KFWB

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
KFWB
Broadcast areaGreater Los Angeles
Frequency980 kHz
BrandingLa Mera Mera 980[1]
Programming
Language(s)Spanish
FormatRegional Mexican
AffiliationsLas Vegas Raiders Spanish Radio Network
Los Angeles FC
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
March 3, 1925
(99 years ago) (1925-03-03)
Former frequencies
  • 1190 kHz (1925–1927)
  • 810 kHz (1927)
  • 830 kHz (1927–1928)
  • 850 kHz (1928)
  • 830 kHz (1928)
  • 950 kHz (1928–1941)
Call sign meaning
None, sequentially issued
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID25457
ClassB
Power5,000 watts (unlimited)
Transmitter coordinates
34°4′11″N 118°11′35″W / 34.06972°N 118.19306°W / 34.06972; -118.19306
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.980lameramera.com

KFWB (980

radio station in Los Angeles, California. It airs a classic Regional Mexican music format. KFWB is owned by Lotus Communications. The station has a colorful history, being the radio voice of Warner Bros. Studios in the early days of broadcasting, and a long-time Group W/CBS radio station from 1966 to 2016. It has kept the same call sign
throughout its nearly 100-year history.

KFWB broadcasts with 5,000

non-directional antenna shared with KLAC on North Indiana Avenue near Lincoln Park in Eastside Los Angeles.[3] The studios and offices are on Barham Boulevard, near the Universal City complex.[4]

History

The Warner Bros. years

KFWB first

kHz.[6] The station was started by Sam Warner, a co-founder of Warner Bros.[7] The station launched the careers of such stars as Ronald Reagan, Alan Ladd and Bing Crosby during the "Golden Age of Radio." The station was the first to broadcast the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena
.

Although theorists believed the call letters stood for its original owner (examples such as "Keep Filming Warner Brothers" and "Four Warner Brothers"), the call sign was sequentially issued by the

San Bernardino, both granted in February 1925.[8] Nevertheless, Warner Bros. Cartoons regularly used KFWB as a running gag
in its productions.

On February 8, 1937, KFWB opened a new facility on the south end of the Warner Bros. lot. It included six large studios, one of which was a 500-seat theater, and a "multi-manual pipe organ, built especially for broadcasting."[9]

Bedtime for Sniffles, a 1940 Merrie Melodies cartoon produced by Warner Bros. and directed by Chuck Jones, has Sniffles the mouse trying to stay awake for Santa Claus, and a radio announcer signs off for the night identifying the station as KFWB. Another cartoon of the same year, The Timid Toreador, co-directed by Bob Clampett, shows an announcer broadcasting on this station, although the action takes place in Mexico. The 1934 Looney Tunes short Buddy's Bearcats directed by Jack King also contains an announcer broadcasting the station where KFWB was written on a wooden sign and was narrated by a parody of Joe E. Brown. The 1933 Merrie Melodies cartoon for I've Got To Sing A Torch Song released in conjunction with Gold Diggers of 1933 has KFWB written on the microphones in the scenes of the torch singers. KFWB was also written on one of the microphones at the end of 1953's Catty Cornered
.

In 1932, a KFWB personality, Al Jarvis, began playing recorded music, a rarity on radio at the time, where music was usually performed live. He called his show "The World's Largest Make Believe Ballroom." In 1946, KFWB brought in two disc jockeys from New York City: Maurice Hart of WNEW, whose morning drive time show Start the Day Right was described as "Words and Music Straight from the Hart," and Martin Block, who shortened Jarvis's title to "The Make-Believe Ballroom." In those days, the DJs selected their own music, from either KFWB's extensive record library or new songs brought to them by "song pluggers." Old and new, vocal and instrumental, were mixed together to the disc jockey's choice.

In 1950, KFWB was sold to its longtime general manager Harry Maizlish.

KTWV), on Hollywood Boulevard.[11]

Playing rock & roll

In 1958, the original "Seven Swingin’ Gentlemen" (a nickname for the DJ staff) turned KFWB into a

Southland and a leader in the Top 40 format around the country. The air staff during the glory days included Roger Christian, Bill Ballance, B. Mitchel Reed, Bruce Hayes, Gary Owens, Al Jarvis, Bobby Dale, Joe Yocam, Elliot Field, Ted Quillin and Gene Weed. Hourly updates were delivered by a staff of respected newscasters, including Cleve Herrmann, Charles Arlington, John Babcock, Beach Rogers, Mike Henry, Hal Goodwin, Al Wiman
, Bill Angel, J. Paul Huddleston and Jackson King.

