KUFX
Encyclopedia
KUFX is a classic rock
-formatted radio station
in San Jose, California
. It is owned by Entercom Communications
. The station is referred to on-air as K-FOX.
On January 24, 2011, KUFX began simulcasting on KUZX
102.1 MHz in San Francisco
.
, which is best remembered as a major Bay Area AOR station throughout the 1970s and into the 1990s. Several of the KUFX staff were employed by KOME. KUFX refers to itself as "98.5 KFOX".
KUFX is the official radio station for the San Jose Sharks
of the National Hockey League
. In a 2006 column, a writer for the San Jose Mercury News
noted that he could only listen to a broadcast of a Stanley Cup
playoff game on KUFX since his cable company did not carry OLN (now Versus
), which had exclusive television rights to the game. That situation, he noted, provided an ironic twist to him living in the technology-rich Silicon Valley
.
The morning show is hosted by Greg Kihn
, a musician who had a few popular Top 40 hit songs in the 1980s.
KFOX also holds a Last Band Standing competition every year, between bands that play classic rock cover songs. The three categories of competition include Cover Bands, Tribute Bands, and Under 18 Bands. The past overall winners are Aja Vu in 2004 (A Steely Dan
tribute band and two-time winner of its category), The Strobe in 2005 (An Under 18 band from Leigh High School who specializes with Peter Frampton
songs), and last years winner, Sage (a cover band).
In December 1997, KUFX, KBAY
, and KBRG
were involved in a three-way frequency swap, which saw KUFX moving from 94.5 to 104.9, and later to 98.5 FM. KBAY moved to 94.5, and KBRG got the coveted 100.3 signal and studios. 104.9 eventually became KCNL
.
Owner Clear Channel Communications
placed the station's assets, along with those of KSJO
and KCNL
, into an entity called the Aloha Station Trust on August 4, 2008 in order to seek a buyer for the station. This was due to Clear Channel being above the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) ownership limits. These limits were imposed when Clear Channel was officially taken private by Bain Capital
and Thomas H. Lee Partners
on July 30, 2008.
On January 11, 2011, Entercom Communications
agreed to purchase KUFX, and on January 18, Entercom announced an agreement for the call sign and intellectual property of the company's KDFC in San Francisco and their classical music
programming (but not the frequency) to be acquired by the University of Southern California
's Classical Public Radio Network
. That move allowed them to simulcast KUFX's programming on the 102.1 MHz frequency. KUFX's main signal on 98.5 only provides grade B coverage of San Francisco.
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
-formatted radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. It is owned by Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
. The station is referred to on-air as K-FOX.
On January 24, 2011, KUFX began simulcasting on KUZX
KUZX
KUZX is a classic rock-formatted radio station in San Francisco, California. It is owned by Entercom Communications. As of noon January 24, 2011, the station is simulcasting the programming of sister station KUFX in San Jose...
102.1 MHz in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
History
KUFX was originally located at 94.5 FM, then 104.9 FM, and moved to 98.5 FM in December 1997. Before this, the 98.5 frequency was the longtime home to KOMEKOME
KOME was a radio station in San Jose, California, heard at 98.5 FM from 1971 thru 1998. Currently, the 98.5 FM frequency is home to KUFX .-Beginnings:...
, which is best remembered as a major Bay Area AOR station throughout the 1970s and into the 1990s. Several of the KUFX staff were employed by KOME. KUFX refers to itself as "98.5 KFOX".
KUFX is the official radio station for the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. In a 2006 column, a writer for the San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
The San Jose Mercury News is a daily newspaper in San Jose, California. On its web site, however, it calls itself Silicon Valley Mercury News. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
noted that he could only listen to a broadcast of a Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoff game on KUFX since his cable company did not carry OLN (now Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
), which had exclusive television rights to the game. That situation, he noted, provided an ironic twist to him living in the technology-rich Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
.
The morning show is hosted by Greg Kihn
Greg Kihn
Greg Kihn is an American rock musician, radio personality and novelist.-Music:Kihn is the front man for The Greg Kihn Band, which released several singles and albums that made the charts in the early 1980s...
, a musician who had a few popular Top 40 hit songs in the 1980s.
KFOX also holds a Last Band Standing competition every year, between bands that play classic rock cover songs. The three categories of competition include Cover Bands, Tribute Bands, and Under 18 Bands. The past overall winners are Aja Vu in 2004 (A Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
tribute band and two-time winner of its category), The Strobe in 2005 (An Under 18 band from Leigh High School who specializes with Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
songs), and last years winner, Sage (a cover band).
In December 1997, KUFX, KBAY
KBAY
KBAY is a radio station licensed to Gilroy, California, and serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Its current format is Soft Rock It is owned by NextMedia Group along with sister station, "Mix-106.5" KEZR-FM...
, and KBRG
KBRG
KBRG is a Spanish-language station in San Jose, California. It is the oldest surviving Spanish music station in the San Francisco Bay Area, having first appeared in the 1960s or earlier as 105.3 . It moved to 104.9 in December 1983, and then to 100.3 in a three-station swap on December 31, 1997...
were involved in a three-way frequency swap, which saw KUFX moving from 94.5 to 104.9, and later to 98.5 FM. KBAY moved to 94.5, and KBRG got the coveted 100.3 signal and studios. 104.9 eventually became KCNL
KCNL
KCNL is a radio station in San Jose, California and serves the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned by The Principle Broadcasting Network San Jose, LLC and airs a Mexican Oldies format....
.
Owner Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
placed the station's assets, along with those of KSJO
KSJO
KSJO is a commercial radio station in San Jose, California, and broadcasts to the San Francisco Bay Area on 92.3 FM. KSJO currently airs a Chinese format branded as "92.3 KSJO".-History:...
and KCNL
KCNL
KCNL is a radio station in San Jose, California and serves the San Francisco Bay Area. It is owned by The Principle Broadcasting Network San Jose, LLC and airs a Mexican Oldies format....
, into an entity called the Aloha Station Trust on August 4, 2008 in order to seek a buyer for the station. This was due to Clear Channel being above the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) ownership limits. These limits were imposed when Clear Channel was officially taken private by Bain Capital
Bain Capital
Bain Capital LLC is a Boston-based private equity firm founded in 1984 by partners from the consulting firm Bain & Company. Originally conceived as an early-stage, growth-oriented investment fund, Bain Capital today manages approximately $65 billion in assets, and its strategies include private...
and Thomas H. Lee Partners
Thomas H. Lee Partners
Thomas H. Lee Partners is a private equity firm based in Boston, Massachusetts specializing in leveraged buyouts, growth capital, special situations, industry consolidations, and recapitalizations....
on July 30, 2008.
On January 11, 2011, Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
agreed to purchase KUFX, and on January 18, Entercom announced an agreement for the call sign and intellectual property of the company's KDFC in San Francisco and their classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
programming (but not the frequency) to be acquired by the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's Classical Public Radio Network
Classical Public Radio Network
The Classical Public Radio Network was a national, 24-hour classical music service. Its mission was to preserve, enhance and expand experience of classical music for radio listeners...
. That move allowed them to simulcast KUFX's programming on the 102.1 MHz frequency. KUFX's main signal on 98.5 only provides grade B coverage of San Francisco.