KZDG

KZDG (1550 AM; "Radio Zindagi") is a radio station in San Francisco, owned by CBS Radio and programmed by Cinemaya Media. KZDG features talk and music programming targeted to the Bay Area's Indian population.

Format

Radio Zindagi started in 2011 on KZDG as a successful South Asian radio format, with concentration in Bollywood and Indian American affairs. The format has spread to the New York City and Washington, D.C. areas, and is also a syndicated format.

History

KSMO

The 1550AM frequency has been home to many call signs and formats since it signed on in 1947. The original format was classical music as KSMO (later KEAR).

KOBY

When the station was sold in 1956, following a brief period of being off the air, it flipped to Top 40 as KOBY. The station quickly went to the top of the local ratings. They also simulcast with their new FM station at 95.7. Soon, other stations in the Bay Area switched to Top 40, and with much deeper financial resources, and the owners of KOBY decided to sell. In order to inflate station revenues, they began programming heavy amounts of commercials. This move backfired, and potential buyers were scared away from the rapidly failing stations.