In the mid 1960s, KFWB was overtaken by rival KRLA. Then KRLA was put in second place by the launch of "Boss Radio" at KHJ, and this relegated KFWB to the position of the third-place Top 40 music station in the L.A. market.

All-news radio

In 1966, KFWB was purchased by Westinghouse Broadcasting. The previous year, Westinghouse had successfully launched an all-news radio format on WINS in New York City, after that station had been playing Top 40 music. On March 11, 1968, KFWB ended its Top 40 era, and was relaunched as an all-news radio station. The station promoted itself with the slogans "All news, all the time" and "You give us 22 minutes, we'll give you the world", as first used by WINS, although KFWB's format used a 30-minute news cycle. The 22 minutes referenced the then-average length of a Los Angeles commute. Like WINS and co-owned KYW Philadelphia, KFWB had a running Teletype sound effect in the background during regular newscasts.

Also in Spring 1968, another Los Angeles radio station jumped into the all-news format, KNX, owned by CBS Radio. For the next 27 years, the two stations would be competitors, airing television commercials and sponsoring billboards, in an effort to be L.A.'s top radio news outlet.

In 1995, Westinghouse bought the CBS Corporation, merging the broadcast operations of the two companies, with KFWB coming under the ownership of CBS Radio. For the first several years after their parent companies merged, KFWB and KNX continued to operate separately, as friendly rivals.

In addition to being an all-news station, KFWB also had sports play-by-play contracts. It previously aired

AM 790 KABC
. With that, the slogan "all news, all the time" returned. However, in 2008, the NFL broadcasts returned for a brief period.

Beginning in 2008, KNX and KFWB were jointly branded as "CBSNewsRadioLA." The CBSNewsRadioLA brand was used for simulcasting special programs and for marketing to advertisers.[12] In addition, there were no longer separate field reporters for KNX and KFWB. CBSNewsRadioLA reporters filed stories for both stations.

Also in the 2009 season, KFWB began broadcasting some weekday baseball games of the

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, although the flagship station remained the Angels-owned KLAA.[13] On August 13, 2009, CBS announced the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers had signed a multi-year broadcast rights pact, with KFWB carrying every Clippers contest.[14]

Over time, KFWB's ratings gradually dropped. A number of factors may have been involved. KFWB is licensed to transmit with 5,000 watts, while KNX is licensed for 50,000 watts. In its final months as an all-news station, KFWB added more news about the movie and television industries, since many people in the Los Angeles market are employed in those fields. But the ratings continued to fall. The station's last all-news broadcast concluded at 1:00am on September 8, 2009. Anchors Jan Stevens and Andi Marshall bid listeners farewell and thanked them for 41 years of support.

Moving to news/talk

Logo as "News/Talk 980"

On September 8, 2009, the station adopted a

Les Brown to its afternoon lineup. Brown left the station in 2012. Ramsey's show was discontinued in 2014. By the summer of 2014, KFWB's weekday line-up included: LA's Morning News with Penny Griego and Phil Hulett; Money 101 with Bob McCormick; "As We See It" with Phil Hulett and friends; LA's Afternoon News with Maggie McKay and Michael Shappee; and The Amani & Eytan Show from NBC Sports Radio
.

In the early 2010s, the station was authorized by the FCC to boost its power to 50,000 watts, using a

non-directional antenna
and take up less acreage of valuable Los Angeles real estate.

On November 2, 2011, CBS Radio placed KFWB into a trust headed by Diane Sutter, under the name "The KFWB Asset Trust." This was due to CBS Corp.'s ownership limitations after the network bought KCAL-TV in 2002.[16]

Switch to sports

Logo as "The Beast 980"

On September 22, 2014, KFWB became a

CBS Sports Radio Network affiliate, cancelling all news blocks and general interest talk programs. The station began calling itself "The Beast 980."[17]

The Beast 980 featured a live and local morning show, The Home Team, hosted by

NCAA college football
games and NCAA basketball games.

South Asian programming

On January 5, 2016, it was reported that KFWB was in the process of being sold to an operator of foreign-language radio stations.

Securities and Exchange Commission stated that the station would be acquired by Principle Broadcasting, a company backed by Mercury Capital Partners, for $15 million. The final price in the contract filed with the FCC was $8 million.[19]

As a result of the sale, the station's sports format was discontinued on March 1, 2016.

Bollywood music format which also was airing on KKDZ in Seattle and KLOK in San Jose.[20] KFWB called itself "Desi 980". On March 16, 2016, the Los Angeles Clippers entered into a multi-year deal making KLAC the team's new flagship station, removing the games from KFWB.[21]

Classic regional Mexican

On October 4, 2016, Lotus Communications agreed to purchase KFWB from Universal Media Access for $11.2 million. The sale was finalized on March 7, 2017.

