KDOW
Broadcast areaSan Francisco Bay Area
Frequency1220 kHz
BrandingWall Street Business Network
Programming
FormatFinancial news/talk
Network
Ownership
Owner
KDIA, KDYA, KFAX, KTRB
History
First air date
October 4, 1949; 74 years ago (1949-10-04) (as KIBE)
Former call signs
  • KIBE (1949–1984)
  • KDFC (1984–1997)
  • KBPA (1997–1999)
  • KBZS (1999–2001)
  • KSFB (2001–2004)
  • KNTS (2004–2008)
Call sign meaning
Reference to the Dow Jones Industrial Average index; station is of no relation to Dow Jones itself
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID65485
ClassD
Power
  • 5,000 watts day
  • 145 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
37°29′0″N 122°8′9″W / 37.48333°N 122.13583°W / 37.48333; -122.13583
Translator(s)95.3 K237GZ (San Francisco)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.kdow.biz

KDOW (1220 AM) is a commercial radio station broadcasting a financial news/talk format. Licensed to Palo Alto, California, United States, the station serves the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The station is owned by the Salem Media Group (SCA-Palo Alto, LLC).[2]

The station was founded in 1949 with call sign KIBE. Purchased by Sundial Broadcasting in 1953, KIBE began simulcasting the classical music programming of co-owned FM station KDFC-FM; KIBE eventually picked up the KDFC call sign in 1984. The KDFC AM station was sold in 1997 and changed to KBPA. Since then, the station has had a variety of talk formats and call signs. In 1999, KBPA became KBZS and changed to a business talk format for the first time. As KSFB, the station had a Christian talk format from 2001 to 2004. The station then changed to a general news/talk format in 2004 with call sign KNTS. By 2008, KNTS became KDOW and returned to its previous business format.

Outside of a local morning talk show, much of KDOW's programming is nationally syndicated, such as Investor's Edge with Gary Kaltbaum, or brokered programming paid by local businesses. KDOW has broadcast some local college sports, specifically San Jose State Spartans football and Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball.

History

[edit]

As KIBE and KDFC (1949–1997)

[edit]

The station was first licensed on October 4, 1949, as KIBE, owned and operated by Donald K. Deming and Millard Kibbe, founders of the D&K Broadcasting Company.[3][4][5] KIBE signed on as a daytime only station operating with 250 watts.[5] Among its early programming was Stanford Roundtable, a talk show featuring students from nearby Stanford University.[6] In September 1950, Deming and Kibbe sold KIBE to J.B. Rhodes, then owner of Associated Grocers, for $45,000.[7][8] KIBE increased its power to 1 kW in 1952.[5]

In April 1953, Rhodes sold KIBE to Sundial Broadcasting Corporation for $60,000.[9] KIBE began simulcasting Sundial's classical music FM station KDFC in October 1953.[5][10] KIBE increased its power again in 1965, from 1 kW to 5 kW.[5]

On March 1, 1984, the call signs changed to KDFC.[11] By 1987, KDFC AM began broadcasting at night, with 145 watts of power.[12]

On October 13, 1995, KDFC became an affiliate of Seattle-based KidStar network

As KBPA (1997–1999)

[edit]

In the summer of 1997, PAR Holdings bought three stations, including KDFC AM.[4] On August 29, 1997, the station became KBPA and changed its format to a talk radio format with the syndicated Personal Achievement Radio network, which specialized in self-help and inspirational programming.[13][11] Beginning 1997, KBPA broadcast local women's basketball from Stanford University and the professional team San Jose Lasers.[14] Then in 1998, KBPA added Sports Byline USA to its lineup.[15]

As KBZS (1999–2001)

[edit]

On February 15, 1999, the station became KBZS and changed its format to business news and financial advice; its previous personal achievement talk shows moved to evenings.[16][17] Its studios were in San Francisco at the corner of Sansome Street and The Embarcadero.[18] Morning and afternoon drive hours had local shows, including the two-hour Stock Talk with Rob Black at 5 p.m.; nationally syndicated programs included Ray Lucia's On the Money and The Wade Cook Show.[19][20]

During the 1999–2000 season, KBZS broadcast San Jose State University men's basketball games.[21] KBZS began broadcasting the Metropolitan Opera in December 1999 after KDFC dropped the show for not being able to carry it on tape delay.[22]

As KSFB (2001–2004)

[edit]

In 2001, Salem Communications purchased KBZS for $9 million.[23] KBZS became KSFB on July 24, 2001 and changed from business talk to Christian talk.[11][24][25] The previous business talk format moved to KDIA 1640.[26]

Beginning in 2003, KSFB broadcast select San Jose Giants minor league baseball and Santa Clara University men's basketball.[27][28]

In March 2004, KSFB renewed with the San Jose Giants and changed its nighttime format to sports, beginning with a local sports talk show hosted by Carolyn Burns and the Sporting News Radio network during overnights.[24][29]

As KNTS (2004–2008)

[edit]

