KLNZ
Encyclopedia
KLNZ is a regional Mexican-formatted radio station serving the Phoenix, Arizona
area. The station is owned by Entravision Communications. KLNZ is licensed to the nearby suburb of Glendale
and broadcasts programming from Entravision's California-based "Radio Tricolor" network. The station also broadcasts with digital HD Radio
technology.
Channel 3, and was changed to Smooth Jazz
-formatted KOAZ "The Oasis" competing with KYOT-FM.
In 1997, MAC America decided to sell half its interest in the station to Owens Broadcasting, owners of heritage Country
KNIX-FM. The format was switched once again to Country, targeting a younger audience and going by the name of KWCY "Wild Country." A huge marketing campaign coincided with the change, publicizing the return of popular morning hosts Tim & Willy, who were at KMLE
for a few years before a brief stint in Chicago. Tim & Willy eventually became morning hosts at KNIX. Giving up on the frequency, KWCY was put up for sale in late 1998.
Z-Spanish Radio Networks bought the station in 1999, and placed its Sacramento
-based "La Zeta" Regional Mexican format on 103.5. At the time, the station became KLNZ. Entravision merged with Z-Spanish a year later, and its Zeta-formatted stations became Radio Tricolor.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
area. The station is owned by Entravision Communications. KLNZ is licensed to the nearby suburb of Glendale
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
and broadcasts programming from Entravision's California-based "Radio Tricolor" network. The station also broadcasts with digital HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
technology.
History
103.5 signed on the air in 1994 as KTWC "Twice 103.5" with an eclectic Oldies-based format with music ranging from the 1950s through the 1980s. In 1996, KTWC was purchased by MAC America Communications, owners of KESZ and KTVKKTVK
KTVK is a full-service, independent television station in Phoenix, Arizona. It broadcasts in digital on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter located on South Mountain in Phoenix, and can be seen across northern Arizona on a network of nearly two dozen translator stations...
Channel 3, and was changed to Smooth Jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
-formatted KOAZ "The Oasis" competing with KYOT-FM.
In 1997, MAC America decided to sell half its interest in the station to Owens Broadcasting, owners of heritage Country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
KNIX-FM. The format was switched once again to Country, targeting a younger audience and going by the name of KWCY "Wild Country." A huge marketing campaign coincided with the change, publicizing the return of popular morning hosts Tim & Willy, who were at KMLE
KMLE
KMLE, "KMLE Country 108", is a Country music outlet serving the Phoenix area. The CBS Radio station operates at 107.9 MHz with an ERP of 96 kW and is licensed to Chandler, Arizona. Its facility ID number is 59965.-History:...
for a few years before a brief stint in Chicago. Tim & Willy eventually became morning hosts at KNIX. Giving up on the frequency, KWCY was put up for sale in late 1998.
Z-Spanish Radio Networks bought the station in 1999, and placed its Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
-based "La Zeta" Regional Mexican format on 103.5. At the time, the station became KLNZ. Entravision merged with Z-Spanish a year later, and its Zeta-formatted stations became Radio Tricolor.