KLSD

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KLSD
KLSD Xtra 1360 logo 2021.svg
CitySan Diego, California
Broadcast areaSan Diego–Tijuana
Frequency1360 kHz
BrandingXTRA 1360
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatSports
NetworkESPN Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Affiliations
Ownership
OwneriHeartMedia, Inc.
(iHM Licenses, LLC)
KGB, KGB-FM, KHTS-FM, KIOZ, KMYI, KOGO, KSSX
History
First air date
July 14, 1922; 99 years ago (1922-07-14) (as KFBC)
Former call signs
KFBC (1922–1928)
KGB (1928–1982)
KCNN (1982–1983)
KPQP (1983–1986)
KPOP (1986–2004)
Former frequencies
833.3 kHz (1922–1925)
1210 kHz (1925–1932)
1330 kHz (1932–1941)
Call sign meaning
Liberal San Diego (refers to previous progressive talk format.)
Technical information
Facility ID34452
ClassB
Power5,000 watts day
1,000 watts night
Translator(s)103.3 K277DH (San Diego)
Repeater(s)101.5-2 KGB-HD2 (San Diego)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Website1360sports.iheart.com

KLSD (1360 AM) is a broadcast radio station in the United States. Licensed to San Diego, California, it is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a sports format branded "XTRA 1360".

Having signed on in 1922 as KFBC, KLSD is San Diego's oldest licensed radio station. From 1928 to 1982, the station had call signs KGB, with various music formats during the KGB era ranging from middle of the road for much of the mid-1930s to early 1960s, Top 40 from 1964 to 1972 and again from 1974 to 1982, and album-oriented rock from 1972 to 1974. Reflecting a shift of music from AM to FM radio, KGB changed to an all-news format simulcasting CNN in 1982 with call sign KCNN. Then in 1983, the station returned to music with an adult standards format, first as KPQP in 1983 then KPOP from 1986 to 2004. The station has been owned by iHeartMedia and its predecessor companies since 1996.

The station adopted its present KLSD call sign in 2004 with a progressive talk radio format primarily with the Air America Radio network. Then in 2007, KLSD changed to its current sports format. KLSD broadcasts local sports talk and play-by-play in addition to national network programming from ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. It also broadcasts San Diego State University sports and Los Angeles Lakers basketball. Previously, KLSD broadcast the San Diego Fleet of the short-lived Alliance of American Football. The station operates with 5,000 watts by day and 1,000 watts at night. It shares a broadcasting tower with KGB-FM and KHTS-FM in the East San Diego area. The station's studios are located in San Diego's Serra Mesa area on the northeast side.

History[edit]

As KFBC (1922–1928)[edit]

Founded by W.K. Azbill in his Normal Heights home, it first went on the air as KFBC on July 14, 1922, broadcasting on 833.3 kHz (360 meters) with 10 watts of power and sharing the time with eight other San Diego radio stations.[1][2][3] To date, the station that is now KLSD remains the oldest, continuously licensed radio station in San Diego.[1]

In September 1926, the Union League Club of San Diego County leased the station full-time from Azbill. Later that year, physician Arthur Wells Yale bought KFBC and all Union League properties, and the station moved to the Balboa Theatre in Downtown San Diego.[2] As the government expanded the AM band to numerous frequencies, the station soon moved to 1210 kHz in 1927.[2]

As KGB (1928–1982)[edit]

At the request of vice president George Bowles, the KFBC call sign was changed to KGB on March 27, 1928.[2] Then on July 11 that year, the Pickwick Stages System bought the station. By December, KGB became an affiliate of Don Lee's radio network.[2]

The Pickwick Stages System became the Pickwick Broadcasting System in January 1929. KGB became a full-time CBS Radio Network affiliate as did all Don Lee stations. KGB began having a slogan "Music for the Sick", reflecting that its programming targeted people who had to stay home due to illness.[2] Don Lee bought KGB outright on May 9, 1931.[2] KGB also regularly broadcast Gus Arnheim concerts.[4]

On August 5, 1932, the Federal Radio Commission authorized KGB to increase its power from 500 watts to 1,000 watts. At that time the station operated on 1330 kHz.[5]

Future CBS and NBC broadcaster Art Linkletter began his broadcasting career in 1933 as an announcer for KGB. He was promoted to program director in 1934 and station manager in 1936. Linkletter also developed his "Man on the Street" audience participation shows while with KGB.[2] Don Lee died in 1934, and his son Thomas S. Lee became president of the Don Lee company.[6]

In 1936, KGB switched its network affiliation from CBS to the Mutual Broadcasting System. Around the same time, future television screenwriter Larry Rhine became a screenwriter and morning host for KGB.[2] KGB also began a middle of the road music format.[7]

On March 24, 1941, under the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, KGB was moved from 1330 to its present 1360 kHz.[2][3] During World War II, KGB featured content relating to the U.S. military. The United States Navy broadcast ship signals on the station, and KGB hosted shows originating from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and Naval Training Center San Diego. Those shows featured the United States Marine Corps with film stars such as Ginger Rogers and Henry Fonda as special guests.[2] In this era, KGB was the most popular radio station in San Diego, with local car dealers being the top sponsors.[2]