On July 1, 2004, the station became KNTS and changed to a news/talk format four days later with much of its weekday schedule consisting of the Salem Radio Network lineup, including The Dennis Prager Show and The Michael Medved Show.[30] With a contract renewal, KNTS was the radio home of San Jose Giants baseball for the third straight year.[31] The Giants won the 2005 California League title.[32]

KNTS made some more sports programming changes later in 2005. In August, KNTS became the flagship station for San Jose State football and basketball; the football games returned to San Jose's KLIV in 2006,[33] but KNTS continued carrying basketball games until the 2007–08 season.[34][35][36] By the fall, KNTS dropped Carolyn Burns's sports show.[37]

In November 2005, the FCC granted KNTS a construction permit to increase its power to 50 kW day and night and use a transmitter in Hayward.[3] KNTS became the San Jose affiliate of the Oakland Athletics in February 2006.[38] The A's dropped KNTS after the 2006 season for FM station KIFR.[39]

As KDOW (2008–present)

[edit]

On July 1, 2008, 1220 AM picked up its present call letters KDOW, resuming its previous business news and financial advice format.[40] At the request of KDOW's license holder Salem Communications, the FCC cancelled the 2005 construction permit in November 2008, restoring KDOW's operating power to 5 kW day and 145 W night.[41]

In July 2009, the city of Hayward rejected a plan to build four 200-foot radio towers for KDOW near the Hayward Regional Shoreline park. The towers would have allowed KDOW to have a stronger signal for a $5 million one-time fee in addition to an annual $60,000 lease.[42][43]

Rob Black, who previously hosted Stock Talk on KBZS, returned to the station on October 12, 2010 with a morning drive financial talk show, Rob Black and Your Money.[44][45] Black previously hosted a show on KNEW.[46]

Beginning in 2013, KDOW began carrying fewer Santa Clara games as KLIV picked up more Santa Clara games.[47][48] KDOW broadcast only one Santa Clara game in the 2016–17 season.[49] Beginning in 2017, KDOW broadcast the majority of Santa Clara basketball games, with sister station KTRB occasionally carrying others.[50][51]

On May 15, 2015, KDOW announced that it took over the radio broadcast rights to the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League.[52]

On September 11, 2015, San Jose Sharks minor league affiliate San Jose Barracuda signed a radio deal with KDOW to broadcast their games. [53]

For the first time since 2005, KDOW resumed broadcasting San Jose State football games in 2020.[54] But in 2021, KDOW broadcast only one San Jose State football game, while the rest were on KTRB.[55]

Programming

[edit]

Business talk

[edit]

The station features a variety of news, business, and financial talk shows, including nationally syndicated shows America in the Morning, Investor's Edge with Gary Kaltbaum, and Market Wrap with Moe Ansari. KDOW also has some locally produced shows, including Rob Black and Your Money in morning drive and some brokered time shows hosted by local financial advisors or business consultants.[56]

Sports

[edit]

Having broadcast San Jose State University football and basketball games in various stints since 1999, KDOW resumed broadcasting San Jose State football in 2020.[57]

KDOW has broadcast Santa Clara University men's basketball games since 2003.[28]

Technical information

[edit]

