KPHX (AM)

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KPHX

Branding	"Air America Phoenix"
First air date	late 1950s (as KHAT)
Frequency	1480 kHz
Format	Progressive Talk
ERP	5,000 watts (daytime); 500 watts (nighttime)
Callsign meaning	PHX="Phoenix"
Owner	Continental Broadcasting; operated by Nova M Radio
Website	www.1480kphx.com

KPHX is a radio station that broadcasts in Phoenix, Arizona at 1480 kHz on the AM dial. During the day, it runs a directional 5 kW and 500 watts directional at night. Its current format is liberal/progressive talk, with a majority of its broadcast lineup coming from Air America Radio. Continental Broadcasting holds the license, while Nova M Radio operates the station under a local marketing agreement. Nova M is owned by Dr. Mike Newcomb, M.D. and Air America founders Sheldon and Anita Drobny.

[edit] History

The station at 1480 AM signed on the air in the late 1950s as a daytime-only country station called KHAT. This format stayed in place until the early 1970s when it went all-news as KPHX, which only lasted about a year. Around 1974, KPHX became a Spanish language station, and remained one for approximately 30 years. By 1982, KPHX had started operating at night.

Starting in 2004, KPHX aired an all-comedy format and that remained for nearly two years. KPHX flipped to an adult standards format in 2006, with the Music of Your Life network.

In late March 2006, Continental entered into an agreement with Nova M Radio, bringing the Air America Radio progressive talk programming formerly carried by KXXT (1010 kHz AM) with them. On October 18 of the same year, following the Chapter 11 filing of Air America, Nova M announced that it would form its own radio network featuring personalities including Newcomb, Mike Malloy and John Zogby. [1] KPHX will serve as the flagship of Nova M's new network.