Americom’s Reno Media Group flipped Variety Hits “Bob 96.1” 1230 KZTQ Reno to Alternative “96.1 The Zone” at 12am this morning.

The station will focus on Alternative hits of the 90s through now with core artists including Green Day, Sublime, Imagine Dragons, Blink 182, Black Keys, Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park and Nirvana. A new morning show will be named shortly.

The new format is heard on 1230 KZTQ/96.1 K241AK Reno as well as 106.5 K293CA/103.7 KOLC-HD2 Carson City. At the latter the format replaces Classic Rock “92.5 The Hog” 1270 KBZZ Sparks which is now heard in the southern part of the market on 96.9 K245DC Carson City.

The flip becomes the fourth change in Reno over a seven day span following Reno Media Group flipping Classic Country “Willie 96.9” K245BV Reno/97.7 K249ES Carson City/KLCA-HD3 to Spanish AC “Suave 96.9“ and Lotus Communications moving Sports “ESPN 94.5” KTHX-FM to 1450 KHIT/94.1 K231CS Reno to launch Regional Mexican “Que Buena 94.5“.

Northern Nevada’s newest radio station – called 96.1 The Zone and featuring a blend of alternative music — debuted in Reno today.

Owned and operated by Reno Media Group/Americom, which also operates eight other stations in the area, The Zone will play alternative hits from the 90s through today.

Reno Media Group General Manager Kara Brown said The Zone will feature artists like Green Day, Sublime, Imagine Dragons, Blink 182, Black Keys, Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park and Nirvana.

“We are very excited to bring a new alternative station to Northern Nevada,” Brown said. “The Zone will serve the 25 to 54-year-old audience and be unlike anything else in Reno.”
96.1 The Zone, officially KZTQ-AM 1230 and translator K241AK 96.1, will also be heard in Carson City at 106.5 on translator K293CA as part of KOLC-HD2.

Brown said the station will also have a “fun, authentic” morning show that “listeners in Northern Nevada will love.”