.gif)
KXAM (AM)
Encyclopedia
KIHP is a Catholic radio station
licensed to Mesa, Arizona
, serving the Phoenix metropolitan area
. It is owned by IHR Educational Broadcasting
.
).
Harkins also put Arizona's first FM station (KTYL-FM 104.7, now KZZP
) on the air in 1950; this was followed by Phoenix's second TV station (KTYL-TV channel 12, now KPNX
) on the air. As with the AM station, both stations were originally located in (and are still licensed to) Mesa.
KTYL moved to 1310 in the early '50s, and eventually increased its power to 5000 watts days and 500 watts nights. It became KBUZ, a beautiful music
station, in 1956, with the slogan 'Drive with care, and KBUZ, everywhere'. At that time, it moved to Thomas Mall on the east side of Phoenix. The format was simulcast on 104.7 FM, by now KBUZ-FM.
On January 1, 1977, the station became KQXE, first as a top 40 station and then, within a year, a very soft rock
format within a year. After the owners went bankrupt KQXE and what had become KIOG were sold. On February 19, 1980 the two stations changed call letters to KZZP and began simulcasting a top 40 format.
After a precisely 10-year-long simulcast, 1310 AM split from the simulcast of KZZP-FM on February 19, 1990 and became KXAM. Initially an adult standards
station, KXAM later became an independent talk
station, airing syndicated shows including Laura Ingraham, Dave Ramsey and Matt Gerson. Gerson was part of the family that controlled KXAM's owner, Embree Broadcasting, and hosted a political talk show until March 2009. Soon afterward, Embree announced that KXAM would cease operations. Two of the station's local programs, Culinary Confessions (a food show) and The Bandwagon (a sports show) moved to KAZG
soon after the announcement. Although KXAM employees had offered to buy the station the Gerson family turned their offers down, insisting at that time on returning the license to the Federal Communications Commission
. The station went silent April 16, 2009.
On June 1, 2009 the Gerson family backed off from its plans to surrender the KXAM license and sold it to IHR Educational Broadcasting
for $1 million. It returned to the air as KIHP, with its current format on December 17.
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 Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, serving the Phoenix metropolitan area
Phoenix Metropolitan Area
The Phoenix metropolitan area, often referred to as The Valley of the Sun, is a metropolitan area, centered on the city of Phoenix, that includes much of the central part of the US state of Arizona...
. It is owned by IHR Educational Broadcasting
IHR Educational Broadcasting
Immaculate Heart Radio Educational Broadcasting operates a Roman Catholic faith network of radio stations in the western United States.It is based in Loomis, California....
.
History
The station signed on in 1946 as KTYL on 1490 kHz, owned by the Harkins Theater group. It was the second station in Mesa, signing on 3 days after KARV (1400 AM). Both stations ran 250 watts full-time with non-directional antennas — the maximum power allowed for Class IV (now Class C) stations at the time. Two years later, KTYL bought and shut down KARV; its frequency was reactivated in Phoenix in 1950 as KONI (now KSUNKSUN
KSUN is a Spanish-language radio station broadcasting out of Phoenix, Arizona and serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is locally owned by the...
).
Harkins also put Arizona's first FM station (KTYL-FM 104.7, now KZZP
KZZP
KZZP, 104.7 KISS-FM, is a Top 40 radio outlet serving the Phoenix, Arizona area. The Clear Channel Communications station broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an Effective radiated power of 100 kW and is licensed in Mesa, Arizona. Due to its 100 kW tower located atop South Mountain, the station can...
) on the air in 1950; this was followed by Phoenix's second TV station (KTYL-TV channel 12, now KPNX
KPNX
KPNX is a full-service television station serving the Phoenix, Arizona television market as the NBC affiliate. Its studios and offices are located in Phoenix and its transmitter is on South Mountain in Phoenix but it is licensed to the suburb of Mesa. It is owned by the Gannett Company which also...
) on the air. As with the AM station, both stations were originally located in (and are still licensed to) Mesa.
KTYL moved to 1310 in the early '50s, and eventually increased its power to 5000 watts days and 500 watts nights. It became KBUZ, a beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
station, in 1956, with the slogan 'Drive with care, and KBUZ, everywhere'. At that time, it moved to Thomas Mall on the east side of Phoenix. The format was simulcast on 104.7 FM, by now KBUZ-FM.
On January 1, 1977, the station became KQXE, first as a top 40 station and then, within a year, a very soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
format within a year. After the owners went bankrupt KQXE and what had become KIOG were sold. On February 19, 1980 the two stations changed call letters to KZZP and began simulcasting a top 40 format.
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...
station, KXAM later became an independent talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station, airing syndicated shows including Laura Ingraham, Dave Ramsey and Matt Gerson. Gerson was part of the family that controlled KXAM's owner, Embree Broadcasting, and hosted a political talk show until March 2009. Soon afterward, Embree announced that KXAM would cease operations. Two of the station's local programs, Culinary Confessions (a food show) and The Bandwagon (a sports show) moved to KAZG
KAZG
KAZG is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, the station covers the Phoenix metropolitan area. KAZG is owned by Sandusky Radio and licensed to Cactus Radio, Inc.-Call letters:...
soon after the announcement. Although KXAM employees had offered to buy the station the Gerson family turned their offers down, insisting at that time on returning the license to 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...
. The station went silent April 16, 2009.
On June 1, 2009 the Gerson family backed off from its plans to surrender the KXAM license and sold it to IHR Educational Broadcasting
IHR Educational Broadcasting
Immaculate Heart Radio Educational Broadcasting operates a Roman Catholic faith network of radio stations in the western United States.It is based in Loomis, California....
for $1 million. It returned to the air as KIHP, with its current format on December 17.