KZER

The station at the 1250 kHz frequency in Santa Barbara first signed on October 31, 1937 as KTMS, originally at 1220 kHz and powered at 500 watts.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1938/Radio-BC-YB-1938.pdf |title=Directory of Broadcasting Stations of the United States |magazine=Broadcasting Yearbook |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=60 |date=1938 |access-date=May 22, 2018 }} It was founded by Santa Barbara News-Press publisher Thomas More Storke (hence the station call sign). KTMS was an NBC Blue Network affiliate, carrying its schedule of dramas, comedies, news, sports, game shows, soap operas, and big band broadcasts during the Golden Age of Radio. Among the programs produced at the station was 1-2-5 Club, which debuted in 1937 and was hosted by disc jockey Bob Ruth for many years.

In 1941, KTMS moved to the 1250 AM frequency, where the call letters would stay for 57 years.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1942/Radio-Alll-BC-YB-1942.pdf |title=Directory of Broadcasting Stations of the United States |magazine=Broadcasting Yearbook |page=112 |date=1942 |access-date=May 22, 2018 }} The move was coupled with a power increase to 1,000 watts. When the Blue Network became ABC in 1945, KTMS maintained its affiliation while also carrying shows from the Mutual Broadcasting System and the Don Lee Network. On December 1, 1956, KTMS replaced KDB as the Santa Barbara affiliate of Don Lee.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Broadcasting-IDX/1956-Broadcasting/1956-11-12-Broadcasting-Page-0078.pdf |title=KTMS Joins Don Lee |magazine=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=78 |date=November 12, 1956 |access-date=May 23, 2018 }}

In March 1964, Storke sold News-Press Publishing to Robert McLean, owner of the Philadelphia Bulletin, for an undisclosed amount; the radio station was valued at $350,000.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Broadcasting-IDX/1964-Broadcasting/1964-03-09-Broadcasting-Page-0060.pdf |title=Changing hands |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=60 |date=March 9, 1964 |access-date=May 31, 2018 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.com/opinion/2006/07/letters_2.html |title=Letters 7-20-2006 |newspaper=Santa Barbara Independent |date=July 20, 2006 |access-date=May 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016223032/http://www.independent.com/opinion/2006/07/letters_2.html |archive-date=October 16, 2006 }} The new owner of KTMS acquired KRCW (97.5 FM) the following year and changed its call sign to KTMS-FM.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/65-OCR/1965-05-24-BC-OCR-Page-0094.pdf |title=For The Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=96 |date=May 24, 1965 |access-date=May 31, 2018 }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/65-OCR/1965-07-19-BC-OCR-Page-0086.pdf |title=For The Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=86 |date=July 19, 1965 |access-date=May 31, 2018 }} At first the FM station mostly simulcast programs heard on 1250 AM but later became separately programmed with a beautiful music format. In 1985, KTMS-FM became top 40 outlet KHTY.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/80s/85/RR-1985-10-11-OCR-Page-0028.pdf |title=Street Talk |magazine=Radio & Records |page=28 |date=October 11, 1985 |access-date=May 21, 2018 }} News-Press Publishing's cross-ownership of KTMS-AM-FM predated the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 1975 rules prohibiting a person or entity from owning both a newspaper and a radio or television station in the same media market.{{cite web |url=http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/reviewrules.pdf |title=Consumer Guide: FCC Broadcast Ownership Rules |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |date=October 27, 2017 |access-date=May 31, 2018 }} The company's mix of media outlets was allowed to remain intact.

KTMS adopted a middle of the road music format in the mid-1970s.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/70s-OCR-YB/1977-YB/1977-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0276.pdf |title=Directory of Radio Stations of the United States and Canada |magazine=Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=C-28 |date=1977 |access-date=May 23, 2018 }} By 1983, the station became a full-time news/talk outlet.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/80s-OCR-YB/1983-YB/1983-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0118.pdf |title=Directory of Radio Stations of the United States and Canada |magazine=Broadcasting Yearbook 1983 |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=B-34 |date=1983 |access-date=May 23, 2018 }}

On July 12, 1985, News-Press Publishing sold KTMS and its FM counterpart, then known as KKOO-FM, to F&M Broadcasting for $2 million. This transaction marked the end of KTMS' common ownership with the News-Press after nearly five decades.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-07-22-OCR-Page-0098.pdf |title=For The Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=98 |date=July 22, 1985 |access-date=May 31, 2018 }}

In January 1996, Engles Enterprises, Inc. purchased KTMS and KHTY for $2 million.{{cite news |date=January 26, 1996 |title=Remaining Douglas Stations Go To ... Douglas |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/96/RR-1996-01-26-OCR-Page-0008.pdf |work=Radio & Records |access-date=April 24, 2018 }}

In September 1998, Engles sold KTMS for $1.6 million to Smith Broadcasting, owner of the local ABC television affiliate KEYT-TV (channel 3).{{cite news |date=September 4, 1998 |title=Chancellor Becomes The Biggest With Capstar Buy |url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/98/RR-1998-09-04-OCR-Page-0008.pdf |work=Radio & Records |access-date=April 24, 2018 }} Smith immediately launched an all-news format on 1250 AM with new call letters KEYT to match those of its new TV sister. "KEYT 1250" featured news reports from the Associated Press and simulcasts of KEYT-TV newscasts. Meanwhile, the KTMS call sign and news/talk format moved to 990 AM.

KEYT 1250 was a financial drain on Smith Broadcasting from the beginning, losing $1 million over five years. In 2003, Smith sold the station to Lazer Broadcasting. Lazer changed the station's call letters to KZER and its format to regional Mexican.{{cite web |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/164669/kzsb_newspress_radio_heralds_return_of_community_news_and_talk/ |title=KZSB News-Press Radio Heralds Return of Community News and Talk |work=redorbit.com |last=Savage |first=Sam |date=July 5, 2005 |access-date=August 18, 2017 }}

• KZSB, a radio station (1290 AM) in Santa Barbara that is affiliated with, but not owned by, the Santa Barbara News-Press

{{reflist}}

• {{official website |http://www.radiolazer.com/index.php/santa-barbara }}
• {{AM station data|3156|KZER}}
• [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=44826 FCC History Cards for KZER]

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{{Santa Barbara Radio}}

{{Lazer Media}}

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ZER

Category:Radio stations established in 1937

Category:1937 establishments in California

Category:Regional Mexican radio stations in the United States

ZER