KLIR
Encyclopedia
KLIR is a radio station
licensed
to serve Columbus, Nebraska
, USA. The station is owned by Three Eagles Communications
and the license is held by Three Eagles of Columbus, Inc. Three Eagles Communications owns and operates radio station throughout Nebraska and the midwestern United States.
KLIR broadcasts an adult contemporary music format.
format as KOXI. In early 1984, the new General Manager and soon-to-be part owner, Stan Tafoya, negotiated a deal to bring the new call letters "KLIR", or "Clear" from a station in Denver. The Columbus station was granted the new call sign by the Federal Communications Commission
on July 9, 1984
. The decision to change the call letters coincided with a format change to an adult contemporary format, or "Soft Rock, with Less Talk".
Under the Tafoya's leadership, the "Clear" sound was created for the community of Columbus and surrounding areas. Clear positioned itself as "The Radio Station Columbus Built", and became very successful in both ratings and revenue, still retaining many of the same programming elements today. For years, KLIR has been the most listened to radio station in the Platte County
, according to the Arbitron Ratings Company.
Chuck Lontine was one of the first talents hired by Tafoya, but left within the first year of the new KLIR. Tafoya then searched the Midwest for new voices, recruiting Steve Kohl from the Denver market. Kohl took the on-air name of "Scott Fisher" and helped guide the station to even greater success. A strong on-air team soon developed with Fisher in the morning and Jon Michaels in the afternoon. The credible news voice of James Nickel also contributed to the "Clear" sound. And top salesman Verl Wurtz added his play-by-play talents to the station's popular local sports programming.
Tafoya left in the mid-90's after a subsequent sale of the station to new owners. Many local business people and listeners have long cited the operation under Tafoya as a classic marketing success story, where a relatively small and unknown radio station, transforms itself into the market leader.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to serve Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus is a city in east central Nebraska, United States. Its population was 22,111 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Platte County.-Pre-settlement history:...
, USA. The station is owned by Three Eagles Communications
Three Eagles Communications
Three Eagles Communications, Inc. is a media company based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates 50 radio stations in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Rolland Johnson is chief executive officer, and Gary Buchanan is president and chief operating officer.The company was acquired...
and the license is held by Three Eagles of Columbus, Inc. Three Eagles Communications owns and operates radio station throughout Nebraska and the midwestern United States.
KLIR broadcasts an adult contemporary music format.
History
The station was originally owned by the Anderson family from Denver, broadcasting an easy listeningEasy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
format as KOXI. In early 1984, the new General Manager and soon-to-be part owner, Stan Tafoya, negotiated a deal to bring the new call letters "KLIR", or "Clear" from a station in Denver. The Columbus station was granted the new call sign by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
on July 9, 1984
1984 in radio
The year 1984 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:* June 18 - Controversial KOA/Denver radio talk show host Alan Berg gunned down in driveway of his home.* Sports writer Ralph Barbieri joined KNBR to host his own sports talk show....
. The decision to change the call letters coincided with a format change to an adult contemporary format, or "Soft Rock, with Less Talk".
Under the Tafoya's leadership, the "Clear" sound was created for the community of Columbus and surrounding areas. Clear positioned itself as "The Radio Station Columbus Built", and became very successful in both ratings and revenue, still retaining many of the same programming elements today. For years, KLIR has been the most listened to radio station in the Platte County
Platte County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,662 people, 12,076 households, and 8,465 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 12,916 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
, according to the Arbitron Ratings Company.
Chuck Lontine was one of the first talents hired by Tafoya, but left within the first year of the new KLIR. Tafoya then searched the Midwest for new voices, recruiting Steve Kohl from the Denver market. Kohl took the on-air name of "Scott Fisher" and helped guide the station to even greater success. A strong on-air team soon developed with Fisher in the morning and Jon Michaels in the afternoon. The credible news voice of James Nickel also contributed to the "Clear" sound. And top salesman Verl Wurtz added his play-by-play talents to the station's popular local sports programming.
Tafoya left in the mid-90's after a subsequent sale of the station to new owners. Many local business people and listeners have long cited the operation under Tafoya as a classic marketing success story, where a relatively small and unknown radio station, transforms itself into the market leader.
Sources
- BIA Investing in Radio Guide
- Radio & Records Magazine
- Broadcasting & Cable
- Columbus Telegraph Newspaper
- Omaha World Herald