Phoenix's classical station of record had been KONC at 101.5 MHz. On March 31, 1986, that station left the classical format. Late in 1986, another commercial radio station stepped into the format, a new station at 106.3 adopting the KONC calls; Tucson's KUAT-FM also established a translator in Phoenix. However, two parties sought to build and operate their own classical music station. One was the Maricopa CountyCommunity College District, and the other was Arizona State University. A week after MCCCD announced its intent to file for a classical station, the university announced its own bid, a decision which drew ire from the community colleges for proposing to use taxpayer money and for forcing the MCCCD attempt into comparative hearings. The KJZZ station director said of ASU's move, "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." The colleges had already raised some $80,000 to build a classical station, halting the bid when the university entered the fray. In addition, the owner of the former KONC at 101.5 donated the station's music library to KJZZ. 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. Over the course of 1989, Western and Radio Alliance Phoenix withdrew. On June 26, 1990, the FCC denied the Sun Health application and selected those of MCCCD and ASU, ordering them to share time on the 89.5 frequency and stipulating a time-share plan in the event the two parties could not agree. The two sides came to an agreement in which they would jointly own the station. KBAQ began broadcasting from atop South Mountain at the end of April 1993 with an effective radiated power of just 91 watts, effectively limiting its coverage to Phoenix itself and its innermost suburbs. In 1997, KBAQ was relocated to the White Tank Mountains north and west of Phoenix, which permitted a power increase to 12,500 watts. In 2009, KBAQ was approved to return to South Mountain with an ERP of 30,000 watts.
Programs
The broadcast schedule consists primarily of playlists announced by local hosts, as well as a few nationally syndicated broadcasts from NPR and American Public Media., KBAQ carries , SymphonyCast and the Metropolitan Opera during its season. KBAQ also features programs from Central Sound at PBS, formerly the KBAQ Production Studio; these include programs of Arizona Opera and the Phoenix Symphony during their seasons; ASU in Concert ; Southwest Season Ticket and the Mozart Buffet.
