On June 25, 1966, the stationsigned on as KBER-FM. It was owned by Kepo Broadcasting and was the FM counterpart of AM 1150 KBER. Because KBER AM was a daytime only station, its country music programming continued on KBER-FM into the night. In 1974, KBER-AM-FM were sold to Pacific Western Broadcasting. The call signs were changed to KQAM for the AM station and KSAQ for the FM station, also known as "Q-100." The two simulcast a Top 40 format. In 1976, the AM station was sold to a Spanish-language broadcaster, while the FM station was sold to Radio Alamo. Radio Alamo switched the call letters to KZZY, initially keeping the Top 40 sound. But then it briefly tried a country format as KCCW. The country music lasted less than a year.
680 KKYX had been owned by Swanson Communications, running a classic country format. So when it was paired with KLLS-FM, Newcity made the decision to also play country music on the FM, but a more contemporary version. The call sign was changed to KCYY, with the CY standing for Country and the additional Y as the moniker of the station, "Y100." San Antonio already had an FM country station that had been doing well in the ratings, 97.3 KAJA, owned by Clear Channel Communications, which also owned AM 1200WOAI. Another country station was 107.5 KBUC-FM, but its ratings weren't a factor, and it eventually flipped to TejanoKXTN-FM. Newcity thought there were enough country fans in San Antonio for two healthy FM country outlets. KCYY premiered by playing 10,000 songs in a row with no commercials. Backed by the commercial-free weeks and TV ads, KCYY became San Antonio's top country station in Spring 1988. KCYY was also the top station in the 18-49 year old demographic and the 25-54 demographic, according to the Arbitron ratings. Cox Radio acquired KCYY and KKYX in 1997. Since the late 80s, Cox-owned 100.3 KCYY and iHeartMedia-owned 97.3 KAJA have see-sawed in the ratings, with both stations often in the top five in the San Antonio market.
Timeline of 100.3 FM
1987 KLLS becomes KCYY Y-100 switching from Adult Contemporary to Country. 1981 KCCW becomes KLLS "Class 100" airing an automated Adult Contemporary format. For a short time it would simulcast on AM 930.
1979-1981 KZZY becomes Country KCCW 100.3 1977-1979 KSAQ becomes CHR/Top40 KZZY "Buzzard Rock" 100.3/1150 1974-1977 KSAQ 100.3 and KQAM/1150 "San Antonio's Q 100.3 and 1150" Top 40/CHR. 1966-1974 100.3 Signs on as KBER-FM as Country.
