KFNZ

KFNZ
City Salt Lake City, Utah
Broadcast area Salt Lake City, Utah
Branding 1320 K-Fan
Slogan Powered By Fans!
Frequency 1320 kHz
First air date 1922 (as KDYL)
Format Sports
Power 5,000 watts unlimited
Class B
Facility ID 53500
Transmitter coordinates 40°38′36″N 111°55′24″W / 40.64333°N 111.92333°W / 40.64333; -111.92333Coordinates: 40°38′36″N 111°55′24″W / 40.64333°N 111.92333°W / 40.64333; -111.92333
Callsign meaning K-FaN Z
Former callsigns KDYL (1922-1950s)
KCPX (1950s-1980s)
KBUG (1980s-1987)
KCPX (1987-1988)
KEMX (1988-1989)
KUTR (1989-1992)
KCPX (2/1992-8/1992)
KCNR (1992-1996)
Affiliations CBS Sports Radio
Owner Cumulus Media
(Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stations KBEE, KBER, KENZ, KHTB, KRUZ, KKAT, KUBL-FM
Webcast Listen Live
Website 1320kfan.com

KFNZ (1320 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Sports format. Licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, the station serves the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station is currently residing in the Cumulus Media building, they also feature programming from CBS Sports Radio.[1] The station's studios are located in South Salt Lake (behind the I-15/I-80 interchange) and its transmitter site is located in Murray.

In 1927, it was on 1220 kHz and moved to 1160 kHz. In 1929, it moved to 1290 kHz. In 1941, it moved to 1320 kHz as a result of the NARBA agreement.

Station programming

KFNZ is the flagship for Minor League Hockey team the Utah Grizzlies. KFNZ is also responsible for providing analysis and coverage for BYU Cougars, University of Utah Utes, Salt Lake Bees, Utah State Aggies, and Weber State Wildcats. KFNZ also features programming from CBS Sports Radio.

History

Former logo of KFNZ

The station first went on the air in 1922, and originally held the call sign KDYL.[2] Its license was granted on May 8, 1922.[2] The station was constructed by Ira J. Kaar for A.L. Fish and the Salt Lake Telegram.[3] When it went on the air in 1922, it shared a wavelength with two other commercial stations in Salt Lake City.[4] At that time, the FCC had not been formed and several stations shared a "wavelength" by going on and off at pre-arranged times. Unlike today, radio receivers in 1922 were wavelength not frequency orientated.

In 1926, the station was purchased by Sidney S. Fox.[3] Fox later invested in the construction of its sister stations, KDYL-FM and KDYL-TV (now KTVX).[3] On Sept. 1, 1932, KDYL became an NBC Radio affiliate, switching from CBS.[5] In 1953, Fox sold KDYL and its FM and TV sister stations to Time-Life Corporation for $2.1 million.[3] The station was purchased by Columbia Pictures in 1959, and the station's call sign was changed to KCPX.[2]

As KCPX, the station carried a contemporary hits format that was very popular in the Salt Lake City area during the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s. During this time, the station competed heavily for listeners with across town rival (1280) KNAK. With the arrival of FM, the station's ratings fell. By 1984, the station's call sign had been changed to KBUG.[6] Initially the station aired an adult contemporary format,[6][7] but by 1986 the format had been changed to oldies.[8][9][10] In 1987,[11] the station's call sign was changed back to KCPX, and the station continued airing an oldies format.[12][13] On August 1, 1988, the station's call sign was changed to KEMX, and the station began airing an "Easy Mix" format consisting of songs from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, as well as country crossover hits from the 1980s.[13]

On August 7, 1989, the station began airing the "LDS Contemporary" format that had previously aired on KUTR 860.[14] On September 14, 1989, the station's call sign was changed to KUTR.[15] On February 18, 1992, the station changed its call sign back to KCPX,[15] and the station simulcast the adult contemporary format of its sister station 98.7 KCPX-FM, with the slogan "continuous favorites, from yesterday to today".[16][17] Later that year, KCNR 860's all-news format moved to the station.[16] On August 11, 1992, the station's call sign switched to KCNR.[15] In 1993, the station adopted a talk radio format.[18] In late August 1996, the station began airing its current sports format.[19] On August 30, 1996, the station's call sign was changed to the current KFNZ.[15] The station's owner, Citadel Broadcasting, merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "KFNZ Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. 1 2 3 History Cards for KFNZ, fcc.gov. Accessed August 24, 2015
  3. 1 2 3 4 Tim Larson and Robert K. Avery, "Utah Broadcasting History", Utah History Encyclopedia, Utah Education Network. Accessed August 24, 2015
  4. ↑ Geo. J. Zaengle & Wm. S. Bowen, 3rd, "Radio Broadcasting Stations", Bulletin No. 1, Progressive Radio Company. Accessed August 24, 2015
  5. ↑ "KDYL Goes to NBC" (PDF). wpbc. September 1, 1932. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Ratings Report", Radio & Records, April 1984. p. 128. Accessed August 23, 2015
  7. ↑ "Ratings Report", Radio & Records, April 1985. p. 123. Accessed August 23, 2015
  8. ↑ "Ratings Report & Directory", Radio & Records, April 1986. p. 142. Accessed August 23, 2015
  9. ↑ James H, Duncan, Jr. "Winter 1986 Supplement", American Radio, Winter 1986. p. 47. Accessed August 23, 2015
  10. ↑ James H, Duncan, Jr. "Summer 1986 Supplement", American Radio, Summer 1986. p. 95. Accessed August 23, 2015
  11. ↑ Lynn Arave, "Radio dial: Utah radio stations go global", Deseret News, March 23, 2007. Accessed August 23, 2015
  12. ↑ "Ratings Report & Directory", Radio & Records, Fall 1987. p. 153. Accessed August 23, 2015
  13. 1 2 Lynn Arave, "KCPX-AM is Now KEMX and Has an `Easy Mix' Sound", Deseret News, August 5, 1988. Accessed August 23, 2015
  14. ↑ Lynn Arave, "KUTR Radio Returns to the Airwaves Monday", Deseret News, August 5, 1989. Accessed August 23, 2015
  15. 1 2 3 4 "KFNZ Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  16. 1 2 Lynn Arave, "KCPX Will Retain Format Despite Pact", Deseret News, May 1, 1992. Accessed August 23, 2015
  17. ↑ "Listeners React Favorably to KCPX Format Switch", Deseret News, November 10, 1990. Accessed August 23, 2015
  18. ↑ Lynn Arave, "All-News Format Returns to Utah", Deseret News, September 9, 1994. Accessed August 23, 2015
  19. ↑ Lynn Arave, "KCNR Set to Switch to All-Sports Format as Early as Wednesday", Deseret News, August 23, 1996. Accessed August 23, 2015
  20. ↑ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
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