KKAL

KKAL (92.5 FM, "The Krush 92.5") is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Paso Robles, California and serves the San Luis Obispo area. The station is owned by American General Media and broadcasts an adult album alternative (AAA) radio format.

KKAL

Paso Robles, California
Broadcast area	San Luis Obispo, California
Frequency	92.5 MHz
Branding	The Krush 92.5
Programming
Format	Adult album alternative
Affiliations	Jones Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	American General Media (AGM California)
Sister stations	KKJG, KSTT-FM, KVEC, KZOZ
History
First air date	November 20, 1972 (as KPRA)
Former call signs	KPRA (1972–1982) KDDB (1982–1999) KWSR (1999–2004)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	64343
Class	B
ERP	4,800 watts
HAAT	453 meters (1,486 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	35°21′40″N 120°39′21″W
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	krush925.com

KKAL is notable due to its linkage to the area's wine industry and culture, both in its imaging (e.g. the "Krush" name, as in crushed grapes) and various wine-related programs that air regularly. The studios and offices are on Sacramento Drive in San Luis Obispo and the transmitter is off TV Tower Road in Santa Margarita.^[2]

History

Early years

KKAL first signed on November 20, 1972 as KPRA, the sister station to KPRL (1230 AM), with a country music format.^[3] In December 1982, KPRA switched its call sign to KDDB but kept the country format.^[4]

In April 1991, Owensville Communications Company sold KDDB to Zindy Broadcasting, headed by Stephen B. Jones, for $350,000.^[5]

American General Media era (1997–present)

In 1997, American General Media purchased KDDB for $675,000.^[6] The country format lasted until 2000, when the station became KWSR, a modern adult contemporary outlet known as "Star 92.5".^[7] In 2004, the station changed its call letters to KKAL and flipped to classic country,^[6] a format that lasted only two years.

In April 2007, KKAL switched formats to hot adult contemporary with the new moniker "The Krush @ 92.5". This branding is inspired by the surrounding Paso Robles wine country, conjuring up images of the vineyards that host wine tasting tours that have grown in popularity.^[8][9]