KTMS
KTMS (990 AM, "News Talk AM 990") is a commercial radio station in Santa Barbara, California. It is owned by Rincon Broadcasting and airs a talk radio format. The studios are on East Cota Street in Santa Barbara.
| |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 990 kHz |
| Branding | "News Talk AM 990" |
| Programming | |
| Format | News/talk |
| Network | Fox News Radio |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks Radio America Salem Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
Sister stations | KIST-FM, KOSJ, KSBL, KSPE, KTYD |
| History | |
First air date | October 31, 1937 (on 1220 AM) |
Former call signs | 990 kHz KFMC (CP) KGUD (1963–1973) KTYD (1973–1978) KBLS (1978–1992) KKSM (February 24–September 2, 1992) KKJZ (September 2–November 27, 1992) KQSB (November 27, 1992–1998) |
Former frequencies | 1220 kHz (1937-1941) 1250 kHz (1941-1998) |
Call sign meaning | Thomas More Storke (founder) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 14529 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 5,000 watts day 500 watts night |
| Translator(s) | 97.9 K250BS (Solimar Beach) 97.3 K247CN (Mojave) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | ktms.com |
By day, KTMS is powered at 5,000 watts. But to protect other stations on 990 AM, a clear channel frequency, KTMS reduces power at night to 500 watts. The AM transmitter site overlooks Santa Barbara from near Rattlesnake Canyon Park, along Gibraltar Road, and above Gibraltar Peak, home of most Santa Barbara FM stations. The site is unusual, since AM stations are usually sited in low-lying areas, ideally with the highest possible high ground conductivity. This site is sufficiently close to the population center for even the low night power to serve the whole city. KTMS is simulcast on FM translator station K250BS at 97.9 MHz, licensed to Solimar Beach, and K247CN at 97.3 MHz in Mojave.