close
Jump to content

KRKS (AM)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

KRKS
Broadcast area
Denver metropolitan area
Frequency990 kHz
Branding990 AM The Word
Programming
FormatChristian talk and teaching
AffiliationsSRN News
Ownership
Owner
KRKS-FM, KBJD, KNUS
History
First air date
August 1, 1953 (1953-08-01)
Former call signs
KLIR (1953–1970)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
58632
ClassB
Power
  • 6,500 watts (day)
  • 4,200 watts (critical hours)
  • 390 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
39°47′57″N 104°58′12″W / 39.79917°N 104.97000°W / 39.79917; -104.97000
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitekrks.com

KRKS (990 AM, "990 The Word") is a commercial radio station licensed to Denver, Colorado, United States. Owned by Salem Media Group, it airs a Christian format with studios on South Vaughn Way in Aurora, and transmitter sited off of East 56th Avenue in North Washington. KRKS with co-owned KRKS-FM are known as "The Word," but carry most programs at different times of the day.

History

[edit]

On August 1, 1953, the station first signed on as KLIR.[2] It was a 1,000 watt daytimer, required to be off the air at night. It was owned by George Basil Anderson during many of its early years. In 1959, Anderson put KLIR-FM on the air (now KIMN).

In the 1970s, KLIR got a boost to 5,000 watts, but it still had to sign off at sunset. On November 1, 1970, the call sign was changed to KRKS; the station retained its religious format while KLIR-FM continued as a beautiful music station.[3][4] In the 1980s, KRKS was granted authorization by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast around the clock, but at the reduced nighttime power of 390 watts.

In 1993, Salem Communications paid $400,000 to acquire KRKS.[5] Salem owned Christian radio stations in several dozen large and medium markets around the United States, and continued KRKS's format. The following year, 94.7 FM was bought by Salem and paired up with AM 990, as KRKS-FM.

Expanded Band assignment

[edit]

On March 17, 1997, the FCC announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with KRKS authorized to move from 990 to 1650 kHz.[6]

A construction permit for the expanded band station, also located in Denver, was assigned the call letters KBJD on August 10, 1998.[7] The FCC's initial policy was that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency.[6] However, this deadline has been extended multiple times, and both stations remain authorized. One restriction is that the FCC has generally required paired original and expanded band stations to remain under common ownership.[8][9]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KRKS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Broadcasting Yearbook 1955 page 96" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  3. ↑ Tweedell, Bob (November 5, 1970). "Citizens Talk Back to the Tube". The Denver Post. p. 27.
  4. ↑ Broadcasting Yearbook 1980 page C-35[permanent dead link]
  5. ↑ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 page D-73
  6. 1 2 "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
  7. ↑ Call Sign History for 1650 AM (Facility ID: 87151)
  8. ↑ "In re: WHLY(AM), South Bend, Indiana" (FCC DA 13-600, released April 3, 2013)
  9. ↑ "Re: WDDD (AM) Application for Consent to Assignment of AM Broadcast Station License" (August 23, 2010 correspondence from Peter H. Doyle, Chief, FCC Audio Division, Media Bureau. Reference Number 1800B3-TSN)
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KRKS_(AM)&oldid=1350919341"