Alpha Media AC 94.5 KBAY Gilroy/San Jose will flip to Classic Hits “94.5 Bay-FM” at 5pm on Christmas Day.
KBAY is promoting “one last present from KBAY” at the 5pm time. The format change comes following the hiring of Ronnie Stanton as Program Director of KBAY and sister Hot AC “Mix 106.5” KEZR as well as VP/Programming overseeing all of Alpha’s Alternative, Classic Hits, Classic Rock, Oldies, and Rock stations. The station also let go of morning co-host Lissa Kreisler concurrent with the retirement of Sam Van Zandt last week.
While KBAY was the only AC targeting the South Bay, both Entercom’s 96.5 KOIT and iHeartMedia’s “98.1 The Breeze” KISQ are heard in the market. KBAY will become the only Classic Hits station in San Jose and the adjacent San Francisco market.
Alpha Media, Silicon Valley announced that legendary station KBAY will become ‘94.5 Bay FM’. The only pure classic hits station in the Bay Area, 94.5 Bay FM will play the greatest hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Alpha Media VP of Programming and Bay FM Program Director, Ronnie Stanton commented on the announcement, “This is a hugely exciting moment in the history of these call letters. We will continue to play the artists that made us famous for years as well as adding the best music of the 70s to create an upbeat blend of music’s finest decades.”
John Levitt, General Manager for Bay FM says “I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas. The new 94-5 Bay FM will be a gift to our listeners, advertisers and staff that will be enjoyed for a long time to come.”
The change takes place on Christmas Day, December 25th, at 5pm.
94.5 Bay FM hit the air around the time the news flashed that George Michael had died. To its credit, 94.5 Bay FM made sure to include his solo and Wham! hits from the start. The station’s new website also has a homepage link to a story on his death.