KCBX to End FM Service, Citing Climate Change

KCBX announced today that after 39 years of bringing Santa Barbara residents a unique mix of news, entertainment and music, a change in atmospheric conditions due to climate change has created a frequency interference with another radio station. As a result, there is no avenue but to end the broadcast at 89.5 FM KSBX by the end of 2022. Listeners in the Santa Barbara area who are affected by this change are encouraged to tune in to KCBX’s online stream on the KCBX.org website, via smart speakers, and through the NPR apps. Some areas on the outskirts of Santa Barbara, including most of the city of Goleta, will still be able to listen on the KCBX 90.9 FM signal.

A phenomenon known as ‘ducting,’ created by warmer waters, changes how radio signals travel over bodies of water, allowing FM frequencies to travel farther across the ocean. As a result, broadcasts on a frequency many miles away are able to reach new coastlines and interfere with the same frequency that would previously be shielded from that interference based on distance alone. The KSBX frequency at 89.5 FM is an unfortunate victim of this phenomenon, being increasingly overrun by a station using the same frequency 200 miles away, creating an unintentional problem that that the other station cannot fix.

KCBX continues its dedication to provide the best public radio experience to the entire Central Coast. General Manager Frank Lanzone said, “KCBX considers Santa Barbara an integral part of our listenership, and we have no plans to reduce or limit news coverage or reporting on local Santa Barbara events and happenings. As a Central Coast public radio station, we consider Santa Barbara residents part of our KCBX family.”

KCBX encourages listeners to use other popular online resources to stream their favorite KCBX programs or DJs. The internet makes it possible to listen to practically every FM station nearly anywhere in the world by opening a webpage on a computer or app on a smartphone or tablet.

The KCBX website at KCBX.org provides the best access to both KCBX FM and its alternate streaming channel, KCBX2.

Listeners with a smart speaker may ask it to “Play KCBX” or “Play NPR” to tune in to the regular KCBX stream, and the NPR mobile apps for smartphones and tablets allow for streaming

KCBX anywhere. For listeners using Apple devices, the Apple Music app will offer the highest quality stream.

Listeners on the go who can connect their smartphones through their car’s audio system can stream KCBX using any of these methods to tune in while driving.

“We hope you will continue to listen through alternative technologies to hear the news, entertainment and music that you appreciate from KCBX, even if you are affected by the loss of our 89.5 signal,” Lanzone said. “All of us at KCBX thank you for being listeners and supporters of KCBX.”

Questions or comments can be submitted to KCBX through the contact page at KCBX.org, found under the ‘About’ menu on the webpage.

About KCBX: KCBX Public Radio is a non-profit FM radio station and NPR member station founded in 1975. KCBX reaches listeners in Southern Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County. Nearly 90 percent of the financial support for KCBX comes from individual listener/subscribers, local corporate underwriters, and proceeds from the Live Oak Music Festival. KCBX is a cultural resource that exists to enlighten and enrich the quality of life for its listeners and users, especially on the Central Coast of California. KCBX strives to serve listeners and users with interests in news, public affairs and alternative musical arts, and encourages an interest in and appreciation of fine arts and local, national and global issues. As an NPR station, KCBX puts its community in touch with the world.

KCBX FM broadcasts on 90.1 in San Luis Obispo, 91.1 in Cayucos, 95.1 in Lompoc, 91.7 from Paso Robles to Salinas, and 90.9 in Santa Ynez, Goleta, Avila Beach and Cambria.