KRKO
Encyclopedia
KRKO is an American radio station
licensed to serve the community of Everett, Washington
, USA. The station broadcasts an All Sports format to the Seattle metropolitan area
. The station, established in 1922, is currently operated by S-R Broadcasting Co., Inc., a locally owned company.
. The original license hangs on the wall in the station and is dated August 17, 1922. The Department of Commerce issued call sign
KFBL to the radio station at the time. The license makes KRKO one of the oldest licensed radio stations in America. Otto and Robert Leese started the radio station in the second floor of their auto repair shop on 28th and Rucker in downtown Everett.
The station has been locally operated since it was licensed in 1922. The Leese brothers transferred control of the station to their engineer, Ben Mudgett, in the 1930s, and Mudgett later transferred control to the Taft family in the late 1930s, whereupon the station remained under Taft family ownership until the late 1970s. The Taft's Washington, D.C. attorney, John Marple, operated KRKO with some investors for a few years, then in the early 1980s, an Everett area investment group led by local beer distributor, Niles Fowler, acquired control of the station. Control of KRKO was transferred back to a member of the Taft family following a sale of the station in the mid-1980s, but in 1987, new local investors Art Skotdal and Roy Robinson purchased the KRKO assets and the Skotdal family continues to operate KRKO today.
On September 4, 2009, two of the station's four radio towers
were toppled by vandals. A sign left at the scene said the eco-terrorist group Earth Liberation Front
was responsible. The station transferred its radio transmission to a backup site and remained on the air at reduced power. KRKO operated from the damaged site at full daytime power and reduced nighttime power until both of the destroyed towers were fully replaced on August 16, 2010.
KRKO began its current sports talk format in 2000.
(MRN Radio and PRN Radio), Washington State University
Cougars football
and basketball
, NHL Vancouver Canucks
, Everett AquaSox
baseball (Seattle Mariners
affiliate), and Everett Silvertips
hockey. Hosts include Dan Patrick
, Jim Rome
, Steve Hartman
, Pat O'Brien
, Petros Papadakis
, Matt "Money" Smith, and Tony Bruno
.
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 to serve the community of Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, USA. The station broadcasts an All Sports format to the Seattle metropolitan area
Seattle metropolitan area
The Seattle metropolitan area in the US state of Washington includes the city of Seattle, King County, Snohomish County, and Pierce County within the Puget Sound region. The U.S...
. The station, established in 1922, is currently operated by S-R Broadcasting Co., Inc., a locally owned company.
History
KRKO was the fifth radio station in Washington to receive a license from the Department of CommerceUnited States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
. The original license hangs on the wall in the station and is dated August 17, 1922. The Department of Commerce issued 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...
KFBL to the radio station at the time. The license makes KRKO one of the oldest licensed radio stations in America. Otto and Robert Leese started the radio station in the second floor of their auto repair shop on 28th and Rucker in downtown Everett.
The station has been locally operated since it was licensed in 1922. The Leese brothers transferred control of the station to their engineer, Ben Mudgett, in the 1930s, and Mudgett later transferred control to the Taft family in the late 1930s, whereupon the station remained under Taft family ownership until the late 1970s. The Taft's Washington, D.C. attorney, John Marple, operated KRKO with some investors for a few years, then in the early 1980s, an Everett area investment group led by local beer distributor, Niles Fowler, acquired control of the station. Control of KRKO was transferred back to a member of the Taft family following a sale of the station in the mid-1980s, but in 1987, new local investors Art Skotdal and Roy Robinson purchased the KRKO assets and the Skotdal family continues to operate KRKO today.
On September 4, 2009, two of the station's four radio towers
Mast radiator
A mast radiator is a radio mast or tower in which the whole structure itself functions as an antenna. This design is commonly used for transmitting antennas operating at low frequencies, in the VLF, LF and MF ranges, in particular those used for AM broadcasting. The metal mast is electrically...
were toppled by vandals. A sign left at the scene said the eco-terrorist group Earth Liberation Front
Earth Liberation Front
The Earth Liberation Front , also known as "Elves" or "The Elves", is the collective name for autonomous individuals or covert cells who, according to the ELF Press Office, use "economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment".The ELF was founded...
was responsible. The station transferred its radio transmission to a backup site and remained on the air at reduced power. KRKO operated from the damaged site at full daytime power and reduced nighttime power until both of the destroyed towers were fully replaced on August 16, 2010.
KRKO began its current sports talk format in 2000.
Format
KRKO is an affiliate of the Fox Sports Radio Network and broadcasts a sports-talk format. Live play-by-play affiliations include NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
(MRN Radio and PRN Radio), Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
Cougars football
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
and basketball
Washington State Cougars men's basketball
The Washington State Cougars Men's Basketball team represents Washington State University and competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I...
, NHL Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
baseball (Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
affiliate), and Everett Silvertips
Everett Silvertips
The Everett Silvertips are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League that plays in Everett, Washington. They joined the league as an expansion team for the 2003–04 WHL season. The team name comes from the silvertip bear...
hockey. Hosts include Dan Patrick
Dan Patrick
Daniel Patrick Pugh , professionally known as Dan Patrick, is an American sportscaster, radio personality, and actor from Mason, Ohio...
, Jim Rome
Jim Rome
Jim Rome is an American sports radio talk show host syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications....
, Steve Hartman
Steve Hartman
Stephen Robert "Steve" Hartman is a television journalist.Steve Hartman attended a Catholic Elementary School in Little Flower Parish of Toledo, Ohio that has since been consolidated to "Saint Benedict Catholic Elementary School"....
, Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien may refer to:*Pat O'Brien , American film actor *Pat O'Brien, New Orleans bartender credited with inventing the Hurricane cocktail; established his own bar, Pat O'Brien's Bar...
, Petros Papadakis
Petros Papadakis
Petros Papadakis is an American television personality and radio co-host of the Petros and Money Show on Fox Sports Radio. He is a former tailback and American football team captain for the University of Southern California Trojans football team. He is also known as "The P."Papadakis's family...
, Matt "Money" Smith, and Tony Bruno
Tony Bruno
For Tony Bruno, the musician, see Tony Bruno Tony Bruno is an American sports talk radio personality in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
.
External links
- Article on KRKO at HistoryLinkHistoryLinkHistoryLink is a website that is an encyclopedia of Washington State history. The site has more than 4,500 stories. There are 500 biographies and more than 14,000 images....