KVTA

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For the airport near Newark, Ohio, assigned ICAO code KVTA, see Newark-Heath Airport. For a history of the 1520 signal in the Ventura-Oxnard metro, on which KVTA broadcast on until March 2013, see KVEN.
KVTA
Broadcast area
Frequency1590 kHz
BrandingFox Sports 1590/97.9
Programming
FormatSports
NetworkFox Sports Radio
AffiliationsLos Angeles Dodgers Radio Network
Los Angeles Lakers Radio Networks
Los Angeles FC
Ventura County FC
Ownership
Owner
KCAQ, KFYV, KOCP, KUNX, KVEN
History
First air date
June 1, 1947; 78 years ago (1947-06-01)
Former call signs
  • KUDU (1947–1973)
  • KBBQ (1973–1985)
  • KOGO (1985–1993)
  • KBBY (1993–1994)
  • KAHS (1994–1995)
  • KXSP (1995–1998)
  • KXFS (1998)
  • KUNX (1998–2004)
  • KKOM (2004)
  • KKZZ (2004–2008)
  • KUNX (2008–2013)
Call sign meaning
Ventura
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID7746
ClassB
Power5,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
34°14′13″N 119°12′9″W / 34.23694°N 119.20250°W / 34.23694; -119.20250
Translator(s)97.9 K250BV (Ventura)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitekvta.com

KVTA (1590 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Ventura, California, featuring a sports radio format known as "Fox Sports 1590/97.9". Owned by Gold Coast Broadcasting, KVTA serves Ventura County and southern Santa Barbara County. The station's transmitter is located near the Santa Clara River off of the Ventura Freeway. In addition to a standard analog transmission, KVTA is relayed over low-power Ventura translator K250BV (97.9 FM), and is available online.

History

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KUDU took to the air on June 1, 1947, licensed jointly to the cities of Ventura and Oxnard, California.[2] The station became KBBQ by January 1973,[3][4] featuring a country format, along with NBC Radio programming.[5]

On February 1, 1985, the call sign switched to KOGO and the format flipped to adult contemporary music.[3][6] As KOGO, the station changed hands twice. In July 1986, Forrest Radio sold KOGO and sister station KBBY-FM to New York City-based ownership group Ventura Broadcasting Associates for $3 million.[7]

That same group sold the combo three years later to Buena Ventura Inc., headed by George Duncan, for $6.7 million.[8] KOGO renamed itself KBBY after its FM counterpart on September 17, 1993;[3] the heritage KOGO call letters returned to the San Diego station then known as KKLQ the following year.[9]

In December 1996, Buena Ventura Inc. sold the station, then using the KXSP calls and broadcasting in Spanish, along with KTND, to Gold Coast Broadcasting for $2 million.[10] The transaction split the station from its longtime combo partner KBBY-FM which later would be owned by Cumulus Media.

From 1998 to 2004, the station held the KUNX call letters and aired a Spanish-language talk format under the "Radio Unica" branding. For a brief period in early 2004, it was known as KKOM and broadcast content from The American Comedy Network.[11] The former KUNX and KKZZ then exchanged frequencies, with the KKZZ call letters landing on 1590 AM on March 5 and KUNX's Spanish programming resurfacing on 1400 AM.[3][11]

During the 1590 AM frequency's second stint as KUNX starting in April 2008,[3] it aired programming from Mexico-based news/talk network Radio Fórmula.

In February 2013, the Radio Fórmula programs moved to Gold Coast Broadcasting sister station KKZZ on 1400 AM. That same month, KUNX began simulcasting English-language news/talk outlet KVTA, which at the time was on 1520 AM. On March 6, 2013, KUNX and KVTA swapped frequencies, sending the KUNX call letters to 1520 AM and KVTA to 1590 AM.[3][12]

On April 10, 2025, KVTA changed their format from news/talk to sports, branded as "Fox Sports 1590/97.9".[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KVTA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1969. p. B-27. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "KVTA Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ "For the Record: Existing AM stations" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. January 22, 1973. p. 46. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1978. p. C-31. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Street Talk" (PDF). Radio & Records. January 25, 1985. p. 44. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "Hoker Lands WCRJ, WLLT For $12 Million" (PDF). Radio & Records. July 25, 1986. p. 10. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Ragan Henry Gambles $13 Million In Atlantic City" (PDF). Radio & Records. September 15, 1989. p. 15. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  9. ^ Peterson, Al (October 22, 1999). "KOGO: Reclaiming San Diego's News/Talk Throne" (PDF). Radio & Records. p. 29. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  10. ^ "Entravision Eyes El Paso Pair" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 13, 1996. p. 6. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Green, Jeff (July 23, 2004). "A Poster Cluster For 'Live & Local' Radio" (PDF). Radio & Records. pp. 6, 8. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  12. ^ Venta, Lance (March 9, 2013). "Ventura AM's Play Musical Chairs". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  13. ^ KTMS & KVTA Drop Talk For Fox Sports Radioinsight - April 10, 2025
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