SMOOTH JAZZ · CLASSIC JAZZ · MISSION VIEJO · CALIFORNIA · UNITED STATES
Jazz 88.5 is the commercial-free jazz channel of KSBR, produced at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo for Orange County and streaming online worldwide.
📻 History: KSBR began broadcasting in 1975, when the FCC granted an educational license to the Saddleback Community College District. The station started in the college library building with just 10 watts, so its signal barely reached beyond the campus. On May 7, 1979, after the district's request, it was upgraded to a full Class A operation, extending its coverage across Orange County and into north San Diego County.
KSBR began as a National Public Radio affiliate, but five years later it was reconfigured to better serve the college's instructional broadcasting program. In 1990 it moved into the new Student Services Building, where it stayed for nearly 17 years, and in July 2017 it returned to the Learning Resources Center with new digital studios. Over the years KSBR built a contemporary jazz format that earned respect in the music industry, and it became a training ground for students who went on to work in country, rock, adult contemporary, news/talk and top-40 radio.
In September 2017 Saddleback and California State University, Northridge agreed to jointly operate 88.5 FM: the main signal carried KCSN's adult album alternative format, rebranded The SoCal Sound in August 2022, while KSBR's jazz programming moved to the HD2 channel, which is still produced from the Saddleback studios in Mission Viejo. In February 2026 Saddleback announced an agreement to donate the KSBR license to CSUN, subject to FCC approval. Listeners can also join the community on Discord.
📞 (949) 582-5727 · ✉️ [email protected] · 📍 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92692, United States
