Broadcast area Reno, Nevada Translator(s) 96.1 K241AK (Reno) City of license Sparks | Frequency 1270 kHz Format Progressive Talk First air date 1979 | |
Branding 96.1 & 1270 AM The Buzz Power 13,000 watts (day)
5,000 watts (night) | ||
KBZZ (1270 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a progressive talk format. Licensed to Sparks, Nevada, United States, the station serves the Reno area. The station is currently owned by Americom Las Vegas Limited Partnership.
History
The station went on the air as KROI on November 1, 1979. On February 11, 1984, the station changed its call sign to KORY, then on March 1, 1985 to KPLY, and on March 5, 2001 to the current KBZZ.
KPLY enjoyed great local regional success while hosted by long time sports announcer "Bob D." (Robert Dirosario), and his sports sidekick "Truckee" Mike Leach. Frequent guest sports experts included John Pinto of the Silver Legacy Reno, the late Paul Sonner, owner of Bully's Sports Bars, sportsbook manager Eric Brownley of the Club Cal Neva, sports handicapping expert Chris Andrews, now with The South Point in Las Vegas, and Friday night horse racing coverage with "Pony" Bob Wilkie. The Bob D KPLY daily sports program offered extensive information on sports and sports wagering for the average and also the knowledgeable fan.
The Jim Rome show was a long running staple on KPLY, as was the Sports Fan Radio Network.
Prior to that time,the call letters KBZZ (1400 on the AM dial) were used by a long-standing news and music station in La Junta, Colorado. For many years, the station was the a central news hub for southeastern Colorado.
On January 14, 2013, KBZZ changed their format to sports, with programming from CBS Sports Radio. Local Reno hosts for sports and chat from 9:00 am to 10:00 am weekdays included Panama and Mike Leach.
On July 25, 2016 KBZZ changed again their format from sports to progressive talk, branded as "96.1 & 1270 AM The Buzz".