KRTO

The station originated in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) construction permit issued in 1988 to Armando Garcia for a new station in Guadalupe, California.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/88-OCR/BC-1988-03-14-OCR-Page-0078.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=78 |date=March 14, 1988 |access-date=July 8, 2018 }} Originally holding the call letters KOHD,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/90-OCR/BC-1990-01-22-OCR-Page-0068.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=66 |date=January 22, 1990 |access-date=July 8, 2018 }} it signed on in 1992 as KIDI-FM at the 105.5 MHz frequency with new owner Spanish TV 59.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/92-OCR/BC-1992-11-02-OCR-Page-0092.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Cahners Publishing Company |location=New York |page=72 |date=November 2, 1992 |access-date=July 8, 2018 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/90s-OCR-YB/1996-YB/1996-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0202.pdf |title=Directory of Radio Stations in the U.S. |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook |publisher=R.R. Bowker |location=New Providence, New Jersey |isbn=0-8352-3725-7 |page=B-42 |date=1996 |access-date=July 8, 2018 }} The following year, Spanish TV 59 principal Leo Kesselman merged KIDI-FM with KTAP of Santa Maria into a new entity, Boardwalk Broadcasting Company.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1993/RR-1993-01-15.pdf |title=Colfax Gets Jazzy In Washington To The Tune Of $19.5 Million |magazine=Radio & Records |page=9 |date=January 15, 1993 |access-date=July 8, 2018 }}

In March 1996, Boardwalk Broadcasting announced a sale of KIDI-FM and KTAP to Hispanic Radio Partners L.P. for $550,000;{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/96/R&R-1996-03-22-OCR-Page-0008.pdf |title=WAXQ: From GAF To Entercom To Viacom |magazine=Radio & Records |page=8 |date=March 22, 1996 |access-date=July 10, 2018 }} however, just eight months later in November, Boardwalk sold the combo to Emerald Wave Media for $475,000.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/96/R&R-1996-11-22-OCR-Page-0006.pdf |title=Dorsey Goes Downtown In St. Louis |magazine=Radio & Records |page=6 |date=November 22, 1996 |access-date=July 8, 2018 }} KIDI-FM aired a regional Mexican format at the time.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/00s/02/RR-2002-02-22-OCR-Page-0008.pdf |title=Emmis Exits Denver With Two Big Sales |magazine=Radio & Records |page=6 |date=February 22, 2002 |access-date=July 8, 2018 }}

In 2006, the station aired a Spanish top 40 format known as "Concierto" (Spanish for "concert"); the call letters were changed to KRTO to reflect this branding.{{cite web |url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=38306&Callsign=KIDI-FM |title=Call Sign History: KIDI-FM |website=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=July 10, 2018 }}

In 2007, Emerald Wave Media relocated La Buena from the 105.5 FM frequency to 105.1 FM. This was done to send a cleaner signal towards the Santa Ynez Valley, avoiding interference with Ventura-based KFYV (also at 105.5 FM). However, the KRTO calls were moved to 97.1 FM.{{cite web |url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=7101&Callsign=KRTO |title=Call Sign History: KRTO |website=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=July 10, 2018 }}

File:KRTO-FM_Mega_97.1_logo.png

In mid-2008, Emerald Wave Media flipped the format of 97.1 FM from country music as "Colt 97.1" to rhythmic oldies as "Mega 97.1". Mega is a continuation of the format that aired on KPAT from 1999 to 2004, when it was known as "Mega 95.7" under the ownership of American General Media.

On January 18, 2010, high winds in the Point Sal area caused a power outage that knocked the transmitter for KRTO, KIDI-FM (105.1 FM), and KTAP (1600 AM) off the air. Power to the transmitter and the signals of the sister stations were restored the same day; however, KRTO remained silent for several days following the outage.{{cite news |url=https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/week-s-stormy-weather-causes-local-radio-silence/article_2d9a4402-07f5-11df-acd9-001cc4c03286.html |last=Ramos |first=Julian J. |title=Week's stormy weather causes local radio silence |newspaper=Santa Maria Times |date=January 23, 2010 |access-date=July 10, 2018 }}

In July 2019, KRTO changed their format from rhythmic oldies to rhythmic contemporary, branded as "Mega Hits 97.1".[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/179298/krto-shifts-to-rhythmic-chr/ KRTO Shifys to Rhythmic CHR] RadioInsight - July 30, 2019 On January 4, 2021, KRTO changed their format from rhythmic contemporary to bilingual rhythmic, branded as "Fuego 97.1".[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/203872/krto-goes-en-fuego/ KRTO Goes En Fuego] RadioInsight - January 8, 2021

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website |https://www.fuego971.com/ }}

{{FM station data|7101|KRTO}}

{{Santa Maria-Lompoc Radio}}

{{Rhythmic Contemporary Radio Stations in California}}

RTO

Category:Santa Barbara County, California

Category:Radio stations established in 1992

Category:1992 establishments in California

Category:Rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States

Category:Spanish-language radio stations in California