KZBD

KZBD
City Spokane, Washington
Broadcast area Spokane, Washington
Branding 105.7 Now FM
Slogan Spokane's #1 Hit Music Station
Frequency 105.7 MHz
First air date February 23, 1966 (as KTWD)
Format Top 40 (CHR)
ERP 100,000 watts
HAAT 582 meters
Class C
Facility ID 11243
Former callsigns KTWD (1966-1970)
KEZE (1970-1995)
KAEP (1995-2003)
Owner Mapleton Communications
(Mapleton License of Spokane, LLC)
Sister stations KBBD, KDRK, KEYF-FM, KFIO, KGA, KJRB
Webcast Listen Live
Website now1057fm.com

KZBD (105.7 FM, "Now 105.7 FM") is a Top 40 (CHR) music formatted radio station serving the Spokane, Washington, USA area. The Mapleton Communications station broadcasts at 105.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW. NOW 105.7 is Spokane's exclusive home for "Hit Music" and has consistently ranked high since it signed on the air in May 2010.

History

KTWD-FM

KZBD traces its legacy all the way back to 1965. The father-son team of Loren (father) and Terry W. (son) Denbrook doing business as Denbrook Enterprises was granted a construction permit in July 1965 to build an FM station in Spokane on 105.7 MHz using the call letters KTWD.[1] KTWD's first official broadcast was on February 23, 1966. The station's transmitter and studio were located on 610 West Garland Avenue in Spokane and the station played popular music.[2] KTWD was Spokane's first FM-only commercial station and Spokane's first FM stereo station. Terry Denbrook served as the station's chief engineer and station manager. The call letters stood for the younger Mr. Denbrook's initials.[3]

In 1970, Denbrook Enterprises sold the station to Bellevue Broadcasters, who, in turn, changed the format to easy listening and the call letters to KEZE.[4] The station used the identification "K.E.Z.E. E-Z listening."

The station flipped to Rock in the mid-1970s. At first, the station's format was AOR; over time, the station shifted towards mainstream rock. On October 20, 1995, the station flipped to AAA as KAEP ("105.7 The Peak"). The former classic rock format and KEZE call letters would be resurrected at 96.9 FM on March 4, 1996. 105.7 would morph to active rock as "105.7 The Buzzard" in 2003, under the KZBD calls. In 2008, the station switched back to "105.7 The Peak", but with an alternative rock format instead. It was also the Spokane area home of The Bob & Tom Show and Loveline.

Now 105.7 FM

On May 19, 2010, KZBD flipped to a top 40 format, branded as "Now 105.7 FM". This marked the first time since 2005 that Spokane has had a full-powered Top 40/CHR format since KZZU flipped to Adult Top 40. The station added Elvis Duran's syndicated morning show to its lineup on May 24, 2010.[5] Its midday features On Air with Ryan Seacrest, which was added the day of the switch. DJ KOWAX hosts PM Drive and B-Mega anchors nights, both local and live. When KIXZ flipped to Top 40/CHR in March 2012, it picked up Duran and Seacrest's shows (as both programs are owned by Clear Channel Communications, which owns KIXZ). As of May 8, 2014, KZBD once again became Spokane's only Top 40/CHR when KPXR (the former KIXZ) returned to Country.

It is one of seven local Spokane FM radio stations heard across Canada to subscribers of the Shaw Direct satellite TV service.[6]

References

  1. ↑ FM Broadcast Station Construction Permit for KTWD, Spokane, Washington. File Number BPH-4886. Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC. July 9, 1965. Found in National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  2. ↑ FM Broadcast Station License for KTWD, Spokane, Washington. File Number BLH-3075. Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC. 23 February 1966. Found in National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  3. ↑ Bill Harms. "KTWD-FM Spokane". philcobill.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Voluntary Assigned of License for KTWD to Bellevue Broadcasters. File Number BALH-1364. Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC. 7 August 1970. Found in National Archives, College Park, Maryland.
  5. ↑ "Elvis Is 'Now' At KZBD" from All Access (May 19, 2010)
  6. ↑ "Shaw Direct - 404" (PDF). starchoice.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 47°34′44″N 117°17′49″W / 47.579°N 117.297°W / 47.579; -117.297

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