KLIF
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| KLIF | |
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| City of license | Dallas, Texas |
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| Broadcast area | Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex |
| Branding | Stimulating Talk 570 KLIF |
| Frequency | 570 kHz (Also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | June 21, 1922 (as KGKO) |
| Format | News/Talk |
| Power | 5,000 Watts |
| Class | B |
| Callsign meaning | OaK CLIFf |
| Former callsigns | KGKO (1935-1938) WFAA/WBAP (1938-1976) WFAA (1976-1983) KRQX (1983-1987) KLDD (1987-1990) KKWM (1990) |
| Affiliations | Fox News Radio |
| Owner | Cumulus Media (KLIF LICO, Inc.) |
| Sister stations | KDBN, KKLF, KPLX, KTCK/KTDK |
| Webcast | KLIF Live Feed |
| Website | klif.com |
KLIF is a conservative news and talk AM radio station licensed to Dallas, Texas. The frequency KLIF formerly occupied now hosts competitor news station KFXR (AM).
KLIF achieved recognition in radio broadcasting through the efforts of Gordon McLendon. The station which formerly broadcast music and talk on 1190 AM, was Dallas' and one of the nation's biggest Top 40 radio stations. It virtually defined 1950s and 1960s Top 40 radio. Playing Top 40 music during the 1950s and 1960s, it achieved an over 50 share, an unparalleled ratings success.
The station saw success in music and talk radio broadcasting. In 1954 the station switched from a more varied music programming approach to one that focused on hit music with periodic news. McLendon collected the names of local leaders in business and government working them into news on the station. McLendon said there were only two things that radio could compete with television on "music and news". [1] When FM radio took over Top 40 music during the late 1970s, the station lost its dominance in Top 40 music and later switched to talk radio. KLIF changed to a stronger frequency at 570 AM in 1990.
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[edit] Station Ownership History
KGKO of Wichita Falls moved to Fort Worth after being purchased by Amon Carter. WFAA and WBAP had a shared time agreement that lasted until the early 1970s when WFAA operated on 570 alone and WBAP moved to 820.
On February 5, 1990, Susquehanna Radio Corporation purchased the 570 kHz frequency from Anchor Media Ltd. which ran KLDD-AM at that dial position[2]. That purchase became final on November 29, 1990. Beginning at 5 AM that morning, KLIF simulcast on both frequencies for one week, and then began broadcasting on 570 kHz permanently[3]. Susquehanna Radio Corporation, a division of kitchenware maker Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff, was sold to Cumulus Broadcasting in 2005.
Despite different owners, KLIF and KDFW-TV maintain a strong partnership. (as KDFW is the local Fox O&O affiliate).
[edit] Talk Radio Success
The station, still at 1190 AM, moved to talk radio during the early 1980s and became one the market's leading talk radio stations before other competitors soon emerged. KRLD, its primary competitor during the mid and late 1980s, was mostly all-news.
From 1987 and 1990, KLDD-AM, which had a stronger 570 AM signal compared to KLIF's 1190 frequency, ran 1950s and 1960s oldies music.
KLIF had its "classic" lineup of hosts. Kevin McCarthy, a more centrist host, held the midday spot with interesting interviews and converstational radio. David Gold (talk radio host) had the late afernoon shift with his brand of conservatism. Gold may well have been Dallas' first major conservative host. The station's morning show featured Norm Hitzges on sports. Hitzges virtually defined AM sports talk. Up until then, sports talk had primarily aired in afternoons and evenings in most U.S. cities. That lineup made the station one of the most respected Dallas-Fort Worth talk radio station. Community leaders and politicians listened regularly, according to a Dallas magazine report.
It was during this time when KLIF achieved its highest ratings ever as a news-talk station, the only time it ever cracked the Top 10 after its Top 40 hey day.
Competition in the form of all-sports radio began to hurt KLIF's ratings. Also, during the late 1990s, KLIF's station owners stumbled by removing its popular hosts. The respected Gold was let go and the respected McCarthy was dismissed in favor of more confrontational shows. This change in the lineup caused listeners who had tuned into Gold and McCarthy for years to depart, and as a result, the station's ratings plummeted, barely garnering a 1.0 share.
[edit] Former hosts
David Gold, Kevin McCarthy, Kevin Stovall, Greg Knapp, Martin Birnbach, Norm Hitzges, Darrell Ankarlo.
[edit] External links
- Station website
- Query the FCC's AM station database for KLIF
- Radio Locator Information on KLIF
- Query Arbitron's AM station database for KLIF
- KLIF is at coordinates Coordinates:
- Dallas Observer article on KLIF's troubles. Goes into when the station had the city's talk radio ears.
- DFW Radio Archives
- History of KLIF as Top 40 station
[edit] References
- ^ Fisher, Marc. Something in the Air. Random House, 24. ISBN 978-0-375-50907-0.
- ^ Baldwin, Pat. "KLIF-AM parent buys KLDD's frequency". Dallas Morning News, February 6, 1990.
- ^ Staff and wire reports. "BRIEFING". Dallas Morning News, November 29, 1990.
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