Radio station in Derby, Kansas
KZCH
(96.3
FM
), also known as "Channel 963," is a
Mainstream Top 40
radio station
serving the
Wichita area
. The
iHeartMedia, Inc.
outlet broadcasts with an ERP of 50 kW and is licensed to
Derby, Kansas
. Its studios are located on East Douglas Avenue in Downtown Wichita, and the transmitter is just north of downtown.
History
[
edit
]
KZCH signed on in 1978 at 95.9 MHz, and initially aired a
Top 40
format as
KDRB
, "K-96", which had studios located in its city of license (Derby), and a transmitter near
Haysville
. In 1980, KDRB flipped to
country
as
KGCS
. In 1983, KGCS flipped to a country/
adult contemporary
hybrid as
KYMG-FM
, "Magic 96", which would then change calls to
KAKZ
. A year later, the station flipped to an automated
oldies
format, but would revert to AC the following year as
KRZZ
. The station flipped to its long-running
classic rock
format in the summer of 1986. To improve their coverage area, in 1987, KRZZ relocated its transmitter to a location near
I-235
and South Broadway in south Wichita, which would then be changed to another location near
I-135
and 21st Street in north Wichita. The station would also increase its signal strength to 50,000 watts, and relocate to 96.3 MHz, in early 1991.
On June 15, 2004, at Midnight, KRZZ dropped its 18-year-old format and began
stunting
with a loop redirecting KRZZ listeners to
107.3 FM
, and to listen for the debut of a new format on 96.3 at 3 p.m. on June 17. At that time, 96.3 adopted
KKRD
's heritage
Top 40
/
CHR
format, and rebranded as "Channel 963".
[1]
[2]
[3]
The current
KZCH
calls were adopted on June 28.
When the station began, the station leaned heavily on rhythmic material. In 2006, the station readjusted towards a more mainstream direction. In 2009, the station would lean rhythmic again, and also mixed in
old school
. The move was to counter Rhythmic Top 40 rival
KDGS
, who is the lone
Rhythmic CHR
station in the market. As of Summer 2022, the station would again lean rhythmic.
former logo
KZCH, along with other iHeartRadio stations, partner with
KSNW
when tornado warnings are issued in the Wichita area and simulcast KSN's severe weather coverage.
[4]
HD Radio
[
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]
In 2006, KZCH signed on HD Radio operations. On their HD 2 channel, the station carried
Club Phusion
. In 2011, it was replaced with
modern rock
, filling the void
KANR
left open when that station flipped to Spanish in 2006. In November 2012, 96.3 HD2 flipped back to
dance
, branded as "Evolution." As of November 2022, 96.3 HD2 is now "Club Jam Christmas."
Notable Past & Present Personalities
[
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]
- Elvis Duran
- Bobby Bones
- Mat Mitchell in the Mornings
- Big Head Ted
- PJ
- JoJo Collins
- Brett Andrews
- Spoon
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Bob Curtright, "KKRD, KRZZ yanked off air permanently",
The Wichita Eagle
, June 16, 2004.
- ^
Bob Curtright, "New Wichita radio stations going on the air",
The Wichita Eagle
, June 17, 2004.
- ^
"Big changes for two Wichita Clear Channel stations"
- Wichita Business Journal, June 16, 2004
- ^
"KSN in Wichita takes shelter during tornado"
.
YouTube
.
External links
[
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]
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Corporate officers
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Board of directors
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AM radio stations
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FM radio stations
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Radio networks
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Miscellaneous
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37°43′05″N
97°19′05″W
/
37.718°N 97.318°W
/
37.718; -97.318