KESC

For the power utility in Pakistan, see Karachi Electric Supply Corporation.

KESC (99.7 FM) is a non-commercial radio station that is licensed to Morro Bay, California, and broadcasts to the San Luis Obispo area. The station is owned by the University of Southern California (USC) and rebroadcasts the classical music format of KUSC in Los Angeles.

KESC

Simulcasts KUSC Los Angeles
Morro Bay, California
Broadcast area	San Luis Obispo, California
Frequency	99.7 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	Classical California KUSC
Programming
Format	Classical
Ownership
Owner	University of Southern California
Sister stations	KUSC
History
First air date	May 1, 1991 (as KWWV)
Former call signs	KWVD (1991) KWWV (1991–1999) KKAL (1999–2004) KXTY (2004–2009)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	58653
Class	A
ERP	285 watts directional
HAAT	454 meters (1,490 ft)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	kusc.org

History

The station first signed on May 1, 1991, as KWWV and broadcast an adult contemporary music format. KWWV was acquired by Salisbury Broadcasting in 1994.^[2] The station changed its format to smooth jazz by 1998.^[3] In 1999, KWWV changed its call letters to KKAL and adopted a top 40 format as 99.7 KISS-FM modeled after KIIS-FM in Los Angeles^[4]

In October 2006, Mapleton Communications announced that it was purchasing the station, then bearing the call letters KXTY, from Salisbury for $1 million.^[5] However, this transaction was not completed. On August 20, 2007, Lazer Communications acquired the rights to purchase KXTY, then airing a talk radio format, from Mapleton.^[6] On November 19, Lazer changed the format of KXTY to (Spanish adult contemporary) music.

On February 11, 2009, the University of Southern California purchased KXTY for $1.2 million, adding the signal to its network of stations relaying KUSC, a non-commercial station in Los Angeles airing classical music. In preparation for the format change, KXTY went silent on April 22 (according to 100000watts.com). On May 13, 2009, the station began rebroadcasting KUSC's signal with new call letters KESC.^[7]