KDZA-FM was the 107.9 FM Pueblo identity from 1993 until 2018.
The facility had signed on in 1987 as KRYT and became KRYT-FM in 1988. In 1993 it adopted the KDZA-FM calls, extending the famous Pueblo KDZA brand to FM after the original KDZA 1230 AM facility changed identity.
During the 2000s the station used the “Jet 107.9” oldies/classic-hits brand. M Street records from 2008 list Nick Donovan as program director and show KDZA-FM paired with KCSJ, KDZA 1350 and KPHT under Clear Channel ownership.
The station became KBPL in 2018.
Sources: FCC call-sign history; M Street station directory; published KDZA/KBPL history.
Awards & Recognitions
Documented awards, honors, and finalist or nomination recognition associated with this station or broadcaster.
- 2013Award of ExcellenceColorado Broadcasters AssociationBest Station Imaging CampaignZ107.9 Broncos Rock2013 Awards of Excellence
- 2010WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsMajor Market Station of the YearKDZA-FM, Pueblo2010 Radio Award Winners
- 2010WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsBest On Air Promotional CampaignBroncos Station — KDZA-FM2010 Radio Award Winners
- 2010WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsBest Image Marketing Campaign for a StationKDZA Imaging2010 Radio Award Winners
- 2010WinnerColorado Broadcasters Association Radio AwardsBest Regularly Scheduled Entertainment ProgramMoaning Mondays — KDZA-FM2010 Radio Award Winners
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KDZA-FM (107.9) History
McCoy Pueblo cluster dominates 1993 ratings snapshot
By Spring 1993, McCoy Broadcasting owned country KCCY, oldies KDZA-FM 107.9 and MOR KGHF 1350. KCCY posted a 23.2 12+ share, up from 18.8 in Spring 1992, and ranked first in the source's 18–34, 25–54, 35–64 and AM-drive breakouts. KDZA-FM and KCSJ each posted 5.5; KGHF and KRMX 4.4; newly returned KKPC 1.7.
KRYT-FM becomes KDZA-FM after McCoy acquisition
MarTec's KRYT-FM 107.9 remained KRYT-FM through 1990; after McCoy acquired the facility in 1993, it became KDZA-FM, transferring the historic KDZA identity from 1230 AM after that station's sale to Pueblo Community College. This corrects an apparent secondary-source claim that the FM had briefly become KGHF-FM in 1990.
1996 Southern Colorado station personnel snapshot
Contemporary industry listings document Bob Gourley, Bob Freeman, Charlie Cassidy and Mel Rauh at KIKX; Oleene Greenwood, Gary Dall, Dave Moore and Dan Thomas at KCCY; Nick Donovan at KDZA-FM; Dick Bruso, Larry Myers and Art Pemberton at KGFT; Lee Douglas and Norm Smith at KKPC; Iva Rafferty and Mike Lee at KKNK; Jerry De La Cruz and Diane Young at KRMX; Julio Gutierrez, Hilda Perez and Norm Smith at KRRU; Steve Downes, Lorri Froehlich, Jay Diamond Salas and Norm Smith at KYZX; Dave Harrell at KCSJ; and Greg Hargrove at KGHF.
Bahakel agrees to sell KCSJ and KGHF back to McCoy
Only months after Bahakel acquired KCSJ, KGHF and KYZX for $4.5 million, Bahakel agreed to sell KCSJ 590 and KGHF 1350 to Craig W. McCoy's McCoy Broadcasting for $912,000 cash. McCoy already owned KCCY and KDZA-FM in Pueblo, reassembling a four-station Pueblo group while Bahakel retained KILO and KYZX.
Summer 1999 Colorado Springs ratings snapshot
2011: KDZA-FM becomes classic-rock Z107.9
November 30, 2011 — Clear Channel rebrands KDZA-FM 107.9 as Z107.9 with a classic-rock format serving Southern Colorado. The KDZA-FM call letters themselves date to 1993; the station had most recently operated as Jet 107.9 and then a rock outlet before adopting the Z107.9 identity.
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