KFBK

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KFBK
Broadcast area	Sacramento, California
Branding	NewsTalk 1530 KFBK
Frequency	1530 kHz
First air date	February 2, 1922
Format	News/Talk
Power	50,000 watts
Class	A
Owner	Clear Channel Communications (AMFM Broadcast Licenses, LLC)
Sister stations	KGBY, KHYL, KSTE
Website	www.kfbk.com

KFBK AM ("NewsTalk 1530") is an AM radio station in Sacramento, California broadcasting on a frequency of 1530 kHz. KFBK is a class A clear channel station, formerly designated as a class "I-B" station, sharing 1530 with WCKY in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications.

[edit] History

KFBK's history reaches back to station KVQ (first license issued: February 2, 1922), which shut down later that year after listener complaints about interference. KVQ's facilities were sold to the Kimball-Upson Music Store and the Sacramento Union newspaper.^[1]

Later, Kimball-Upson sold out to the The McClatchy Company, a local, family owned company which not only owned the Sacramento Bee newspaper, but other media outlets in the California Central Valley.

At one time, Sacramento market TV station KOVR 13 was also owned by McClatchy, along with newspapers and broadcast outlets throughout Central California. Because of its signal strength and location KFBK was for many decades the chief method by which Central Valley farmers obtained weather, prices and other vital farming information.

[edit] Recent years

KFBK is where syndicated talk radio host Rush Limbaugh first rose to prominence as a local midday host.^[2] Limbaugh's national program still airs on KFBK in the same time slot where he hosted locally.

KFBK has a long history of news programming which it is gradually shifting away from. They currently air extended news programming during the morning and afternoon drive, but have eliminated a long standing Noon News Hour and a Saturday morning drive news block.

Clear Channel announced in 2006 that KFBK would be converted from a traditional AM broadcasting station to an HD2 facility. Eventually, the HD conversion will allow for KFBK-1, KFBK-2 and KFBK-3 together on the 1530 AM signal.

A $100,000(USD) "Traffic Center" was built in 2006. Clear Channel employees use the center to read the CHP traffic web sites and watch television monitors which are tuned to two local television stations that broadcast helicopter traffic reports on their air.

In September 2007, talk show host and Limbaugh confidante Tom Sullivan suddenly resigned, refusing to explain his reason for leaving. It turns out Tom Sullivan left for the newly launched FOX Business Channel and could not discuss the move until contract negotiations were completed. He continues his radio program on KFBK from New York, discussing local issues.

[edit] Criticism

KFBK is not immune to the effects of their owners. Clear Channel management has made many unpopular decisions (such as the layoff of 18-year KGBY veteran Dana Hess^[3]) based on low market share and decreasing revenue ^[4]. Hess has since been rehired, albeit in a different on-air capacity.

Like many other corporately-owned radio stations, KFBK - and Clear Channel Radio in general - have come under fire from the public and their own employees for what can be seen as overly profit-driven maneuvers including:

• The redistribution of KFBK resources to sister stations in the market as part of a change in market strategy similar to one used by Entercom at Boston's WRKO AM where the entire (12 person) award-winning news division was eliminated in early 2007.
• KFBK has given up its two news/traffic aircraft
• KFBK lost a roster of long time and experienced journalists.
• KFBK has stepped up the practice of brokering time and selling on-air "interviews"
• Traffic reporting and other services have been spun off into separate, Clear Channel owned vendors which provide services to KFBK and other stations in the market (including those not owned by or affiliated with Clear Channel)

[edit] Radio Programs

• The Rush Limbaugh Show (syndicated)
• Thomas M. Sullivan (resigned September 2007 to join Fox News Business Channel)
• Bruce Maiman (local)
• Coast to Coast AM (syndicated)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official KFBK web site
• KFBK history at The Broadcast Archive
• Query the FCC's AM station database for KFBK
• Radio Locator Information on KFBK
• Live web broadcast (only available in .wma format)

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