KSPZ was the best-known historical identity of Colorado Springs’ 92.9 FM facility. The signal signed on February 1, 1960 as KVOR-FM, originally operating alongside and simulcasting portions of AM 1300 KVOR. It became KSPZ in 1974 and was widely known as “Z93.”
1970s Z93 transition
A former KVOR/KSPZ employee who worked at the operation from 1973 to 1978 remembers being present for the transition from KVOR-FM to KSPZ / Z93. Contemporary station histories independently confirm that the 92.9 facility changed calls to KSPZ in 1974 and adopted Century 21’s “Z Format.”
The employee recalls the format change as intentionally dramatic: listeners who had gone to sleep to the station’s previous easy-listening/MOR presentation woke up to contemporary rock/pop, with the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” remembered as the first song of the new era. The contributor says the audience turned over almost completely, nearly all existing sponsors cancelled, and the station operated essentially commercial-free for more than 90 days while rebuilding its advertiser base. He remembers Z93 performing strongly in the next ratings book.
Published histories confirm that Century 21’s Z format was used on KSPZ and that the station later moved away from the syndicated service toward live/local programming. The exact first-song and 90-plus-day commercial-free details are preserved here as firsthand oral history.
Paired / sister stations: KSPZ and KVOR were a closely linked AM/FM pair for decades. In 1996 Triathlon Broadcasting acquired KVOR and KSPZ and combined them with KVUU and KSSS/KTWK. KSPZ became KKPK in 2006.
Studio / Facility Timeline
- 1972: while still KVOR-FM, the FCC authorized the studio/remote-control location at 600 E. Brookside Street.
- 1973–78 oral history: a former employee remembers the KVOR/KSPZ operation at 615 E. Brookside Street, where Brookside dead-ended into the station parking lot. He recalls the building as unusually advanced for its time, with the production/broadcast end and the business/sales end acoustically isolated by a roughly two-inch rubber gasket between the joined structures.
- By the mid-1980s: KSPZ and KVOR were documented together at 615 E. Brookside Street.
- By 1996: KSPZ was part of the KVOR/KVUU/KTWK operation at 2864 S. Circle Drive, Suite 150.
- By the 2000s: the Citadel group was operating from 6805 Corporate Drive, Suite 130.
Sources: FCC history records; Broadcasting Yearbook; Radio Business Report; U.S. Department of Justice antitrust records; period directories; 92.9 facility history (1974 KSPZ/Z93 and Century 21 Z Format); former KVOR/KSPZ employee, first-person oral-history contribution to the Colorado Radio Archive, October 2026.
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KSPZ-FM History
KVOR-FM begins broadcasting on 92.9 MHz
KVOR-FM began broadcasting on 92.9 MHz with 135 kW, initially duplicating CBS-affiliated KVOR 1300 AM. The AM station was then based at 512 South Tejon Street.
KVOR-FM 92.9 signs on
KVOR-FM signed on February 1, 1960 at 92.9 MHz as the FM sister to KVOR 1300 AM. The new FM initially simulcast KVOR's middle-of-the-road music, news and sports programming and shared its CBS network affiliation.
KVOR-FM becomes KSPZ / Z93
KVOR-FM 92.9 became KSPZ, beginning the long-remembered Z93 identity.
Transtar promotes Z93 as satellite-format success story
A February 1983 Transtar trade advertisement used Colorado Springs' Z93 as a case study for its satellite-delivered format. Transtar claimed a Fall 1982 14.6 share among adults 25–54 and said use of the service reduced station expenses by approximately $8,000 per month. These figures are preserved as Transtar's own contemporary promotional claims.
Transtar operates from South Pointe Court in Colorado Springs
A 1984 Transtar trade advertisement lists the network at 620 South Pointe Court, Suite 185, Colorado Springs, and promotes Z93 as a ratings leader after adopting Transtar programming. This confirms Transtar's Colorado Springs headquarters presence but does not by itself establish that Transtar occupied the same building as KVOR/Z93.
