KFI

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Template:Infobox Radio Station 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. 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."

For many years, KFI was the Los Angeles area affiliate of the National Broadcasting Company 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. It also 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.

In the 1960s KFI played Top 40 music. By the 1970s though they softened to an Adult top 40 format (sort of in between Top 40 and adult Contemporary). By the mid '70s 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 bit by bit to an issue-oriented talk format.

1 Ownership History
2 Programming
3 Broadcasting
4 FEC Complaint
5 Tower Destroyed
6 Former hosts and on-air alumni
7 Trivia
8 External links

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Ownership History

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.

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Programming

KFI is a talk radio station owned by Clear Channel Communications. Syndicated personalities who began on KFI include Dr. Laura Schlessinger. 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's newscasts air at :00 and :30 past the hour, with brief headlines approximately halfway between the fuller newscasts on weekdays. 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.

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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.

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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.

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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, originally erected in 1948. The solid steel truss 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 needs 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 22,500 watts.

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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.

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 which can now be heard on XTRA Sports Radio.

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.

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. Scott and Casey can now be heard during Morning Drive on KTRS 550 in St. Louis.

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.

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

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