KSLY

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

{{Infobox radio station

| logo = KLOVE 2014.svg

| name = KSLY

| city = San Luis Obispo, California

| area = San Luis Obispo, California

| branding = K-Love

| frequency = 96.1 MHz

| airdate = December 1959 (as {{nowrap|KATY-FM}})

| format = Contemporary Christian

| erp = 4,500 watts

| haat = {{convert|443|m|ft|sp=us}}

| class = B

| facility_id = 58894

| callsign_meaning =

| former_callsigns = KATY-FM (1959–1973)
KUNA (1973–1979)
KUNA-FM (1979–1980)
KUNA (1980–1984)
KSLY-FM (1984–2016)

| owner = Educational Media Foundation

| licensee =

| sister_stations =

| website = {{URL |https://www.klove.com/ |klove.com }}

| affiliations = K-Love

| licensing_authority= FCC

}}

KSLY (96.1 FM, "K-Love") is a non-commercial radio station that is licensed to San Luis Obispo, California. Owned by Educational Media Foundation, the station carries a contemporary Christian music format from the nationally syndicated K-Love network as of October 16, 2016.

History

=Early years=

The station first signed on in December 1959 as KATY-FM, simulcasting then-sister station KATY.{{cite news |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/80s/84/RR-1984-12-14-OCR-Page-0043.pdf |title=Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S. |magazine=Broadcasting Yearbook |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=A-121 |date=1960 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }} It adopted the call sign KUNA in 1973.

In January 1976, KSLY Broadcasting Company sold KUNA and AM counterpart KSLY to a Chicago-based group for $535,000.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/76-OCR/1976-01-05-BC-OCR-Page-0034.pdf |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |date=January 5, 1976 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }} KUNA, which aired a beautiful music format, changed its call letters to KUNA-FM on January 15, 1979, then back to KUNA the following year.{{cite web |url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=58894&Callsign=KSLY |title=Call Sign History: KSLY |website=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}

=KSLY-FM=

In February 1984, KUNA switched call signs and formats with KSLY, which aired a top 40 format.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/80s/84/RR-1984-12-14-OCR-Page-0055.pdf |title=1984: CHR Is Back And Stronger Than Ever |last=Denver |first=Joel |magazine=Radio and Records |date=December 14, 1984 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }} The FM station, using new call letters KSLY-FM, adopted the branding "SLY 96-FM".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/80s/84/RR-1984-12-14-OCR-Page-0043.pdf |last=Mitchell |first=Gail |title=Fighting For A Piece Of The Action |magazine=Radio & Records |date=December 14, 1984 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}

In September 2000, Mondosphere Broadcasting Inc. sold 11 stations throughout Central California, including KSLY-FM, plus a construction permit for a twelfth station, to Clear Channel Communications for $45 million.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/00-OCR/BC-2000-09-18-OCR-Page-0039.pdf |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |publisher=R.R. Bowker |page=39 |date=September 18, 2000 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }} KSLY-FM dropped its longtime top 40 format in October 2005, flipping to country music and rebranding as "Cat Country 96.1".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/00s/05/RR-2005-10-07-OCR-Page-0021.pdf |title=Street Talk |magazine=Radio & Records |date=October 7, 2005 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}

In July 2007, KSLY-FM was one of 16 stations in California and Arizona that Clear Channel sold to El Dorado Broadcasters for $40 million.{{cite news |url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/27344/price-for-16-az-ca-clear-channel-stations-40-milli |title=Price For 16 AZ, CA Clear Channel Stations: $40 Million |work=All Access |publisher=All Access Music Group |date=July 11, 2007 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}

On April 20, 2012, KSLY-FM dropped its Cat Country moniker and began simulcasting sister station KSNI-FM in Santa Maria. Both stations co-branded as "Sunny Country 102.5 & 96.1".{{cite news |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/57036/sunny-country-doubles-in-california/ |last=Venta |first=Lance |title=Sunny Country Doubles In California |work=RadioInsight |publisher=RadioBB Networks |date=April 20, 2012 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}

In May 2016, upon closing of KSNI-FM's sale to American General Media, KSLY-FM dropped its simulcast of Sunny Country and rebranded as "96.1 SLO Country".{{cite news |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/106024/ownership-change-leads-to-country-split-on-california-coast/ |last=Venta |first=Lance |title=Ownership Change Leads To Country Split On California Coast |work=RadioInsight |publisher=RadioBB Networks |date=May 1, 2016 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }} This format lasted only two months as the station went silent at the end of June.{{cite news |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/107259/emf-acquires-ksly-fm-san-luis-obispo/ |last=Venta |first=Lance |title=EMF Acquires KSLY-FM San Luis Obispo |website=RadioInsight |publisher=RadioBB Networks |date=July 22, 2016 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}

On July 15, 2016, El Dorado Broadcasters sold KSLY-FM to Educational Media Foundation for $350,000; the transaction closed in October.{{cite news |url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/155831/price-for-emf-s-purchase-of-ksly-san-luis-obispo-3 |title=Price For EMF's Purchase Of KSLY/San Luis Obispo: $350,000 |work=All Access |publisher=All Access Music Group |date=July 22, 2016 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/158302/kfwb-a-los-angeles-sold-again-this-time-to-lotus |title=KFWB-A/Los Angeles Sold Again, This Time To Lotus |work=All Access |publisher=All Access Music Group |date=October 4, 2016 |access-date=May 3, 2018 }} EMF then flipped the station to its Christian adult contemporary-formatted {{nowrap|K-Love}} network. KSLY-FM changed its callsign to simply KSLY on December 15, 2016.

References

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