KVIN

Radio station in Ceres, California

37°35′49″N 121°4′15″W / 37.59694°N 121.07083°W / 37.59694; -121.07083 (day)
37°37′55″N 120°45′6″W / 37.63194°N 120.75167°W / 37.63194; -120.75167 (night)Translator(s)92.3 K222BX (Modesto)
107.1 K296HL (Manteca)LinksWebcastListen LiveWebsitepunjabiradiousa.com

KVIN (920 kHz "Punjabi Radio USA 920 AM") is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a radio format of Punjabi language talk and Punjabi music. Licensed to Ceres, California, it serves the Stockton and Modesto radio markets. The station is owned by Balwinder Kaur Khalsa and Kilpreet Singh Khalsa, through licensee Punjabi American Media LLC. They just changed their format to Punjabi Language.

KVIN has two FM translator stations rebroadcasting its programming: 92.3 K222BX in Modesto and 107.1 K296HL in Manteca. KVIN is one of few AM radio stations that increases its power at night. By day, KVIN runs at 500 watts but at sunset, power increases to 2,500 watts. It uses a directional antenna at all times. The daytime transmitter is off Iowa Avenue in Riverdale Park and the nighttime transmitter is off Hickman Road in Hickman.^[1]

History

The station first signed on the air on September 15, 1963, as KLOC.^[2] It was founded by country music artist Chester Smith, who served as general manager. The station was a daytimer, required to go off the air from sunset to sunrise. Reflecting its owner, KLOC played only Country and Western music.

The station was acquired by Threshold Communications in 2001 for $400,000.^[3] The call sign was changed to KVIN. It formerly featured programming provided from Jones Radio Network (Music Of Your Life)and Dial Global/Westwood One's "America's Best Music" until December 2013.

On November 10, 2022, Threshold Communications, licensee of KVIN, 920 AM, Ceres California; K222BX, 92.3 FM, Modesto, California; and K296HL, 107.1 FM Manteca, California, filed applications with the Federal Communications Commission for consent to assign the stations to Punjabi American Media, LLC.

The sale to Punjabi American Media was consummated on April 28, 2023.