KDOW is owned by Salem Media Group as part of a five-station cluster of in the San Francisco Bay Area with KDIA, KDYA, KFAX, and KTRB. The stations' studios and offices are in Fremont,[58] and its transmitter is in East Palo Alto west of the Dumbarton Bridge.[59] KDOW broadcasts at 5,000 watts during the day and 145 watts at night.[59] KDOW has a 40-watt translator station in San Francisco, K237GZ (95.3 FM), which was licensed on March 17, 2020.[60]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KDOW". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "KDOW Facility Record". U.S. Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ a b Jackson, David Ferrell (November 18, 2005). "Another New 50,000 Watt Bay Area AM Station". Bay Area Radio Digest. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Goldfisher, Alastair (June 9, 1997). "Flow of radio deals just keeps on going". The Business Journal. San Jose, CA. Archived from the original on June 13, 1997. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e "History Cards for KDOW". FCC. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "IIR Radio Roundtable Calls Summer European Travelers". The Stanford Daily. October 21, 1949. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "Nine AM transfers approved by FCC" (PDF), Broadcasting-Telecasting, vol. 39, no. 11, p. 94, September 11, 1950, archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021, retrieved March 21, 2021 – via World Radio History
  8. ^ "Transfer requests" (PDF), Broadcasting-Telecasting, vol. 39, no. 7, p. 73, August 14, 1950, archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021, retrieved March 21, 2021 – via World Radio History
  9. ^ "Rhodes Sells KIBE" (PDF), Broadcasting-Telecasting, vol. 44, no. 17, p. 78, April 27, 1953, archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021, retrieved March 21, 2021 – via World Radio History
  10. ^ "The Story of Classical KDFC". KDFC. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Call Sign History". Archived from the original on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  12. ^ Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook 1987 (PDF). Washington: Broadcasting Publications. p. B-35. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  13. ^ Lovato, Kimberley (March 20, 1998). "Feel-good radio". Palo Alto Weekly. Archived from the original on October 1, 1999. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  14. ^ Guzman, Ed; Cuza, Bobby (November 14, 1997). "Ashley, Kremer win Rolodex; recruits sign". The Stanford Daily. p. 7. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Goldfisher, Alastair (March 30, 1998). "Sports Byline USA to air syndicated show on KBPA". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 23, 2002. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  16. ^ "FCCdata.org – powered by REC". fccdata.org. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  17. ^ "Program Schedule". Business Talk 1220. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  18. ^ "Archived copy". www.businessradio1220.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Business Radio 1220 Morning Show". Business Radio 1220. Archived from the original on September 1, 2000. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  20. ^ "Program Schedule". Business Radio 1220. Archived from the original on February 12, 2001. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "2/27/00 Men's Basketball Fact Sheet". San Jose State Athletics. February 27, 2000. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  22. ^ Kosman, Joshua (October 19, 1999). "Live Opera Switching To KBZS". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  23. ^ Kava, Brad (August 6, 2001). "Business show gives way to religious talk". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on August 17, 2001. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Hamm, Andrew F. and Mullins, Robert (March 29, 2004). "Radio station seeks South Bay audience with sports, talk". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Archived from the original on July 30, 2004. Retrieved July 6, 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Who Owns What in the Bay Area". 3 June 2003. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  26. ^ "Goodbye for now". November 27, 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-11-27.
  27. ^ "San Jose Giants announce 2003 radio contract". San Jose Giants. Archived from the original on February 12, 2003.
  28. ^ a b "Bronco Hoops Forms Radio Broadcast Partnership". Santa Clara University Athletics. October 13, 2003. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  29. ^ "San Jose Giants announce 2004 radio contract". San Jose Giants. March 17, 2004. Archived from the original on April 11, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  30. ^ "News/Talk Station to Be Introduced in San Francisco Bay Area on July 5; KSFB-AM Changes to KNTS-AM 1220 with News/Talk Format". Salem Communications. July 1, 2004. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  31. ^ "San Jose Giants announce 2005 radio contract". San Jose Giants. March 29, 2005. Archived from the original on April 9, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  32. ^ "2005 California League". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  33. ^ "Football opens season at Washington". San Jose State Athletics. August 27, 2006. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  34. ^ "KNTS (1220 AM) to provide full-season radio coverage of football and men's basketball". San Jose State Athletics. August 3, 2005. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  35. ^ "Men's hoops back at the Event Center for Presbyterian". San Jose State Spartans. December 21, 2007. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  36. ^ "Men's hoops at Santa Clara; hosts Nevada Thursday". San Jose State Spartans. January 6, 2008. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  37. ^ "Program Guide". KNTS. Archived from the original on October 13, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  38. ^ Okanes, Jonathan (February 7, 2006). "A's set new radio lineup for the upcoming season". Contra Costa Times. Archived from the original on February 9, 2006. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  39. ^ Kava, Brad (October 31, 2006). "Oakland A's baseball to be broadcast on 106.9 FM". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  40. ^ "KDOW Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Archived from the original on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  41. ^ "CDBS Print". Archived from the original on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  42. ^ Kurhi, Eric (July 19, 2009). "Hayward considering shoreline radio towers". The Daily Review. Hayward, California. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  43. ^ Kurhi, Eric (July 22, 2009). "Radio towers denied place on Hayward shoreline". The Daily Review. Hayward, California. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  44. ^ Black, Rob [@robblackshow] (October 11, 2010). "Starting radio show on 1220 am tomorrow from 7a to 9a. It is a morning drive show. Call and love me. New projects to follow" (Tweet). Retrieved April 16, 2021 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ "KDOW Program Schedule". KDOW. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  46. ^ "About Rob Black". 910 KNEW. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  47. ^ "KLIV 1590 AM and KDOW 1220 AM To Broadcast Men's Basketball Games As Part of Bronco Radio Network". Santa Clara Broncos. November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  48. ^ "Bronco Radio Network Announces Schedule For 2014–15 Season". Santa Clara Broncos. November 3, 2014. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  49. ^ "2016–17 Santa Clara Men's Basketball Schedule". Archived from the original on 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  50. ^ "2017–18 Santa Clara Men's Basketball Schedule". Santa Clara. Archived from the original on 2018-06-18. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  51. ^ "2019–20 Men's Basketball Radio Outlets". Santa Clara University. December 16, 2019. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  52. ^ Dziak, Matthew (May 15, 2015). "San Jose SaberCats Announce Radio Broadcast with 1220AM KDOW". Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  53. ^ "SJ Barracuda Games to be Broadcast on AM 1220 KDOW". 11 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  54. ^ "Spartans Take Undefeated Record to Boise". Archived from the original on 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  55. ^ "2021 Football Schedule". San Jose State Athletics. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  56. ^ "Business Radio KDOW 1220 AM | KDOW-AM – San Francisco, CA". kdow.biz. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  57. ^ "2020 Football Schedule". San Jose State University. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  58. ^ "Contact Us". KDOW. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  59. ^ a b "KDOW-AM 1220 kHz". Radio Locator. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2021. See also KDOW transmitter map Archived 2021-10-28 at the Wayback Machine via Google Maps.
  60. ^ "K237GZ-FM 95.3 MHz". Radio Locator. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
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