KTPI-FM

KTPI-FM (97.7 FM, "97-7 KTPI") is a country music formatted radio station serving the Antelope Valley region of Southern California.

History

The 97.7 frequency originally went on the air as KDOL-FM as a simulcast of KDOL (AM) with a country format. In 1984, the simulcast was split and 97.7 began operating an automated Top 40 format. That format continued when, in 1986, Chambers Broadcasting purchased KDOL-AM/FM; since Chambers also owned 103.1 KTPI, and FCC rules at the time prohibited ownership of more than one AM and one FM station per market, 97.7 was spun off to Antelope Broadcasting, which owned KAVL. Antelope changed the call letters to KAVS and adopted the slogan Hot 97 two years later. In 1997, KAVS began simulcasting with newly acquired 105.3 KYHT in Yermo and became known as High Desert Modern Rock 97.7 & 105.3. In 1998, Antelope Broadcasting was bought out by Jacor Communications (which was later bought by Clear Channel Communications) and KAVS/KYHT flipped from its modern rock format to Top 40. They began simulcasting 102.7 KIIS-FM in Los Angeles much of the time and in the early days did many local on air events in the Antelope Valley and Barstow area.