KZFS

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KZFS is a Spokane, Washington radio station on 1280 AM, branded as Hooptown 101.5. It airs a classic hip hop format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The station also broadcasts on FM translator 101.5 K268DL to reach more listeners.

By day, KZFS operates at 5,000 watts, and at night it reduces to 125 watts to protect other stations on the same frequency, using a directional antenna. The transmitter is located on South Palouse Highway in Southeast Spokane.

KZFS began broadcasting in 1965 as KUDY with a Christian talk and teaching format. In 2002, the station swapped signals with 590 AM and became KAQQ with an adult standards format. In 2005, it changed to KPTQ with a progressive talk format, carrying Air America Radio until 2010. In 2012, it switched to classic country after sister station KIXZ changed formats. In 2013, the station became KZFS and switched to Fox Sports Radio.

In 2015, it moved to a Christian music format branded as Up 99.3 via translator K257FX. In 2018, it flipped to country as Kix 99.3, taking branding from KIIX-FM. The Christian format was moved to KISC-HD2 as Up! 98.1 HD2. In 2020, KZFS switched to its current classic hip hop format as Hooptown 101.5 and began simulcasting on translator 101.5 FM. The country format was moved to KISC’s HD2 subchannel.

The Hooptown branding nods to Spokane’s nickname “Hooptown USA,” in reference to the city’s basketball success. KZFS is part of iHeartMedia, with affiliations to Premiere Networks, and has sister stations KCDA, KFOO-FM, KISC, KKZX, and KQNTH.