KSEZ

For the airport in Sedona, Arizona, assigned ICAO code KSEZ, see Sedona Airport.
KSEZ
Broadcast areaSioux City, Iowa
Frequency97.9 MHz
BrandingZ98
Programming
FormatActive rock
Ownership
Owner
KGLI, KMNS, KSFT-FM, KWSL
History
First air date
February 6, 1961 (1961-02-06)[1]
Former call signs
KDVR (1960–1974)
Call sign meaning
From easy listening format 1974–1976
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID10777
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT196 meters (643 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitez98rocks.iheart.com

KSEZ (97.9 FM, "Z98") is a radio station broadcasting an active rock format. The station serves Sioux City, Iowa and is owned by iHeartMedia. KSEZ primarily competes with Powell Broadcasting's KKMA "Classic Rock 99.5".

History

Edwin C. Wolff of Sioux City filed on August 13, 1960, for a construction permit to build a new FM radio station in Sioux City. Wolff announced that his sons, John and Daniel, would be heavily involved in the new station's operation; John ran a hi-fi radio store and was a symphony concertmaster in town.[3] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the application on October 5, less than two months later,[4] and KDVR began broadcasting on February 6, 1961.[1] Originally operating with 3,000 watts, the station upgraded to 38,000 watts in 1964.[5]

In 1973, Stuart Enterprises, owner of KMNS (620 AM), purchased KDVR from Wolff.[6] KDVR relaunched as easy listening station KSEZ "Stereo 98" that July.[7] An increase in effective radiated power from 38,000 to 62,000 watts went into effect in November 1975, increasing KSEZ's coverage area.[8] However, the easy listening format turned out to be unable to attract significant advertiser support in the market; as a result, on February 23, 1976, the station flipped to rock.[9]

Stuart sold its two Sioux City stations to Sentry Broadcasting, a division of Wisconsin-based Sentry Insurance, for $1.8 million in 1979.[10] In 1986, a carousel of changing ownership began for KMNS and KSEZ as Sentry sold the pair to Sage Broadcasting of Stamford, Connecticut; at the same time, it sold off three of its six other broadcasting operations.[11] Sage retained the pair for three years, selling to Legend Communications in 1989;[12] the stations were then sold to Chesterman Communications in 1992 after a previous attempt by the same buyer to purchase them the year before fell through.[13][14]

After the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which relaxed limits on radio station ownership, Chesterman and the Cardinal Communications cluster of KGLI and KWSL combined operations.[15] Chesterman later purchased the other stations and changed its name to Radioworks. Clear Channel, predecessor to iHeartMedia, acquired the Sioux City cluster from Radioworks for $12 million in 2000.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b "KDVR (FM)" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. 1968. p. B-63 – via World Radio History. (Lists February 6, 1960, likely a typo)
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KSEZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Seeks New F. M. Radio Station Here". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. August 31, 1960. p. 8. Retrieved April 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "History Cards for KSEZ". Federal Communications Commission. (Guide to reading History Cards)
  5. ^ "F. M. Station Is Granted Power Hike". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. December 19, 1963. p. 6. Retrieved April 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "KMNS Buys KDVR". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. December 21, 1973. p. 4. Retrieved April 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Station Begins Program". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. July 18, 1974. p. 13. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Radio Station Hikes Power". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. November 25, 1975. p. 15. Retrieved April 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Music and Dollars". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. March 3, 1976. p. A1. Retrieved April 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Broadcasting outlets here involved in sale, merger". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. September 29, 1979. p. A7. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Connecticut company buys KMNS and KSEZ". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. April 12, 1986. p. A3. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Radio station sale awaits FCC OK". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. October 26, 1989. p. A3. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. May 22, 1992. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  14. ^ "Chesterman buys radio stations". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. December 8, 1991. p. B2. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Two rival radio stations to merge". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. February 29, 1996. p. A8. Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 6, 2000. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2022-04-16.

42°28′55″N 96°15′32″W / 42.482°N 96.259°W / 42.482; -96.259