KBYZ

---

title: "KBYZ" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["radio-stations-in-the-bismarck-metropolitan-area", "radio-stations-established-in-1984", "1984-establishments-in-north-dakota", "townsquare-media-radio-stations", "classic-rock-radio-stations-in-the-united-states"] description: "Radio station in Bismarck, North Dakota" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBYZ" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Radio station in Bismarck, North Dakota ::

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

Field	Value
name	KBYZ
city	Bismarck, North Dakota
area	Bismarck-Mandan
branding	96.5 The Walleye
frequency	96.5 MHz
airdate	1984
format	Mainstream rock
erp	100,000 watts
haat	293.6 meters
class	C1
facility_id	43221
callsign_meaning	B YZ (substitute for "is") marck
former_callsigns	KYSX (1983–1984)
affiliations	Compass Media Networks
owner	Townsquare Media
licensee	Townsquare License, LLC
sister_stations	KACL, KKCT, KLXX, KUSB
webcast	Listen Live
website
licensing_authority	FCC
::

| name = KBYZ | logo = | city = Bismarck, North Dakota | area = Bismarck-Mandan | branding = 96.5 The Walleye | frequency = 96.5 MHz | airdate = 1984 | format = Mainstream rock | erp = 100,000 watts | haat = 293.6 meters | class = C1 | facility_id = 43221 | callsign_meaning = B YZ (substitute for "is") marck | former_callsigns = KYSX (1983–1984) | affiliations = Compass Media Networks | owner = Townsquare Media | licensee = Townsquare License, LLC | sister_stations = KACL, KKCT, KLXX, KUSB | webcast = Listen Live | website = | licensing_authority= FCC

KBYZ (96.5 FM), known as "96.5 The Walleye", is a radio station located in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States, owned by Townsquare Media.

Townsquare Media also owns KLXX 1270 (Talk), KKCT 97.5 (CHR), KACL 98.7 (Classic Hits), and KUSB 103.3 (Country) in the Bismarck-Mandan area. All the studios are at 4303 Memorial Highway in Mandan, along with the AM transmitter and tower. All the FM transmitters are at a site in Saint Anthony, North Dakota, on 57th Road.

History

The station first signed on the air in 1984 with an Adult Contemporary format, using the branding "Z-96." The original call sign for the frequency was KYSX from 1983 to 1984.

The format transitioned to Classic Rock in the early 1990s, where it remained for nearly two decades, using the branding "The Fox." Following an ownership change, the station began evolving its playlist in the mid-2000s to include newer rock content, creating a Mainstream Rock approach. On December 11, 2021, the station dropped the "Fox" branding and began a five-day format stunt before rebranding as "96.5 The Walleye" on December 16, 2021.

The station's current ownership began in 2012 when Townsquare Media acquired the Bismarck cluster, including KBYZ, from Cumulus Media Inc. The acquisition involved 55 stations in 11 markets.

In 2013, the station rebranded itself as "The New Evolution of Classic rock" and began playing more 80's and 90's-based rock. The station also dropped The Bob and Tom Show, opting for Grand Rapids-based Free Beer and Hot Wings, to anchor the station's morning show.

Previous logo

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/KBYZ_96.5_(logo).png"] ::

References

References

1. Venta, Lance. (December 16, 2021). "KBYZ Revamps Classic Rock Format As 96.5 The Walleye". RadioInsight.
2. (April 30, 2012). "Townsquare Media Acquires Stations From Cumulus Media". Townsquare Media, LLC.
3. "Cumulus Media sells 53 radio stations in 12 U.S. cities to Townsquare Media for $238 million". Jones Day.

::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. ::