KBRE

---

title: "KBRE" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2000-establishments-in-california", "active-rock-radio-stations-in-the-united-states", "merced,-california", "radio-stations-established-in-2000", "radio-stations-in-california", "stephens-media-group-radio-stations"] description: "Radio station in Merced, California" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBRE" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Radio station in Merced, California ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station"]

Field	Value
name	KBRE
logo	105.7 The Bear.jpg
logo_size	200px
city	Merced, California
area	Merced metropolitan area
branding	105.7 The Bear
frequency	1660 kHz
translator	105.7 K289CB (Los Banos)
airdate
format	Active rock/alternative rock
power
class	B
facility_id	87180
coordinates
callsign_meaning	Bear
former_callsigns
owner	Stephens Media Group
licensee	SMG-Merced, LLC
sister_stations	KABX-FM, KHTN, KLOQ-FM, KUBB, KYOS
webcast	Listen Live
website	1057thebear.com
affiliations	Compass Media Networks
licensing_authority	FCC
::

| name = KBRE | logo = 105.7 The Bear.jpg | logo_size = 200px | city = Merced, California | country = US | area = Merced metropolitan area | branding = 105.7 The Bear | frequency = 1660 kHz | translator = 105.7 K289CB (Los Banos) | airdate = | format = Active rock/alternative rock | power = | class = B | facility_id = 87180 | coordinates = | callsign_meaning = Bear | former_callsigns = | operator = | owner = Stephens Media Group | licensee = SMG-Merced, LLC | sister_stations = KABX-FM, KHTN, KLOQ-FM, KUBB, KYOS | webcast = Listen Live | website = 1057thebear.com | affiliations = Compass Media Networks | licensing_authority = FCC KBRE (1660 AM) is a commercial radio station in Merced, California. It is owned by the Stephens Media Group, through licensee SMG-Merced, LLC. It plays a mix of active rock and alternative rock, calling itself "105.7 The Bear". Programming is also heard on 250 watt FM translator 105.7 K289CB in nearby Los Banos.

The AM station is powered at 10,000 watts by day, 1,000 watts at night, using a non-directional antenna. The AM transmitter is off South Bert Crane Road in Atwater.

History

KBRE began as the "expanded band" twin to a station on the standard AM band. On March 17, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with then-KLOQ in Merced authorized to move from 1580 kHz to 1660 kHz.

The FCC's initial policy was that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency. It was decided to shut down the standard band station, and on August 13, 2004, the license for original station, now KVVY, on 1580 kHz was cancelled.

A construction permit for the expanded band station was assigned the call letters KAXW on January 9, 1998. It was owned by Clarke Broadcasting and aired a spanish-language adult contemporary format.

Sports radio

On February 12, 2002, the station changed its call sign to KTIQ. It continued to carry a sports format, known as "The Ticket" (indicated by the letters "TIQ"). In late 2007/early 2008, the station switched to Spanish-language Christian radio as "Amistad Christiana".

Switch to rock

On March 16, 2016, 92.5 KBRE's old active/alternative rock format moved to AM 1660, calling itself "105.7 The Bear". It added FM translator K289CB Los Banos. The station changed its call sign to KBRE on May 11, 2016.

Acquisition by Stephens Media

On July 1, 2019, Mapleton Communications announced its intent to sell its remaining 37 stations to Stephens Media Group. Stephens began operating the station that same day. The sale was consummated on September 30, 2019 at a price of $21 million.

Former logo

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/KTIQ_logo.jpg"] ::

References

References

1. [https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=kbre&arn=&state=&city=&freq=530&fre2=1700&type=0&facid=&class=&list=0&ThisTab=Results+to+This+Page%2FTab&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9 FCC.gov/KBRE]
2. [https://radio-locator.com/info/K289CB-FX Radio-Locator.com/K289CB]
3. [https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=kbre&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C Radio-Locator.com/KBRE]
4. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x004848309&view=1up&seq=276 "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations"] (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
5. [https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=65376 Facility details for Facility ID 65376 (KVVY)] in the FCC Licensing and Management System
6. The station [[signed on]] the air in May 2000.[https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/2000/D-Radio-All-BC-YB-2000-2.pdf Information] from the [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook]] 2000 page D-51
7. "KBRE Call Sign History in the FCC Licensing and Management System". United States [[Federal Communications Commission]], audio division.
8. Venta, Lance. (1 July 2019). "Stephens Media Group Acquires 37 Stations From Mapleton Communications".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::