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

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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

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  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. ^ FCC History Cards for KSEZ
  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.
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42°28′55″N 96°15′32″W / 42.482°N 96.259°W / 42.482; -96.259

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