KSRY was a short-lived chapter in the history of San Francisco’s 98.9 FM frequency. After a disappointing few years simulcasting the station (using the call letters KDBK) with a co-owned Santa Cruz station, Viacom Broadcasting apparently thought new call letters might help. The station (still simulcasting to provide a better signal for the South Bay) became known as KSRY, marketed as “Star FM”. The Santa Cruz call letters were changed from KDBQ to KSRI.
Under newly-hired program director Rick Love, the station switched to a “hot adult contemporary” format.
Barely a year later, Crescent Communications, which already owned “Wild 107” KSOL, paid Viacom Broadcasting $16 million to acquire KSRY and KSRI. The company then moved the KSOL call letters to KSRY’s 98.9 frequency, and changed the calls on 107.7 to KYLD, as that station stuck to its “Wild 107” branding and format.