On December 27, 1950, the General Tire and Rubber Company bought KGB as part of a $12.3 million purchase including all Thomas S. Lee properties and interest in the Mutual Broadcasting System.[2] The broadcast license transferred to Marion R. Harris in 1954 and KGB Inc. in 1956.[2] In April 1959, KGB moved from the Mutual Broadcasting System to ABC Radio Network.[8]

On April 1, 1964, Willet Brown bought KGB.[7] Then in 1965, KGB became the first client of the Drake-Chenault consulting company and changed to the Boss Radio Top 40 music format.[9][10] Nearly two months into retaining Drake-Chenault, KGB had its ratings improve from worst to best in San Diego.[11]

In 1972, KGB became an early adopter and pioneer of what is now called the album oriented rock format, simulcasting with co-owned KGB-FM. KGB-AM returned to Top 40 in 1974.[7]

News and adult standards (1982–2004)[edit]

On March 15, 1982, KGB's call sign changed to KCNN, and KCNN simulcast audio of CNN.[12][7] General manager Jim Price explained the format change explaining that listeners preferred listening to music on FM radio.[7] However, KCNN struggled in the ratings, never rising above a 2.3 share.[13]

Then on October 7, 1983, KCNN became KPQP with an adult standards format. The call sign changed to KPOP on August 1, 1986.[12] Nearly four decades of local ownership ended in 1996, when Nationwide Communications bought KPOP.[12][14] Nationwide was later acquired by Jacor in 1997.[15] Then in 1998, Clear Channel Communications bought Jacor and its stations including KPOP.[16]

Beginning in the 2000–01 season, KPOP became the radio home of San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball.[17][18] In June 2001, former KFMB Hudson and Bauer co-host Joe Bauer became morning drive host of Breakfast with Bauer at KPOP.[19] In 2002, KPOP added a rotating set of lifestyle programs at 6 p.m. weeknights.[20]

Progressive talk (2004–2007)[edit]

The station became a progressive talk station under the call sign KLSD on August 23, 2004.[21][22] The call sign reportedly stood for "Liberal San Diego".[23]

Most of the programming came from the Air America Radio Network.[21] KLSD also aired the Ed Schultz show from Jones Radio Network and Mike Malloy from Nova M Radio.[21][24] Local programming included the morning show, hosted by Stacy Taylor and the nationally syndicated Air America host Jon Elliott.[24]

In August 2005, Clear Channel applied to the FCC to increase KLSD's power to 50,000 watts day and night, planning to share the six-tower KSDO array in Santee, California, since the owners of KLSD also owned the broadcast site for KSDO.[25] However, due to the added cost, Clear Channel decided against the move, and KLSD still broadcasts at 5,000 watts day/1,000 watts night.

As a sports station (2007–present)[edit]

KLSD's first logo as a sports station, used from 2007-2014

After registering a 2.2 rating in the winter 2006–07 period, KLSD's ratings declined to 0.9 and 1.0 for the spring and summer 2007 ratings books, according to Arbitron.[26] In an August 31, 2007 article, San Diego Union-Tribune sports reporter Jay Posner found that Clear Channel registered the domain name "xtrasports1360.com", sparking speculation that the company would change KLSD to a sports format.[27] The blog SDRadio.net hinted at a format change nearly a week earlier August 23.[28]

Following the SDRadio.net report, listeners organized and held rallies to attempt to persuade Clear Channel to keep the format.[29] A documentary titled Save KLSD: Media Consolidation and Local Radio was made about the effort.

Posner reported for the Union-Tribune on October 13, 2007 that Clear Channel planned on changing KLSD to sports.[30]

On November 12, 2007, KLSD flipped to the new format as XTRA Sports 1360, inheriting the former branding from XETRA-AM, which would change its callsign to XEWW a month later. The first local live program, which aired at 3 p.m. that day, was hosted by Lee Hacksaw Hamilton.[31] Outside of local programming, the new XTRA Sports broadcast the national Fox Sports Radio network.[32]

In 2008, KLSD broadcast select San Diego State Aztecs baseball.[33] Hacksaw left the station in 2008 when his contract was not renewed. KLSD was not listed in the Arbitron ratings book in the winter 2007–08 period.[34] KLSD returned to the Arbitron ratings books in June 2009 with an 0.6 share.[35] The ratings would remain around that level in the final months of 2009.[36]

KLSD’s second logo as a sports station, used from 2014-2021

Beginning in the 2009–10 season, KLSD became the San Diego affiliate for the Los Angeles Lakers.[37]

On July 21, 2014, KLSD rebranded as "Xtra 1360 Fox Sports San Diego" as a partnership with the Fox Sports San Diego TV network.[38]

In September 2014, Clear Channel Communications became iHeartMedia.[39]

