City Eugene, Oregon Slogan Oregon's Quality Rock | Branding 96.1 KZEL Frequency 96.1 MHz | |
Broadcast area Eugene–Springfield, Oregon Translator(s) 96.7 K244DL (Cottage Grove)
99.3 K257EB (Riddle)
102.1 K271BL (Roseburg) | ||
KZEL-FM (96.1 FM) is a commercial radio station in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States. The station airs a mainstream rock/hybrid music format.
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It has applied for a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) construction permit to move to a taller tower (HAAT 451.9 meters) at the same site and increase the vertically polarized ERP to 100,000 watts.
Translators
KZEL-FM programming is also carried on a series of broadcast translator stations to extend or improve the coverage area of the station.
History
KZEL-FM, along with short-lived KZEL-AM, was founded and funded in 1967 by Eugene lumberman George "Tirebiter" Zellner. When he purchased the stations, their call letters were KWFS. Zellner changed the call letters to KZEL, for the FM and AM bands. KZEL-AM was briefly affiliated with the CBS network, and carried Frank Gifford's sports updates from CBS, along with broadcasts of Churchill High School sports and Eugene Bombers pro football. Zellner sold the station to Jay and Barbara West in 1971.
The Wests led KZEL for most of the 1970s as a free-format station. Its studios were located in Glenwood, near Springfield. Disc jockeys included John Napier, Gary "The Wasted Potato" Palmatier, Stan "Harry 'Til 6" Garrett, Michael Waggoner, Sleepy John (Cuthbertson), JET, Tom Krumm, Chris Kovarik, Magic Mike, and Peyton Mays. Additionally, KZEL carried "Daybreak" in the morning and "News & Information" in the afternoon. News anchors included Melinda Coates, Rosemary Reed, Cal Turlock (real name Phillip Johnson) and Bryce Zabel.
KZEL-FM belongs to Cumulus Media, a nationwide owner of radio stations. In 2006, the program director, Mark Raney, locked himself in the station's control room for 10 days to protest the management's decision to abandon KZEL's classic rock format and replace it with country music. Raney, with support from his listeners, persuaded the station's management to retain the rock format.
KZEL-FM has been evolving from a classic rock format into an adult album alternative music format, adding music like Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jack Johnson to the playlist. Weekday personalities on the station include Raney and John Frederick in the morning, Emma at mid-day, and C.Y.D. in the afternoon.