KSNI-FM

The station was first signed on in 1960 as {{nowrap|KSMA-FM}} by James M. Hagerman and John I. Groom.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/60s-OCR-YB/1961-YB/1961-62-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0213.pdf |title=Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S. |magazine=1961-1962 Broadcasting Yearbook |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=B-25 |date=1961 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }} It simulcast the full service format of its AM sister station KSMA (1240 AM), airing a mix of news, sports, and middle of the road music.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-07-14-BC.pdf |title=Where three-dollar spots are top rate |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |pages=54–58 |date=July 14, 1969 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }} Stereophonic sound broadcasts began in 1970.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/70-OCR/1970-04-13-BC-OCR-Page-0095.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=91 |date=April 13, 1970 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}

In January 1980, Hagerman and Nona M. Groom sold KSMA-AM and FM to Bayliss Broadcasting Company for $1.4 million. The company was owned by John Bayliss, who resigned from his position as president of Gannett Company's radio division to manage the Santa Maria stations.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-01-28-BC-OCR-Page-0091.pdf |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=91 |date=January 28, 1980 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }} The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the sale on May 12.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-06-02-BC-OCR-Page-0064.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=64 |date=June 2, 1980 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}

Upon the change in ownership, Bayliss ended KSMA-FM's simulcast of KSMA after two decades and programmed it separately as a beautiful music outlet.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/80s-OCR-YB/1981-YB/1981-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0310.pdf |title=Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada |magazine=Broadcasting/Cable Yearbook |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=C-32 |date=1981 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }} The FM station changed its call sign to KSNI-FM in August 1980.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-08-18-BC-OCR-Page-0067.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=86 |date=August 18, 1980 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }} The format lasted only three years as the station flipped to country music in 1983,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/80s-OCR-YB/1984-YB/1984-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0121.pdf |title=Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada |magazine=Broadcasting/Cable Yearbook |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=B-37 |date=1984 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }} adopting the branding "Sunny Country".

On March 1, 1989, the transmitters for KSNI-FM and three other stations in Santa Maria were knocked off the air due to acts of vandalism. Around 1 a.m., two males, ages 18 and 15, broke into the transmitters' circuit breakers and switched them off; the signals were restored within an hour. That same day at 9:14 p.m., the towers fell as guy wires supporting the structures had been severed. Total damage was estimated to be $100,000.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1989/RR-1989-03-10.pdf |title=Tower-Trashing Teens Terrorize Santa Maria |magazine=Radio & Records |pages=1, 34 |date=March 10, 1989 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/89-OCR/BC-1989-03-06-OCR-Page-0086.pdf |title=In Brief |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=88 |date=March 6, 1989 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}

In August 1999, Bayliss Broadcasting sold KSNI-FM and KSMA to Fresno, California-based Mondosphere Broadcasting for $3.75 million.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-Airplay-IDX/IDX/1999/BCAM-1999-09-OCR-Page-0068.pdf |last=Saxe |first=Frank |title=Station Swaps To Herald Y2K? |magazine=Billboard Country Airplay Monitor |publisher=BPI Communications Inc. |page=8 |date=September 3, 1999 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/99-OCR/BC-1999-09-06-OCR-Page-0064.pdf |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |publisher=R.R. Bowker |page=64 |date=September 6, 1999 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }} The new owner took possession of the combo on September 30.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/00s-OCR-YB/2001-YB/2001-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0514.pdf |title=Directory of Radio Stations in the U.S. |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook |publisher=R.R. Bowker |location=New Providence, New Jersey |isbn=0-8352-4111-4 |page=D-64 |date=2001 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}

KSNI-FM changed hands twice in the 2000s. In September 2000, Mondosphere sold 11 stations throughout Central California, including {{nowrap|KSNI-FM}}, plus a construction permit for a twelfth station, to Clear Channel Communications for $45 million.{{cite magazine |url=http://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=July 26, 2018 }} In July 2007, KSNI-FM was one of 16 stations in California and Arizona which 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 }}

During the week of January 18, 2010, a storm in the Santa Maria area triggered a power outage that knocked KSNI-FM and several other stations off the air. The station resumed broadcasting under generator power after two hours of silence.{{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 22, 2018 }}

From April 2012 to April 2016, KSNI-FM was simulcast on sister station KSLY-FM (96.1 FM) in the adjacent San Luis Obispo market. The two 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=July 26, 2018 }}

In early 2016, El Dorado began selling off its stations on the Central Coast of California. KSNI-FM and KSMA constituted the first of these divestments as, on February 26, American General Media purchased the pair for $1.5 million.{{cite news |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/105210/american-general-media-expands-in-santa-maria/ |last=Venta |first=Lance |title=El Dorado Sells Again In Santa Maria |website=RadioInsight |publisher=RadioBB Networks |date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }}{{cite news |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/106320/el-dorado-continues-sell-off-with-kxfm-divestment/ |last=Venta |first=Lance |title=El Dorado Continues Sell-Off With KXFM Divestment |website=RadioInsight |publisher=RadioBB Networks |date=May 18, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }} The close of the transaction in April ended the simulcast of Sunny Country on KSLY-FM, which remained with El Dorado and launched a competing country format.{{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 |website=RadioInsight |publisher=RadioBB Networks |date=May 1, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }}

{{Reflist}}

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

{{FM station data|4122|KSNI-FM}}

• [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=77437 FCC History Cards for KSNI-FM]

{{Santa Maria-Lompoc Radio}}

{{Country Radio Stations in California}}

{{coord|34.836|N|120.403|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}}

SNI-FM

Category:Country radio stations in the United States

Category:Santa Maria, California

Category:Radio stations established in 1960

Category:1960 establishments in California