Mid-1980s: KVOR and KSPZ operate from 615 E. Brookside
Mid-1980s — Contemporary trade advertising places the KVOR/KSPZ operation at 615 E. Brookside Street, Colorado Springs. The 1989 Broadcasting Yearbook continues to list KVOR at the same address, establishing Brookside as a significant studio/office era for the AM/FM pair.
KSPZ drops Z93 for Oldies 92.9
KSPZ 92.9 dropped its Z93 adult-contemporary identity and became “Oldies 92.9.”
1993 Colorado Springs ratings and revenue snapshot
Duncan's Spring 1993 report estimated the market generated about $10.5 million in radio revenue during 1992. Country KKCS-FM led the Winter 1993 12+ ratings with an 11.4 share, followed by classic/AOR KKFM at 9.8, CHR KKMG at 9.3, news/talk KVOR at 6.5 and oldies KSPZ at 6.2. Duncan estimated KKCS AM/FM as the highest-billing operation at about $2.2 million annually.
Pourtales four-station group holds 22.3% Fall 1993 share
Duncan's market report grouped KVUU-FM, KVOR, KTWK and KSPZ-FM under Pourtales ownership. Together the four stations accounted for a 22.3% 12+ audience share, 24.4% among adults 25–54 and an estimated 20.4% of Colorado Springs radio revenue, documenting substantial multi-station concentration before later consolidation.
1993 Colorado Springs radio business snapshot
Duncan’s 1993 market guide estimated Colorado Springs radio revenue at $10.5 million and ranked KKCS AM/FM, KKFM, KSPZ and KVUU as the market’s four highest-billing radio operations. The same period report showed an industry already moving toward consolidation, with local marketing agreements and a pending KVOR/KSPZ/KVUU/KSSS combination alongside the KKFM/KKMG relationship.
1994 Colorado Springs radio revenue reaches estimated $13.3 million
Duncan estimated Colorado Springs radio revenue at $13.3 million. Estimated station billings included KKCS at $3.2 million, KKFM $2.1 million, KSPZ $1.5 million, KKLI $1.2 million, KKMG $1.1 million, KVUU $1.0 million and KILO $975,000. Duncan estimated 50.4% of market revenue was controlled by duopolies.
Triathlon exercises $18.5 million Pourtales option
Triathlon Broadcasting president/CEO Norman Feuer, formerly chief operating officer of Pourtales Radio Partnership, exercised an $18.5 million option to acquire ten Pourtales stations in three markets. The Colorado Springs properties were KTWK 740, KVOR 1300, KSPZ 92.9 and KVUU 99.9.
Pourtales cluster operates from 2864 S. Circle Drive
By 1996 — The Pourtales Colorado Springs group was operating from 2864 S. Circle Drive, Suite 150. The 1996 RBR Source Guide places KVOR, KSPZ, KVUU and KTWK together at the facility, with Donn Seidholz as KVOR general manager, Kent Hildebrand as GSM, Jim Arthur as KVOR program director and Gary Meininger as chief engineer; Randy Hill programmed KSPZ, while John Savidge was KVUU GSM and Lee Olson its program director.
Citadel and Pourtales sign Colorado Springs joint sales agreement
Citadel Communications and Pourtales Radio Partnership entered a joint sales agreement covering their Colorado Springs and Spokane stations. Citadel set advertising prices, sold airtime, collected advertiser payments, deducted expenses and divided profits with Pourtales. Triathlon subsequently became Pourtales' successor under the agreement.
KSPZ seeks midday and afternoon-drive personalities
Oldies 92.9 program director Randy Hill advertised openings for both midday and afternoon-drive personalities, seeking “adult relatable” talent comfortable working listener phones and describing KSPZ as an all-digital operation. The openings came during the station's transition into the Triathlon era.
