KODL
Encyclopedia
KODL is a radio station
licensed
to serve The Dalles, Oregon
, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in October 1940, is currently owned by Larson-Wynn, Inc.
The station was assigned the KODL call sign
by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC).
music format featuring the "America's Best Music
" satellite-fed programming service from Dial Global
. In addition to its usual music programming, KODL airs hourly newscasts from CBS News
, a one-hour block of news each weekday morning, a daily tradio
program called "The KODL Trading Post", Dave Ramsey
's Daily Money Makeover, the "KODL Coffee Break" daily talk show
, a one-hour noon newscast, the Northwest Regional edition of The Lars Larson Show, and one hour of news each weekday evening with a mix of local and national programming.
KODL also airs Oregon State Beavers football
games.
s of power during the day and 100 watts at night. KODL originally aired a mix of recorded and live popular music, including a number of local musical talents. The station changed broadcast frequencies to 1440 kHz and was allowed to increase its signal strength to 1,000 watts, day and night, beginning in 1955.
KODL's founder and Western Radio Corporation owner, V. Barney Kenworthy, sold the station to the Sterling Recreation Organization in September 1967. The Seattle-based SRO immediately flipped KODL's format to rock music
. In late 1973, Sterling owner Fredric A. Danz had the station's call sign
changed to KGLX and flipped the format to a "contemporary gold" music mix.
The station was acquired by Larson-Wynn, Inc., on September 1, 1974. The new owners immediately restored the historic KODL call sign and began broadcasting a mix of rock and middle of the road music. In the late 1970s, KODL received permission from the FCC to increase its daytime signal strength to 5,000 watt]s while maintaining its 1,000 watt signal at night. By 1979, KODL would be playing a pure MOR format but in 1982, in the wake of Urban Cowboy
and the sudden growth in country music
, KODL switched to a country music format.
From 1940 to 1999, KODL broadcast from a studio building and tower located on west Scenic Drive. Since 1999, KODL's studios have been located in downtown The Dalles. In 2000, KODL switched musical formats to a satellite-delivered adult standards
and nostalgia
format branded as "America's Best Music
".
in Hood River, Oregon
, and establish KCGB-FM
, during his 48-year career in broadcasting as an announcer, manager, and engineer. Walden also served three terms as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
in the 1970s.
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 The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in October 1940, is currently owned by Larson-Wynn, Inc.
The station was assigned the KODL call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
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...
(FCC).
Programming
KODL broadcasts an adult standardsAdult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
music format featuring the "America's Best Music
America's Best Music
America's Best Music is the on-air branding of an adult standards 24-hour radio network, known internally as Adult Standards and formerly known as AM Only, currently owned by Dial Global. It was one of the original Westwood One's Transtar networks...
" satellite-fed programming service from Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
. In addition to its usual music programming, KODL airs hourly newscasts from CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, a one-hour block of news each weekday morning, a daily tradio
Tradio
Tradio is the name given to a type of talk radio show format where listeners call in to buy or sell items. The concept of is analogous to classified ads in local newspapers....
program called "The KODL Trading Post", Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey
David L. Ramsey III is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker.Ramsey's syndicated radio program The Dave Ramsey Show is promoted with a tagline that "It's about your life and your money," and it is heard on over 450 radio stations throughout the...
's Daily Money Makeover, the "KODL Coffee Break" daily talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, a one-hour noon newscast, the Northwest Regional edition of The Lars Larson Show, and one hour of news each weekday evening with a mix of local and national programming.
KODL also airs Oregon State Beavers football
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
games.
History
Western Radio Corporation's KODL began broadcasting in October 1940, although sources differ on whether these broadcasts began on October 12th, October 19th, or October 20th. The station originally broadcast on a frequency of 1230 kHz with 250 wattWatt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s of power during the day and 100 watts at night. KODL originally aired a mix of recorded and live popular music, including a number of local musical talents. The station changed broadcast frequencies to 1440 kHz and was allowed to increase its signal strength to 1,000 watts, day and night, beginning in 1955.
KODL's founder and Western Radio Corporation owner, V. Barney Kenworthy, sold the station to the Sterling Recreation Organization in September 1967. The Seattle-based SRO immediately flipped KODL's format to rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
. In late 1973, Sterling owner Fredric A. Danz had the station's call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
changed to KGLX and flipped the format to a "contemporary gold" music mix.
The station was acquired by Larson-Wynn, Inc., on September 1, 1974. The new owners immediately restored the historic KODL call sign and began broadcasting a mix of rock and middle of the road music. In the late 1970s, KODL received permission from the FCC to increase its daytime signal strength to 5,000 watt]s while maintaining its 1,000 watt signal at night. By 1979, KODL would be playing a pure MOR format but in 1982, in the wake of Urban Cowboy
Urban Cowboy
Released as a 2× vinyl record album, re-released on CD in 1995.Side A:#Hello Texas – Jimmy Buffett #All Night Long – Joe Walsh #Times Like These – Dan Fogelberg #Nine Tonight – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band...
and the sudden growth in country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, KODL switched to a country music format.
From 1940 to 1999, KODL broadcast from a studio building and tower located on west Scenic Drive. Since 1999, KODL's studios have been located in downtown The Dalles. In 2000, KODL switched musical formats to a satellite-delivered adult standards
Adult standards
Adult standards is a North American radio format heard primarily on AM or class A FM stations.Adult standards is aimed at "mature" adults, meaning mainly those persons over 50 years of age, but it is mostly targeted for senior citizens...
and nostalgia
Nostalgia
The term nostalgia describes a yearning for the past, often in idealized form.The word is a learned formation of a Greek compound, consisting of , meaning "returning home", a Homeric word, and , meaning "pain, ache"...
format branded as "America's Best Music
America's Best Music
America's Best Music is the on-air branding of an adult standards 24-hour radio network, known internally as Adult Standards and formerly known as AM Only, currently owned by Dial Global. It was one of the original Westwood One's Transtar networks...
".
Former on-air staff
Paul E. Walden worked at KODL for 27 years, more than 20 of them as station manager, and served as the president of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters from 1954 to 1956. He later purchased KIHRKIHR
KIHR is a radio station licensed to serve Hood River, Oregon, USA. The station, which began broadcasting in 1950, is currently owned by Bicoastal Media and the broadcast license is held by Bicoastal Media Licenses IV, LLC.-Programming:...
in Hood River, Oregon
Hood River, Oregon
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,831...
, and establish KCGB-FM
KCGB-FM
KCGB-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Hood River, Oregon, USA. The station is owned by Bicoastal Media and the broadcast license is held by Bicoastal Media Licenses IV, LLC...
, during his 48-year career in broadcasting as an announcer, manager, and engineer. Walden also served three terms as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
in the 1970s.