KDB (FM)

KDB

City of license	Santa Barbara, California
Broadcast area	Santa Barbara, California Ventura County
Branding	KDB 93.7
Slogan	"Classical Music 24 Hours a Day"
Frequency	93.7 MHz
First air date	1960 (as an FM station)
Format	Classical
ERP	12,500 watts
HAAT	265 meters
Class	B
Facility ID	51169
Transmitter coordinates	34°27′58″N 119°40′37″W / 34.46611°N 119.67694°W / 34.46611; -119.67694Coordinates: 34°27′58″N 119°40′37″W / 34.46611°N 119.67694°W / 34.46611; -119.67694
Callsign meaning	K Dorothy Barnes (in honor of the wife of station owner George Barnes in 1929)
Owner	Santa Barbara Foundation (sale pending)
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	kdb.com

KDB (93.7 MHz FM) is a commercial radio station in Santa Barbara, California that is listener- and advertiser-supported, and is owned by the non-profit Santa Barbara Foundation. The station airs a classical music format.

According to the station's web site, it first went on air as KFCR-AM radio in 1926. The station was also purchased by George Barnes in 1929, who changed the call letters from KFCR to KDB in tribute to his wife, Dorothy Barnes.

In October 1929, KDB’s license was cancelled for failure to comply with regulations from the Federal Radio Commission. At issue were broadcasts of “The Crusaders,” which promoted the repeal of Prohibition. Station management put up a vigorous fight and KDB returned to the air by the end of the year.

Over the next couple of decades, KDB was bought and sold a few more times. It was Santa Barbara’s first 24-hour station, broadcasting on both AM and FM. KDB-AM and KDB-FM were bought in 1971 by the Pacific Broadcasting Company, consisting of Bob Scott, Harvey Pool, and Dick Marsh. After programming American show tunes and beautiful music for nine years, KDB-FM changed its format to classical music in 1980.

In 1990, KDB-AM and KDB-FM were split apart due to an owners’ dispute.

Currently owned by Rincon Broadcasting, KDB-AM is now KSPE. Bob Scott, and his son Roby, along with Harvey Pool, retained KDB-FM.

Michael Towbes, David Anderson, and Jean and Barry Schuyler bought KDB in 2001, with the goal of retaining ownership until such time as the station could be sold to a nonprofit that would keep the classical format and local orientation. This happened in November 2003 when the Santa Barbara Foundation purchased the station through a generous donation from Mr. Towbes.

KDB is a voice for local arts organizations, promoting concerts and events.

In 2010, KDB embarked on a three year strategic plan to enhance and grow its service to the community with programming that will enrich the lives of those who listen. KDB added a Features Producer who creates two to three interviews and features per week on the performing, visual and literary arts, as well as the good work of local nonprofit organizations.

In 2011, KDB entered the world of social media, adding a monthly e-newsletter and Facebook page.

In October 2013, the Santa Barbara Foundation announced that it had put KDB up for sale. In a statement, the station said that it was unable to attract enough revenue from contributing listeners to support KDB's operations, despite an increase in advertising revenue. The foundation hopes to sell the station at a discount to interests that would retain the classical format (citing the "continuing community benefit" of continuing this programming), but will also consider full-price offers from groups that will program a format of their choosing (in which the proceeds will go toward an endowment to support classical music in the area).^[1]

Since 2004 KDB has had a local classical music format competitor, KQSC, a non-commercial full power repeater station for KUSC, Los Angeles.

References

External links

• KDB official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KDB
• Radio-Locator information on KDB
• Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for KDB