KFI

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KFI
Broadcast area	Los Angeles, California
Branding	KFI AM 640
Slogan	More Stimulating Talk Radio
First air date	March 31, 1922
Frequency	640 (kHz)
Format	Talk
Power	50,000 watts
Class	A
Callsign meaning	K Farmer's Information
Owner	Clear Channel Communications
Website	www.kfiam640.com

KFI is an AM radio station that began operating on March 31, 1922 as one of the United States' first high-powered, "clear channel" stations. Currently, it operates as a talk radio station, airing a mixture of syndicated and locally originated news and talk programming.

In the Spring 2006 quarter Arbitron rating, KFI was the most listened to radio station in Los Angeles, averaging approximately 1.5 million listeners during any given weekday. In the Los Angeles market, this is extremely rare for an AM station, and more rare for an English-language station. The station is now the most listened to AM radio station in the country and the highest-rated talk radio station in the United States, beating out WABC in New York City.

Contents 1 History 2 Programming 2.1 Weekday Schedule 3 Broadcasting 4 FEC complaint 5 Tower destroyed 6 Former hosts and on-air alumni 7 Trivia 8 Notes 9 External links

[edit] History

The original station used a 50-watt transmitter built by Earle C. Anthony, who operated it from his garage. In its early days, it was typically on the air only four and a half hours a day. The "FI" segment of its call sign was an abbreviation of "farmer's information."^[1] Every winter evening between 1924 and 1956, KFI would deliver a frost report at 8 p.m. that would tell citrus farmers whether to turn on windmills or light "smudge pots" to keep their orange and lemon groves from freezing.^[2]

For many years, KFI was the Los Angeles area affiliate of the NBC radio network, most particularly the NBC Red Network, as distinguished from the NBC Blue Network of less powerful stations, which became the American Broadcasting Company. KFI's sister station, KECA, was the affiliate of the Blue network. The anti-trust decision that divested NBC Blue also forced Earle C. Anthony to sell KECA (which became KABC).

During this period the station carried such sporting events as the World Series and the Rose Bowl. From 1960 to 1972, the station was the flagship station of the Los Angeles Dodgers radio network. Its programming transitioned during this period from block programming, often featuring 15-minute programs, to full service radio with disk-jockies playing records interspersed with aggresive local news coverage.

In 1973, Cox Broadcasting headquartered in Atlanta, purchased KFI for 15 million dollars cash, at that time the highest amount ever paid for a radio station anywhere. James Wesley, Cox's manager at WIOD in Miami and that stations Operatons Manager, Elliott "Biggie" Nevins, were dispatched to Los Angeles to manage the station. Cox instructed Wesley to find an FM facility in the Los Angeles market and purchase it also. A deal was reached with Dallas broadcaster Gordon McLendon, to purchase his KOST-fm for 2.2 million cash. Wesley also decided against renewing the long term agreement for carrying Dodger baseball, positioning KABC to become the new Dodger station in Los Angeles.

In the mid 1970s KFI was successful programming Top 40 music. Owner Cox Broadcasting hired John Rook as program director. Rook was considered the force behind WLS Chicago's success. Al Lohman and Roger Barkley were top rated in the morning time, Tim & Ev Kelly in mid-days, Jack Armstrong afternoons, Big Ron O'Brien evenings and Charley Fox at night. Rook and most of the on air personalities left in the early 80's with KFI softening to a more Adult top 40 format (sort of in between Top 40 and adult Contemporary). By the mid '80s the station was more news and personality intensive than music intensive with a Full Service format.

For nearly 20 years during the 1970s and 1980s, KFI boasted one of the most listened-to shows in Los Angeles radio history, "The Lohman and Barkley Show," featuring the comedy duo of Al Lohman and Roger Barkley. During this time, throughout the day the station featured a hybrid format combining adult contemporary music with comedian hosts. Other hosts included Hudson and Landry (of "Ajax Liquor Store" fame), Charlie and Mitzi (Charlie Brill and Mitzi McCall of Laugh-In), and Gary Owens.

By the mid 1980s ratings began to slip. KFI moved the music to more of a Soft gold based AC and began to play less and less of it. The talk shows moved from a blend of entertainment, comedy, and lifestyle to more political issues. The music was dropped in 1988 and KFI evolved to an issue-oriented talk format. The first hosts were Dr. Toni Grant, former disk jockey Geoff Edwards doing talk in the midday, and Tom Leykis with a politically oriented "combat radio" program.^[3] Competitor KABC, which had been doing talk radio for some time, sued KFI in U.S. District Court to have KFI cease and desist using the term "Talk Radio" with the call letters. Therefore, the slogan More Stimulating Talk Radio was created.^[4] Rush Limbaugh replaced Edwards in 1989.

