KPSL-FM

{{short description|Radio station in Bakersfield, California}}

{{for|the Bakersfield, California, radio station formerly on this frequency|KQKZ}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = KPSL-FM

| logo =

| logo_size =

| city = Bakersfield, California

| area = Bakersfield, California

| branding = 96.5 Ritmo FM

| frequency = 96.5 MHz {{HD Radio}}

| airdate = August 24, 1963

| format = Spanish Rhythmic

| subchannels = HD2: Simulcast of KIWI

| erp = 50,000 watts

| haat = 152 meters (499 feet)

| class = B

| facility_id = 28847

| licensing_authority = FCC

| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|35|29|08|N|118|53|19|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark}}}}

| callsign_meaning =

| former_callsigns = KIFM (1963–1975)
KHIS (1976–1977)
KHIS-FM (1977{{snd}}1996)
KSMJ (1996{{snd}}1998)
KKXX-FM (1998{{snd}}2004)
KBKO-FM (2004{{snd}}2008)
KDFO (2008)
KBKO-FM (2008)
KVMX (2008{{snd}}2011){{cite news |work=FCC |title=KPSL-FM Callsign History |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=28847&Callsign=KPSL-FM |access-date=2008-02-21}}

| affiliations =

| owner = Lotus Communications

| licensee = Lotus Bakersfield Corp.

| sister_stations = KCHJ, KIWI, KQKZ, KWAC

| webcast = {{listenlive|https://965ritmofm.com}}

| website = [https://965ritmofm.com 965ritmofm.com]

}}

KPSL-FM (96.5 MHz) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish variety format. Licensed to Bakersfield, California, United States, the station serves the Bakersfield area. The station is currently owned by Lotus Communications.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KPSL-FM |title=KPSL-FM Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}

History

;KIFM (1963–1975):96.5 FM Bakersfield signed on-the-air on August 24, 1963, as KIFM. From 1966 to 1969 the KIFM format was Top 40. In 1969 the station was purchased by Faith Center, Glendale, California. The format was Christian. Part of the time the station simulcast with KHOF 99.5 Los Angeles. The call letters KIFM now belong to a radio station in West Sacramento.

;KHIS/KHIS-FM (1976–1996):In 1975, 96.5 FM was bought by the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. On January 1, 1976, the call letters were changed to KHIS and to KHIS-FM on January 3, 1977, when the church bought 800 AM KUZZ and turned it into KHIS (now KBFP). KHIS-FM aired a religious/Contemporary Christian music format until December 27, 1996.

;KSMJ (1996–1998): On September 30, 1996, Foursquare sold KHIS-AM-FM to Hemisphere Broadcasting of Bakersfield for $2.65 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-10-07.pdf|work=Broadcasting and Cable|date=October 7, 1996|title=Changing Hands|page=38|access-date=August 13, 2019}} On December 27, 1996, the call letters KHIS-FM were changed to KSMJ. KSMJ aired a smooth jazz music format branded as Smooth Jazz 96-5 KSMJ.

;KKXX (1998–2004): On July 2, 1998, KSMJ moved up the dial to 98.5 FM and radio station KKXX-FM moved from 105.3 FM to 96.5 FM alternating between a rhythmic top 40 and Top 40 music format until September 3, 2004. The station was branded as X96.5 and at the time was owned by Mondosphere Broadcasting. On August 16, 2000, Mondosphere Broadcasting was sold to Clear Channel Communications. Clear Channel relabeled KKXX-FM from X96.5 to 96.5 KISS-FM which was modeled after its sister station KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and also stated that no changes were expected at that time.{{cite news |first=Christine |last=Malamanig |title=Texas-Based Clear Channel Communications Buys 12 California Radio Stations |date=August 25, 2000 |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6489664_ITM |work=Bakersfield Californian }}

;KBKO (2004–2008): On September 3, 2004, the format was changed to country with the call sign changing to KBKO-FM. The station was branded as Big 96-5. Later, it was rebranded as 96-5 KBKO. On February 15, 2008, the KBKO-FM call letters and the country music format were briefly moved to 98.5 FM in a frequency swap with KDFO, a classic rock station which then became 96-5 The Fox.{{cite news |url=http://radioinsight.com/headlines/netgnomes/421/spinoffs-and-swaps/ |title=KBKO and KDFO Bakersfield Swap Frequencies |work=RadioInsight |last=Venta |first=Lance |date=February 17, 2008 |access-date=June 11, 2017}} On Friday, June 20, 2008, the two stations were moved back to their previous frequencies after a four-month, swap.{{cite news |url=http://www.bakersfield.com/137/story/476666.html |title=Radio stations switch spots on the dial |publisher=Bakersfield.com |archive-date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=June 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203055533/http://www.bakersfield.com/137/story/476666.html |url-status=dead }}

;KVMX (2008{{ndash}}2011): On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, KBKO-FM was sold to Lotus Communications and the station began stunting before revealing the new format. At noon on August 5, 2008, the station announced a new classic hits format branded as 96.5 Max-FM. The new format was led off with "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones.{{cite news |url=http://radioinsight.com/netgnomes/max-knows-bakersfield/ |title=Max Knows Bakersfield |work=RadioInsight |access-date=2008-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812044020/http://radioinsight.com/netgnomes/max-knows-bakersfield/ |archive-date=2008-08-12 |url-status=dead }} On August 13, 2008, the KBKO-FM call sign was changed to KVMX.{{cite news |url=http://www.radio-info.com/news/bakersfields-kbko-flips-from-country-to-max-fm |title=Bakersfield's KBKO flips from country to "Max FM" |date=August 5, 2008 |work=Radio-Info.com }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

;KPSL-FM (2011{{ndash}}present):On September 8, 2011, Lotus Communications made a frequency change to two of its stations, KVMX and KPSL-FM which swapped frequencies. KPSL-FM is now at 96.5 FM and is branded as Concierto 96.5 FM and KVMX is now at 92.1 FM. On July 31, 2018, KPSL-FM changed their format from Spanish adult hits to regional Mexican, branded as "La Ley 96.5".[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/169746/la-ley-enters-bakersfield/ La Ley Enters Bakersfield] Radioinsight - July 31, 2018 On February 11, 2025, KPSL-FM rebranded as "96.5 Ritmo FM", and shifted to a Spanish rhythmic format.

Programming

Programming on this station includes Alex "El Genio" Lucas on mornings, Rosmar Vega on mid-days, El Fantasma on afternoons, and Concierto 96.5 Music overnights, and weekends. Show De Thalia is on Saturday evenings.

References

{{Reflist}}