KSOF (FM) (98.9 FM, "Soft Rock 98.9") is a commercial radio station licensed to Dinuba, California, United States. It is owned by iHeartMedia and serves the Fresno and Visalia metropolitan areas, broadcasting an adult contemporary format.
Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.9 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Soft Rock 98.9 |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Owner | iHeartMedia, Inc. (iHM Licenses, LLC) |
| First air date | June 5, 1975 |
| Former call signs | KLTA (1975–1983), KOJY (1983–1990), KJOI (1990–1997) |
| Call sign meaning | Soft rock |
| ERP | 19,000 watts |
| HAAT | 250 meters (820 ft) |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 54560 |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks, Premiere Networks |
KSOF's studios and offices are on Shaw Avenue in North Fresno, and its transmitter is located off Pierce Valley Drive atop Eshom Point in Badger, California. The station broadcasts in HD Radio and is available online via iHeartRadio.
History
On June 5, 1975, the station signed on as KLTA. It was the FM counterpart of KRDU (1130 AM), owned by the Dinuba Radio Company with studios on North Alta Avenue.
On October 26, 1983, the station changed its call sign to KOJY, branding itself as "K-Joy." On February 12, 1990, the call letters changed to KJOI. Then on October 17, 1997, it adopted the current call sign KSOF.
From the mid-1970s through the early 1990s, the station carried an easy listening format. In late 1990, it switched to a soft adult contemporary format and was named "Lite FM." The "Lite" name was used until October 1997, when the station rebranded as "Soft Rock 98.9." In the early 2000s, KSOF moved into a mainstream adult contemporary direction.
In October 2008, Teri Ann Schlesser, formerly of Portland, Oregon radio, became the midday DJ, music director, and public service director. On October 27, 2011, morning hosts "Brady and Rose" (Mike Brady and Rose Ortega) were replaced by "Bronson and Christine" (Bob Bronson and Christine Nagy) from sister station WLTW in New York City. By 2018, Schlesser moved into the morning drive time slot as the station's only live DJ; she was later replaced with "Valentine in the Morning" from KBIG Los Angeles.
Sister Stations
KSOF shares ownership with several other stations in the Fresno market, including KALZ, KBOS-FM, KCBL, KFBT, KFSO-FM, KHGE, KRDU, and KRZR.
References
- Federal Communications Commission, Licensing and Management System, "Facility Technical Data for KSOF"
- Broadcasting Yearbook (1977, 1990)
- InsideRadio.com, "Sean Valentine Inks Multi-Year Deal" (March 22, 2023)