The station was owned by Cox Communications until 1997 when Chancellor bought it along with KOST 103.5. Cox opted to exit the Los Angeles market and focus on medium market radio stations and its TV stations.

Chancellor merged with Capstar in 1999 and became known as AMFM Inc. In 2000 they merged with Clear Channel Communications making KFI Clear Channel's flagship AM radio station in Los Angeles. The legal title of the station continues to be held by a subsidiary of Capstar. [1]

[edit] Programming

KFI is a talk radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications. Syndicated personalities who began on KFI include Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Leo Laporte. Local programs include Bill Handel, John and Ken, and John Ziegler (not to be confused with NHL team owner John Ziegler, Jr.). The weekend lineup includes tech expert Leo Laporte, topical-talkers Wayne Resnick and Ken Gallacher, and syndicated Internet news personality Matt Drudge. The John and Ken show was once syndicated but the show has reverted to being a local program. KFI carries other well-known syndicated programs such as The Rush Limbaugh Show and Coast-to-Coast AM.

Like that of most talk radio stations, programming on KFI has a reputation for political conservatism. However, while KFI's highest-rated syndicated hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Laura Schlessinger are indeed unabashedly conservative, in general the local hosts on the station in recent years would more accurately be described as tending towards libertarianism.

KFI also has an extensive news department, and produces news updates for other Clear Channel stations in the Los Angeles market. KFI employs 20 broadcast journalists. [2] KFI's newscasts air at :59 and :29 past the hour, with brief headlines approximately halfway between the fuller newscasts during local programming. The newscasts primarily focus on local news with relevant national and international stories included. KFI also has traffic reports four times an hour. Only two news reports and traffic reports an hour are provided during the overnight hours on Coast-to-Coast. KFI is a member of the Fox News Radio network and Fox News reporters appear on the station (but not its commentators, who have shows on competing stations in the market). However, the entire Fox News Radio newscast is not aired.

For its efforts, KFI was named the Radio & Records News & Talk Radio Station of the Year in 2004.

[edit] Weekday Schedule

• 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The Bill Handel Show
• 9 a.m. to noon The Rush Limbaugh Show
• Noon to 3 p.m. Dr. Laura
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. John and Ken
• 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. John Ziegler
• 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Coast to Coast AM with George Noory
• 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. Coast to Coast AM rebroadcast

[edit] Broadcasting

Today, KFI broadcasts from its Burbank, California studios on 640 kHz on a 50,000-watt non-directional AM transmitter which is located in nearby La Mirada at 33° 52' 47" N, 118° 00' 47" W. As a class A signal, KFI can be heard throughout Southern California and some distance into Nevada, Arizona, northwestern Mexico, and, at night, in some parts of Hawaii and most of the western United States. According to a May 1, 2004 broadcast by Art Bell, this station can even be heard by sensitive receivers in parts of the Eastern United States. In Summer 2004, KFI became the most listened to talk radio station in the United States, beating New York City's WABC in cumulative audience during the rating period.

[edit] FEC complaint

In recent years, especially since the 2003 California recall, afternoon drive hosts John and Ken have become actively involved in several political causes, most notably that of illegal immigration. In the months leading up to the 2004 election, the hosts instigated several political rallies advocating the defeat of Congressmen David Dreier (a Republican) and Joe Baca (a Democrat), both of whom they felt were wrongly supportive of illegal immigration. As a result, the John and Ken show was the subject of a Federal Election Commission complaint filed by the National Republican Congressional Committee alleging that John and Ken engaged in an illegal campaign against Congressman Dreier. Although the large amount of publicity received was quite amazing, the "Political Human Sacrifice" campaign as they dubbed it was not successful, since both Dreier and Baca were re-elected, albeit Dreier by a substantially smaller percentage than in past terms. On March 16, 2006, the complaint was dismissed. [3]

[edit] Tower destroyed

On Sunday, December 19, 2004 at 9:45 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, Jim and Mary Ghosoph were killed when their rented Cessna 182P single engine airplane, travelling from the El Monte Airport to Fullerton Municipal Airport, struck KFI's Ideco transmission tower, located in the City of La Mirada. The solid steel truss, originally built in 1948, collapsed upon itself, mostly landing in a parking lot to the north of the site. KFI's signal was knocked off the air for approximately one hour. Pilots had complained for years to KFI management that it needed to put strobe lights on the tower and highly reflective balls on the guy wire. KFI and Clear Channel Communications management responded by saying the tower was in compliance with FCC and FAA regulations and that it did not need to make any changes. Until a replacement tower is erected, the station is transmitting from a 250-foot auxiliary tower at a power of 25,000 watts. Work was conducted on the old tower's replacement on November 19, 2006, temporarily interrupting a broadcast of Leo Laporte's talk show KFI Tech Guy at 11:55 AM[4].