On May 8, 2017, KLSD and sister station KGB-FM signed a contract with San Diego State University to broadcast San Diego State Aztecs football and men's basketball after the previous contract with XEPRS-AM "The Mighty 1090" expired.[40] Beginning in the fall of 2020, KLSD began broadcasting some ESPN Radio programming during the week, with ESPN Radio's East Coast morning drive show Keyshawn, JWill, and Zubin weekdays at 3 a.m. and weekend mornings to noon.[41][42]

References[edit]

Works cited
  • Crane, Marie Brenn (1977). The development of commercial radio in San Diego to 1950 (PDF) (M.S.). San Diego State University. OCLC 11804427.
  • Jacobs, Ron (2002). KHJ: Inside Boss Radio (PDF). Stafford, Texas: Zapoleon Publishing. OCLC 52787410.
Notes
  1. ^ a b Mishkind, Barry. "The One Hundred Oldest Stations in the United States". OldRadio.com. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Crane, Marie Brenn (Winter 1980). "Radio station KGB and the development of commercial radio in San Diego". The Journal of San Diego History. 26 (1). Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Broadcasting Station License Record [KGB]". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Crane 1977, p. 54.
  5. ^ "Power increase" (PDF). August 15, 1932. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Eight Years of Television in California". California: Magazine of the Pacific. June 1939. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via The Museum of the City of San Francisco.
  7. ^ a b c d e Arnold, Thomas K. (February 20, 1982). "KGB-AM Shift Tied To FM 'Migration'". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 7. p. 20.
  8. ^ "ABC in the West" (PDF). Broadcasting. Vol. 56, no. 18. May 4, 1959. p. 58. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
  9. ^ Cosper, Alex. "San Diego Radio History". Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Jacobs 2002, pp. 10–11, 426.
  11. ^ "The Executioner". Time. Vol. 92, no. 8. August 23, 1968. p. 48.
  12. ^ a b c https://fccdata.org/?facid=&call=KLSD
  13. ^ Griffin, Rick (January 22, 1984). "Radio stations seek more viable format". The San Diego Union. p. A-17. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via Newslibrary.
  14. ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1996-09.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  15. ^ "Jacor's Nationwide Deal: 'A Fabulous Fit'" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 31, 1997. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
  16. ^ Rathbun, Elizabeth A. (October 12, 1998). "Bigger buys big" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 128, no. 42. pp. 33, 36. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
  17. ^ "SDSU-Arizona State Game Notes". GoAztecs.com. San Diego State University. December 14, 2000. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "SDSU-New Mexico Game Notes". GoAztecs.com. San Diego State University. February 16, 2001. Archived from the original on February 23, 2001. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "Joe Bauer: Breakfast with Bauer". 1360 KPOP. Archived from the original on June 12, 2002. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "KPOP broadcast schedule". 1360 KPOP. Archived from the original on June 3, 2002. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  21. ^ a b c Crabtree, Penni (August 22, 2004). "Left unsaid until now". San Diego Union-Tribune. p. H-1. Archived from the original on September 25, 2004. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Laurence, Robert P. (August 23, 2004). "A left hook: Radio's Al Franken will take a swing at our market". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Dotinga, Randy (July 25, 2007). "KLSD still makes waves at 85". North County Times. Escondido, California. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Program Schedule". KLSD. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  25. ^ FCC Website
  26. ^ "#17 San Diego". Radio Online. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  27. ^ Posner, Jay (August 31, 2007). "XX could soon face new local talk rival". San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D-4. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via Newslibrary.
  28. ^ "KLSD AM 1360 to shift programming". SDRadio.net. August 23, 2007. Archived from the original on May 4, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  29. ^ Peterson, Karla (August 25, 2007). "Local Air America fans to hold rally". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.
  30. ^ Posner, Jay (October 13, 2007). "Sports talk radio adds 1360-AM to the roster". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  31. ^ Posner, Jay (November 9, 2007). "Extra, Extra: XTRA's back". San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D-7. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via Newslibrary.
  32. ^ "Archived copy". www.xtrasports1360.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. ^ "SDSU-USC Baseball Game To Be Carried On XTRA Sports 1360". San Diego State Aztecs. February 26, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  34. ^ "#17 San Diego". Radio Online. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  35. ^ "#17 San Diego". Radio Online. Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  36. ^ "#17 San Diego". Radio Online. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  37. ^ "Lakers announce expanded radio network". Los Angeles Lakers. October 8, 2009. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  38. ^ Venta, Lance (July 18, 2014). "KLSD San Diego Revamping". Radio Insight. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  39. ^ "Clear Channel Becomes iHeartMedia". iHeartMedia. September 16, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  40. ^ Kenney, Kirk (May 8, 2017). "San Diego State moving radio flagship to XTRA 1360-AM". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  41. ^ "Archived copy". 1360sports.iheart.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ "Archived copy". 1360sports.iheart.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 32°43′49″N 117°05′01″W / 32.73028°N 117.08361°W / 32.73028; -117.08361