Simi Valley, ESPN Deportes affiliate KWKW in Los Angeles, and its simulcast partner, KTMZ in Pomona.[23][24] On October 31, 2016, KFWB switched to a regional Mexican music format as "La Mera Mera 980" (a colloquial expression in Mexican Spanish, meaning, "The Best of the Best"). In 2018, the station was named the official radio station for calling MLS's Los Angeles FC
matches.

Notable former staff

Studios and transmitter

The original KFWB studios and transmitter location were at the Warner Bros. Studios, which is now KTLA, at 5800 Sunset Boulevard. One of the two original towers still stands prominently out front. Due to RF interference getting into the movie studio's "talkies" sound equipment, the transmitter was moved in 1928 to the roof of the Warner Theater, now the Hollywood Pacific Theatre, at 6423 Hollywood Blvd. Eventually the studios were also moved to the Warner Theater. Those two towers are still standing.

Years later, when KFWB was sold to KFWB Broadcasting Co. (Harry Maizlish), the studios moved to 6419 Hollywood Blvd. (now demolished), and the transmitter moved to a site near La Cienega and Rodeo Blvd., about three blocks south of the KECA/KABC studio/transmitter site. To make way for the construction of a

FEDCO membership department store, in July 1958 the transmitter moved to its present location, diplexed with 570 KLAC
in East LA. The studios moved in 1977 to 6230 Yucca St., also in Hollywood.

In June 2005, KFWB moved into new studios on Wilshire Boulevard in the

Entercom's other L.A. stations, KNX, KTWV and KRTH. Today, the studios and offices are on Barham Boulevard, near the Universal City complex.[4]

References

  1. ^ "KFWB Flips To Ranchera". November 4, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KFWB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "KFWB-AM Radio Station Coverage Map". radio-locator.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "KFWB 980 La Mera Mera". 980lameramera. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  5. ^ "Broadcasting Yearbook 1949 page 82" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration of Northern California (1939). California : a guide to the Golden State. New York: Hastings House. p. 207. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. ^ Rainho, Manny (March 2015). "This Month in Movie History". Classic Images (477): 26.
  8. ^ "A Chronology of AM Radio Broadcasting (1900-1960)". jeff560.tripod.com.
  9. ^ "Advanced Features in New KFWB Plant" (PDF). Radio Daily. February 10, 1937. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  10. ^ Taishoff, Sol (1951). "Letter to Harry Maizlish, September 27, 1950". Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications, Inc.: 83. We rejoice with your host of friends in congratulating you on the acquisition of KFWB by your new company.... To almost everybody in the radio fraternity... KFWB for almost two decades has been synonymous with Harry Maizlish
  11. ^ "Directory of AM, FM and TV Stations of the United States". Broadcasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications, Inc.: 85–96 1952.
  12. ^ "Domain Error". Archived from the original on 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  13. ^ "~Los Angeles Radio People, Template". www.laradio.com.
  14. ^ "Clippers and KFWB 980 AM Enter Into Multi-Year Radio Broadcast Agreement". Los Angeles Clippers. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  15. ^ "KFWB will switch to news-talk format | kfwb, news, laura, talk, ingraham - Entertainment - OCRegister.com". www.ocregister.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-13.
  16. ^ L.A.’s news/talk KFWB (980) goes into a trust, under new GM Valerie Blackburn - (released November 2, 2011)
  17. ^ "KFWB To Launch Sports Format Monday". August 22, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  18. ^ a b Hoffarth, Tom (January 5, 2016). "Radio home of Clippers, KFWB 'The Beast 980', is sold; NBA team may need new station". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  19. ^ "FCC Filing Shows $8 Million Price For KFWB/Los Angeles". All Access. January 7, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  20. ^ KFWB Los Angeles Sale Update - Radio insight (accessed January 7, 2016)
  21. ^ "Clippers' new radio home will be at 570 AM, beginning Saturday". Los Angeles Times. March 17, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  22. ^ "Lotus Closes on KFWB-AM/Los Angeles for $11.2M". news.radio-online.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  23. ^ "L.A.'s KFWB Heads to Lotus for $11.2 Million". Insideradio.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  24. ^ Ink, Radio (October 5, 2016). "KFWB-AM Sells At A $3 Million Profit...In 8 Months!". Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  25. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4
    . P. 9.

Further reading

  • Herb Rosenblum. We'll Have More Music, Right After The News! Bloomington, IN : AuthorHouse, 2005.

External links
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