, bringing the former KSM format to a broadcast facility.[14]

Famous alumni of KKSM include Fox Sports announcer Jeanne Zelasko; network TV voice Erik Thompson; adult film star and Playboy Radio host Kylie Ireland; and nerdcore rapper Zealous1.[15]

Coverage

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Coverage is along a crescent-shaped area stretching in a north–south direction from San Juan Capistrano to La Jolla and in an east–west direction from Interstate 15 to the coast.[citation needed] The 500-watt tower was designed to be heard in boats offshore.[2]

Accolades

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KKSM was recognized in 1996 as one of the five best college radio stations in the U.S. by the National Association of Broadcasters.[16] In 2013, the station won the Golden Microphone award from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System for Best Community College Station.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KKSM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ a b c Warth, Gary (2016-11-12). "Palomar's KKSM recognized as top for 2-year college radio". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  3. ^ a b "FCC History Cards for KKSM". Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ a b "News/talk radio makes news: North County stations sounding out listeners". Times-Advocate. October 3, 1985. p. North County Magazine 26, 27, 28. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Schlesinger, Nancy (January 20, 1986). "Government cuts person some slack". Times-Advocate. p. D1. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (September 30, 1986). "North County Stations Play Radio Roulette". The Los Angeles Times. p. San Diego VI:1, 4. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Doll, Pancho (October 5, 1989). "Station dumps nostalgia, Doug Best, opts for rock". Times-Advocate. pp. B1, B2. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Doll, Pancho (November 3, 1989). "Fans win brief reprieve for station format". Times-Advocate. pp. B1, B2. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Leighton, Ken (May 27, 1994). "Blood of Abraham: Jewish rap that's more than shtick". Times-Advocate. pp. Go 10, 11, 24. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "They Have the Airwaves". Today's Local News. November 8, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  11. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (March 14, 1986). "Going is rough for S.D. college radio stations". The Los Angeles Times. p. San Diego VI:1, 17. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (March 14, 1986). "College stations prove radio can be different". The Los Angeles Times. p. San Diego VI:17. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Diehl, Phil (October 25, 1995). "Palomar College in line for a radio station". Times-Advocate. p. B3. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Leighton, Ken (March 29, 1996). "Quartet of local radio stations change hands". North County Times. p. Preview 30. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Leighton, Ken (March 3, 2020). "Palomar, SDSU, City College – which one for future DJs?". San Diego Reader. Archived from the original on 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  16. ^ Hunter, Deniene (December 30, 1996). "Palomar radio station earns honor: College takes position among top five in U.S. despite modest budget". North County Times. p. B-3. Retrieved May 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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