KLSD
KLSD (1360 AM) is a commercial radio station in San Diego, California. It is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a talk format branded "The Patriot AM 1360". KLSD is San Diego's oldest licensed radio station, dating back to 1922, and using the call sign KGB for most of its history.
For the school district, see Katonah-Lewisboro School District.
- San Diego, California
- United States
- San Diego, California
- United States
1360 kHz
The Patriot AM 1360
- iHeartMedia, Inc.
- (iHM Licenses, LLC)
July 14, 1922 (as KFBC)
- KFBC (1922–1928)
- KGB (1928–1982)
- KCNN (1982–1983)
- KPQP (1983–1986)
- KPOP (1986–2004)
- 833.3 kHz (1922–1925)
- 1210 kHz (1925–1932)
- 1330 kHz (1932–1941)
"Liberal San Diego" (refers to a previous progressive talk format)
34452
B
5,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
103.3 K277DH (San Diego)
Nationally syndicated shows heard on KLSD include Glenn Beck, Jesse Kelly, Dana Loesch, Mark Levin, Chad Benson, Red Eye Radio and America in the Morning.[2]
History before KLSD[edit]
As KFBC (1922–1928)[edit]
Founded by W.K. Azbill in his home in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego, it first signed on the air as KFBC on July 14, 1922, broadcasting on 833.3 kHz (360 meters) with 10 watts of power and sharing the time with eight other San Diego radio stations.[3][4][5] To date, the station that is now KLSD remains the oldest, continuously licensed radio station in San Diego.[3]
In September 1926, the Union League Club of San Diego County leased the station full-time from Azbill. Later that year, physician Arthur Wells Yale bought KFBC and all Union League properties, and the station moved to the Balboa Theatre in Downtown San Diego.[4] As the government expanded the AM band to numerous frequencies, the station soon moved to 1210 kHz in 1927.[4]
As KGB (1928–1982)[edit]
At the request of vice president George Bowles, the KFBC call sign was changed to KGB on March 27, 1928.[4] Then on July 11 that year, the Pickwick Stages System bought the station. By December, KGB became an affiliate of Don Lee's radio network.[4]
The Pickwick Stages System became the Pickwick Broadcasting System in January 1929. KGB became a full-time CBS Radio Network affiliate as did all Don Lee stations. KGB began having a slogan "Music for the Sick", reflecting that its programming targeted people who had to stay home due to illness.[4] Don Lee bought KGB outright on May 9, 1931.[4] KGB also regularly broadcast Gus Arnheim concerts.[6]
On August 5, 1932, the Federal Radio Commission authorized KGB to increase its power from 500 watts to 1,000 watts. At that time the station operated on 1330 kHz.[7]
Future CBS and NBC broadcaster Art Linkletter began his broadcasting career in 1933 as an announcer for KGB. He was promoted to program director in 1934 and station manager in 1936. Linkletter also developed his "Man on the Street" audience participation shows while with KGB.[4] Don Lee died in 1934, and his son Thomas S. Lee became president of the Don Lee company.[8]
In 1936, KGB switched its network affiliation from CBS to the Mutual Broadcasting System. Around the same time, future television screenwriter Larry Rhine became a screenwriter and morning host for KGB.[4] KGB also began a middle of the road music format.[9]
On March 24, 1941, under the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, KGB was moved from 1330 to its present 1360 kHz.[4][5] During World War II, KGB featured content relating to the U.S. military. The United States Navy broadcast ship signals on the station, and KGB hosted shows originating from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Naval Training Center San Diego. Those shows featured the United States Marine Corps with film stars such as Ginger Rogers and Henry Fonda as special guests.[4] In this era, KGB was the most popular radio station in San Diego, with local car dealers being the top sponsors.[4]
On December 27, 1950, the General Tire and Rubber Company bought KGB as part of a $12.3 million purchase including all Thomas S. Lee properties and interest in the Mutual Broadcasting System.[4]
The broadcast license transferred to Marion R. Harris in 1954 and KGB Inc. in 1956.[4] In April 1959, KGB moved from the Mutual Broadcasting System to ABC Radio Network.[10]
On April 1, 1964, Willet Brown bought KGB.[9] Then in 1965, KGB became the first client of the Drake-Chenault consulting company and changed to the Boss Radio Top 40 music format.[11][12] Nearly two months into retaining Drake-Chenault, KGB had its ratings improve from worst to best in San Diego.[13]
In 1972, KGB became an early adopter and pioneer of what is now called the album oriented rock format, simulcasting with co-owned KGB-FM. KGB-AM returned to Top 40 in 1974.[9] In 1979, the station began designating itself as 13-K.[14]
As KCNN, KPQP, and KPOP (1982–2004)[edit]
On March 15, 1982, KGB's call sign changed to KCNN, and the format changed to an audio simulcast of CNN.[15][9] General manager Jim Price based the format change on anticipation of listeners preferring FM for music.[9] However, KCNN struggled in the ratings, never rising above a 2.3 share.[16]
Then on October 7, 1983, KCNN became KPQP with an adult standards format. The call sign changed to KPOP on August 1, 1986.[15]
Nearly four decades of local ownership ended in 1996, when Nationwide Communications bought KPOP.[15][17] Nationwide was later acquired by Jacor in 1997.[18] Then in 1998, Clear Channel Communications bought Jacor and its stations including KPOP.[19]
Beginning in the 2000–01 season, KPOP became the radio home of San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball.[20][21] In June 2001, former KFMB Hudson and Bauer co-host Joe Bauer became morning drive host of Breakfast with Bauer at KPOP.[22] In 2002, KPOP added a rotating set of lifestyle programs at 6 p.m. weeknights.[23]
History as KLSD[edit]
Progressive talk (2004–2007)[edit]
The station became a progressive talk station under the call sign KLSD on August 23, 2004.[24][25] The call sign reportedly stood for "Liberal San Diego".[26]
Most of the programming came from the Air America Radio Network.[24] KLSD also aired the Ed Schultz show from Jones Radio Network and Mike Malloy from Nova M Radio.[24][27] Local programming included the morning show, hosted by Stacy Taylor and the nationally syndicated Air America host Jon Elliott.[27]
In August 2005, Clear Channel applied to the FCC to increase KLSD's power to 50,000 watts day and night, planning to share the six-tower KSDO array in Santee, California, since the owners of KLSD also owned the broadcast site for KSDO.[28] However, due to the added cost, Clear Channel decided against the move, and KLSD still broadcasts at 5,000 watts day/1,000 watts night.
Technical information[edit]
The station operates with 5,000 watts by day and 1,000 watts at night using a non-directional antenna. It shares a broadcasting tower with co-owned KGB-FM and KHTS-FM on 52nd Street in the Oak Park neighborhood of San Diego.[47] Programming is also heard on FM translator K277DH at 103.3 MHz.[48] The radio studios and offices are located at the Serra Mesa section of northeastern San Diego.[49]