Triathlon consolidates KVOR/KSPZ/KVUU/KTWK cluster
Triathlon acquired KVOR and KSPZ while also controlling KVUU and KSSS/KTWK. Advertising time on the group was handled through an LMA/JSA with Citadel, illustrating the rapid consolidation following federal deregulation.
KKMG leads Spring 1996 Colorado Springs ratings
KKMG led Colorado Springs 12+ with a 10.8 share, followed by KKFM 9.4, KKCS AM/FM 8.9, KILO 8.2 and KSPZ 6.5. R&R demographic rankings showed KKMG first among 12–17 listeners; KKFM first in 18–34, 18–49 and 25–54; and KKCS first among 35–64 listeners.
KKMG maintains double-digit ratings presence
KKMG remained Colorado Springs' leading mainstream CHR outlet while KILO, KKFM, KKCS, KCCY, KVOR, KVUU and KSPZ formed a highly competitive field. Contemporary ratings published the following year show KKMG maintaining double-digit 12+ shares through this period.
Triathlon reorganizes Colorado Springs licenses
Triathlon filed FCC Form 316 applications reorganizing its holdings into regional license companies. KTWK 740, KVOR 1300, KSPZ 92.9 and KVUU 99.9 were assigned within the company to the newly named Triathlon Broadcasting of Colorado Springs Licensee, Inc.
February 1998 Colorado Springs ratings snapshot
A February Billboard market table shows KKMG at 10.0 in the latest listed 12+ book, followed by KKCS AM-FM at 8.8, KKFM 8.6, KILO 7.9, KCCY 7.4, KVOR 6.0, KVUU 5.0 and KSPZ/KKLI 4.5. These figures are a specific published ratings snapshot, not permanent rankings.
DOJ sues Citadel, Triathlon and Capstar over Colorado Springs JSA
The U.S. Department of Justice sued Citadel Communications, Triathlon Broadcasting and Capstar Broadcasting over the companies' joint sales arrangement. Citadel was setting prices and selling advertising for its own KKFM, KKMG and KKLI as well as Triathlon-owned KVUU, KSPZ, KVOR and KTWK. DOJ alleged the arrangement represented approximately 58 percent of Colorado Springs radio advertising revenue and reduced price competition and advertiser choice.
Citadel and Capstar settle Colorado Springs antitrust case
Citadel and Capstar agreed to terminate the Citadel/Triathlon joint sales agreement. Citadel was to own KKFM, KKMG, KSPZ, KVOR and KTWK, while Capstar would own KKLI and KVUU. DOJ estimated the post-transaction groups at approximately 40 percent and 16 percent of Colorado Springs radio advertising revenue, respectively. The federal court entered final judgment August 24.
Citadel and Capstar exchange Colorado Springs stations
FCC transfer filings moved KSPZ, KTWK and KVOR from the Capstar/Triathlon trust to Citadel, while KKLI moved from Citadel to Triathlon/Capstar. Contemporary transaction tables describe the exchange as KKLI plus $10 million for KTWK, KVOR, KSPZ and related assets. The private exchange preceded the federal antitrust settlement later that spring.
Summer 1999 Colorado Springs ratings snapshot
1999: Station swap splits the 2864 S. Circle cluster
1999 — A federal antitrust settlement ended the joint sales arrangement between Citadel and Triathlon/Capstar in Colorado Springs and reshaped the stations operating around the 2864 S. Circle cluster.
By 2002: Citadel consolidates at 6805 Corporate Drive
By approximately 2002 — Citadel had completed the consolidation of its Colorado Springs radio group at 6805 Corporate Drive, Suite 130, inside the former Tiffany Square shopping complex.
2006: Dan Hardee makes Colorado Springs on-air debut on KSPZ
Sept. 29, 2006 — Dan Hardee made his Colorado Springs commercial-radio on-air debut on KSPZ, hosting Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight. He came from the promotions department at Clear Channel Pueblo and later moved into weekend-afternoon shifts.
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