KVVZ is a radio station licensed to San Rafael, California, United States, and it serves the San Francisco area. The station is currently owned by Univision Radio, through licensee Univision Radio Illinois, Inc. The station serves as the northern simulcast of its sister stationKVVFSanta Clara. Its studios are in San Jose, and the KVVZ transmitter is in San Rafael. The station was first licensed August 23, 1961, as KTIM-FM, and broadcast at 100.9 MHz. The station was owned by Marin Broadcasting Co. In the early 1970s, the station simulcast the MOR format of KTIM during the day, and aired a progressive rock format at night. In the mid 1970s, the station began airing an album-oriented rock format full time. The album-oriented rock format continued through the rest of the 1970s and into the 1980s. In 1980, the station was sold to Platt Communications, and in 1983 the station was sold to Arthur Astor. In the mid 1980s, the station began airing an adult contemporary format. On October 20, 1987, the station's call sign was changed to KTID. In 1994, KTID-FM dropped adult contemporary for classical music and ended its simulcast of KTID. Between 1999 and 2004, KVVZ was KJQI, contemporary Christian 100.7 K-JOY. Between 2004 and June 27, 2005, KVVZ began simulcasting with KVVF and became the "pop, rock y reggaeton" station, Viva 100.7. KVVF was also owned by Univision, who later assumed the license of KVVZ in a trade from Salem Communications in 2004. WPPN in Chicago also went to Univision, while stations in Houston, Texas, Dallas, Texas and Chicago went to Salem. The Dallas station has since been resold. On October 13, 2011, the former station branding La Kalle changed to Latino Mix. On March 14, 2014, the station started repeatedly playing Nelly's "Hot in Herre" uninterrupted, most likely an act of stunting. On March 17, 2014, KVVZ and KVVF started broadcasting at 5:05pm, beginning with a "history lesson" about the first "Hot" station that covered the San Jose area from 1987 to 1995, followed by the return of Chuy Gomez, a radio host formerly from KMEL, and aired a Mix Show. Although their playlist favors R&B/Hip-Hop hits, KVVF/KVVZ is programming the station as a Rhythmic Top 40 and targets a bilingual and younger Hispanic audience using the same formula as sister station KBBTSan Antonio. In a statement from Station Content Director Makr Arias, “We just feel like The Bay Area has been asking for something new and fresh. It’s a format they call Top 40/Rhythmic with a little bit of hip-hop, R&B and Top 40 crossed-over.”
Return of "Latino Mix"
On August 30, 2019, the station started repeatedly playing J Balvin's "Reggaeton" followed by Vicente Fernández "Volver Volver" uninterrupted, reportedly an act of stunting to promote their branding and format comeback to "Latino Mix 100.7." On September 2, 2019, Latino Mix 100.7 started broadcasting at 12:03pm, the first song played under the return to Spanish CHR format was J Balvin's "Mi Gente".
Additional frequencies
In addition to the main station, KVVZ is relayed by this translator to widen its broadcast area.
