KZSB

Infobox Radio Station
name = KZSB

| city = Santa Barbara, California
area =
airdate =
frequency = 1290 (kHz)
format = Local News/Talk
erp = 500 watts (day) 122 watts (night)
branding =
class = D
former_callsigns = KESP (1984-1991)
KKSB (1991-1995)
KZBN (1995-2005)
KRNP (March 2005-May 2005)
website =
owner = Santa Barbara Broadcasting, Inc.
callsign_meaning = a portmanteau of:
KZBN and KKSB (former callsigns)

KZSB (1290 AM) is a commercial radio station located in Santa Barbara, California. The station airs local news and talk, mainly from news reports of the Santa Barbara News-Press. It also airs BBC World Service reports at the top of each hour.

Previously, the station aired a nostalgia format and was owned by Bob Newhart before being sold to Santa Barbara Broadcasting, Inc. and adopting its current format.

History

When Bob Newhart owned 1290 AM he called it "K-BOB." In 2005, Newhart sold it to Santa Barbara Broadcasting Inc., owned by Dennis Weibling, and the call sign was changed to KZSB. Although Weibling is a friend of "Santa Barbara News Press" owner Wendy McCaw, the "News Press" does not actually own 1290 AM.

The station offers locally produced, block programmed talk shows hosted by local residents. KZSB also features CNN Headline News hourly.

The station went on the air in 1973 with a short-lived country music format. It was originally called KKIO -- "KK 10 - Country Radio 13".

External links

* [http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/164669/kzsb_newspress_radio_heralds_return_of_community_news_and_talk/index.html Article mentioning KZSB's format change]
* [http://www.radiostationzone.com/Station.aspx/KZSB-AM-1290/773 KZSB AM 1290] on Radio Station Zone - ratings, comments and listen live links
*AMQ|KZSB
*AML|KZSB
*AMARB|KZSB