KUHL

KUHL (1440 AM) is a commercial radio station that is licensed to Santa Maria, California, and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc, California area. The station is owned by Knight Broadcasting Inc. and broadcasts a news/talk format.[2]

For the Lompoc, California, radio station known as KUHL from 2006 to 2009, see KTNK.
For other uses, see Kuhl (disambiguation).
KUHL
Broadcast areaSanta Maria-Lompoc, California
Frequency1440 kHz
Programming
FormatNews/talk
AffiliationsABC Radio
Jones Radio Network
Westwood One
Ownership
OwnerKnight Broadcasting Inc.
KRAZ, KSYV
History
First air date
January 17, 1947
Former call signs
  • KCOY (1947–1969)
  • KUHL (1969–2006)
  • KINF (2006–2009)[1]
Former frequencies
1400 kHz (1947–1960)
Technical information
Facility ID24952
ClassB
Power
  • 5,000 watts day
  • 1,000 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
34°59′2″N 120°27′10″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websiteam1440.com

History

The station first signed on January 17, 1947, as KCOY at the 1400 kHz frequency. It was launched by News-Press Publishing Company, owner of KTMS in Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara News-Press.[3] On April 5, 1955, KCOY was sold to Arenze Broadcasters, headed by James H. Ranger, for $34,000.[4] It moved to 1440 kHz in 1960.[5][6] In its early years, KCOY was a full service station, broadcasting a variety of news, sports, and rock music programming.[7]

In April 1969, Ranger bought out his Arenze Broadcasters partners for $250,000, taking full ownership of KCOY.[8] The station then changed its call letters to KUHL.[9]

In 1986, Ranger sold KUHL and FM sister station KXFM in Santa Maria to Great Electric Communications Inc. for $2.25 million.[10][11] On March 1, 1989, the transmitters for four stations in Santa Maria, including KUHL, were knocked off the air due to acts of vandalism. That evening, the towers fell as guy wires supporting the structures had been cut. Two males, ages 18 and 15, were suspected of inflicting the damage which was estimated to be $100,000.[12][13] Great Electric sold KUHL and KXFM in 1991 to Roger Blaemire's Blackhawk Communications Inc. for $1.15 million.[14]

On September 19, 2006, KUHL switched call signs to KINF. Three years later, on January 27, 2009, the station reverted to the KUHL call letters.[1] On January 20, 2010, lightning struck the KUHL transmitter, knocking the station off the air temporarily. It was one of 11 stations in the Santa Maria area affected by storm-related power outages and equipment damage.[15]

References
  1. "Call Sign History: KUHL". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  2. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. "Directory of Standard Broadcasting Stations of the United States" (PDF). Broadcasting/Telecasting 1948 Yearbook Number. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1948. p. 94. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  4. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting/Telecasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. April 18, 1955. p. 109. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  5. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. May 16, 1960. p. 127. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S." (PDF). 1961-62 Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications Inc. 1961. p. B-25. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  7. "Where three-dollar spots are top rate" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. July 14, 1969. pp. 54–58. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  8. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. April 21, 1969. p. 58. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  9. "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. May 5, 1969. p. 85. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  10. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. October 6, 1986. p. 63. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  11. "Changing Hands 1986" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. February 9, 1987. p. 88. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  12. "Tower-Trashing Teens Terrorize Santa Maria" (PDF). Radio & Records. March 10, 1989. pp. 1, 34. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  13. "In Brief" (PDF). Broadcasting. Broadcasting Publications Inc. March 6, 1989. p. 88. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  14. "Willis Takes Tidewater In $1.23 Million FM Deal" (PDF). Radio & Records. September 6, 1991. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  15. Ramos, Julian J. (January 23, 2010). "Week's stormy weather causes local radio silence". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
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