[edit] Former hosts and on-air alumni

Tammy Bruce - Hosted weekend talk show from 1993 to 1998. Bruce was fired for making comments about Bill Cosby and his wife Camille who had recently lost their son Ennis in a brutal murder. Tammy is now syndicated on 153 stations including KABC in Los Angeles.

Joe Crummey - Hosted an evening talk show from 1988 to 1994 and can now be heard at KFYI in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mark Denis - Worked the KFI Traffic Center from 1986 until his death in April 2000 from a viral infection at the age of 59. Mark was the imaging voice of "KFI, More Stimulating Talk Radio" and was the voice of the Disneyland Monorail ride.

Daryl Gates -- The former LAPD chief replaced Leykis as part of the station's shift toward conservative politics.

Phil Hendrie - Hosted an evening issue-oriented talk show from 1989 to 1990 (sometimes alternating with Joe Crummey), and his syndicated comedy show The Phil Hendrie Show from 1996 to 2005.

Dave Hull - 1960s - 1970s

Tom Leykis - Hosted a talk show from 1988 until 1992, which was more political issue-oriented than his syndicated show is today.

Rabbi Mentz - Before The Jesus Christ Show found a home on KFI, Rabbi Mentz provided a religious-based perspective in the late 90s on weekends.

Tracey Miller - Co-hosted TNT in the Morning with KFI News' Terri-Rae Elmer from 1990 to 1993. The show was the first morning-drive show in a major market to feature two women in the lead roles. Miller died in 2005 from complications due to brain cancer.

Kevin Mitnick - The infamous computer hacker co-hosted a two hour show early Sunday mornings titled 'The Dark Side of the Internet' with Alex Kasper from 2000 to 2001.

Mr. KFI - Hosted a question and answer talk show from 1993-1996. He has since changed his name to Mr. KABC, a reflection of his new job at competing Los Angeles talk radio station KABC.

The Scott and Casey Show - A live call-in talk show, hosted by Scott Hasick and Casey Bartholomew, aired from 1994-1997, and again from 1998-1999. Scott Hasick was involved in The Stephanie Miller Show during her time on KFI, performing many of the character voices heard on the broadcasts, as well as serving as production guy, and board operator. Casey Bartholomew was involved in the John And Ken Show as their board operator, as well as writing and performing many popular "updates", and imaging for KFI. The pair exited KFI in 1999, for weekday afternoons on New Jersey 101.5. After leaving New Jersey, Scott and Casey served stints in Detroit, St. Louis and San Francsico. Casey spent some time on the airwaves in Charleston before the duo re-united in St. Louis. Scott and Casey are not known to be on-air at present.

The Tim & Neil Show - Tim Kelly and Neil Saavedra hosted a weekend show, then replaced Tammy Bruce on weeknights. From 1997-2001, Tim and Neil hosted various shifts and often filled in for Bill Handel. Tim Kelly was a longtime contributor to the Bill Handel Program, penning and recording the hilarious bits and parodies that the show featured under the moniker "Dick Cabeza." Neil Saavedra is currently still with KFI as Marketing Director and on air with the Jesus Christ Show.

Ted Rall - Yacked-up Saturday evenings on KFI for a spell, and can still be heard on the Bill Handel Show time and again.

Deborah Rich - Hosted a weekend, topic-driven show on Saturday evenings.

Tury Rider - Hosted a weekend show for KFI in the late 90s.

April Winchell - Hosted a variety talk show from 2000 until 2002.

[edit] Trivia

• The News Intro currently used on KFI is "Round and Round" by the hard rock/hair metal band Ratt
• The John Ziegler Show ends each show with a remembrance of 9/11.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Wallace, David Foster. "Host" The Atlantic Monthly, April 2005.
2. ^ Blackstock, Joe. "Pomona radio legend was citrus ranchers' savior - On frosty nights, Jack Benny lost ratings to Floyd Young". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Dec. 8, 2002.
3. ^ "Rosen, Craig. RADIO NEWS & NOTES -COMPETITION HEATS UP ON AM DIAL". Los Angeles Daily News, July 18, 1988. Page L20
4. ^ "KFI GRANTED CONDITIONAL OK TO LABEL ITSELF 'TALK RADIO'." Los Angeles Daily News, May 6, 1989.

[edit] External links

• KFI homepage
• National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report on the 'plane crash 19 December 2004
• Pictures of the fallen KFI tower
• Query the FCC's AM station database for KFI
• Additional Photos of the fallen Tower
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 33.879722° -118.013056°
  • Satellite image from WikiMapia, Google Maps or Windows Live Local
  • Street map from MapQuest or Google Maps
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image from TerraServer-USA