KBAQ

KBAQ (89.5 FM, "K-Bach") is a non-commercial, listener-supported, public radio station in Phoenix, Arizona, playing classical music. It is co-owned by the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and Arizona State University (ASU). The studios are at MCCCD's Rio Salado College in Tempe, alongside MCCCD-owned KJZZ (91.5 FM). The community college system manages day-to-day operations, while ASU provides production and recording services for concerts around Arizona.

The station has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 30,000 watts, covering the Phoenix metropolitan area from Black Canyon City in the north to Casa Grande in the south. Its transmitter and tower are along TV Road on South Mountain. Programming is also heard on 10-watt FM translator 89.7 K209DV in Scottsdale and as an audio subchannel (8.5) of ASU-owned KAET television (Arizona PBS).

On weekdays, classical music playlists are heard, announced by local hosts. Overnights and part of the weekend, KBAQ uses the national music service known as Classical 24, with its own hosts and classical music. Several specialty shows are heard on weekends. KBAQ produces The Mozart Buffet featuring music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his contemporaries, and Reel Music featuring orchestral scores for film.^[3] The nationally syndicated program Sunday Baroque comes from WSHU-FM in Connecticut.

Central Sound at Arizona PBS, formerly the KBAQ production unit, provides concert recording services to KBAQ and other stations as well as audio support for Arizona PBS itself.^[4] Central Sound produces Arizona Encore, a weekly series of concerts recorded at locations throughout central and northern Arizona, which airs on KBAQ and KNAU in Flagstaff.^[5]

The need for a public classical music station in Phoenix arose when commercial station 101.5 KONC was sold. On March 31, 1986, that station left the classical format.^[6] The station, as KONC and before it KHEP-FM, had played classical music since the 1960s. But the classical format was not attractive to advertisers and KONC switched to soft adult contemporary music.

In July, another commercial radio station stepped into the format, a station at 106.3 which adopted the KONC call sign;^[7] In addition, Tucson classical public radio station KUAT-FM established a translator in Phoenix on 105.5 MHz.^[8] This service moved to 89.5 MHz in 1989 to accommodate a power upgrade for 105.3 MHz in Wickenburg.^[9] But as a translator, its frequency could be claimed by a local FM station, which happened when KBAQ debuted four years later.

Nearly immediately after KONC switched formats, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), owner of public jazz and talk station KJZZ, launched a bid for a non-commercial classical music station at 89.5 MHz and filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). However, a week later, Arizona State University (ASU) put in a bid for 89.5 as well. The move angered MCCCD officials; not only did ASU propose to use taxpayer money, but it forced MCCCD into comparative hearings. KJZZ's station director said, "If ASU had desired to do something to impede the progress in returning classical music to the airwaves in Phoenix, it couldn't have found a better action to pursue."^[10] MCCCD had already raised some $80,000 to build a classical station but halted its fundraising drive when ASU entered the fray. In addition, the owner of the former KONC at 101.5 donated the station's music library to KJZZ.^[11]

In 1988, the two classical applications were designated for a consolidated hearing alongside those of Sun Health Corporation, Western Broadcasting Corporation, and Radio Alliance Phoenix.^[12] Over the course of 1989, Western and Radio Alliance Phoenix withdrew. On June 26, 1990, the FCC denied the Sun Health application in favor of the MCCCD and ASU bids. The FCC ordered MCCCD and ASU to share time on the 89.5 frequency and stipulated a time-share plan in the event the two parties could not agree.^[13] Both parties recognized that alternating days of broadcasting would be an unworkable arrangement.^[14] The two sides came to an agreement in which they would jointly own the station. The studios would be with KJZZ, while facilities at ASU could be used to record performances.^[1]

KBAQ "K-Bach" signed on the air on April 26, 1993; 31 years ago (April 26, 1993).^[14] The tower was located on South Mountain. At first, the transmitter had effective radiated power (ERP) of just 91 watts, effectively limiting its coverage to Phoenix itself and its innermost suburbs.^[15]

In 1998, KBAQ was relocated to the White Tank Mountains north and west of Phoenix, which permitted an increase in effective radiated power to 12,500 watts. However, some areas were shaded from the signal, notably affluent parts of Scottsdale containing many station supporters.^[16] Translators were later installed on South Mountain and in Scottsdale to improve coverage.^[17]

In 2009, KBAQ was approved to return to South Mountain with an effective radiated power of 30,000 watts.^[18]

The station is funded by donations from listeners, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the community college district. KBAQ holds periodic fundraisers on the air and on its website.

In fiscal year 2022, KBAQ had combined operating and nonoperating revenues of $3.21 million, with the largest share coming from more than $1.07 million in private gifts. This represented 20 percent of the total revenue generated by KJZZ and KBAQ.^[19]

• KBAQ-FM official website
• Central Sound at Arizona PBS
• Facility details for Facility ID 40096 (KBAQ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KBAQ in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

33°19′59″N 112°03′54″W / 33.333°N 112.065°W / 33.333; -112.065