KLEF
| |
|---|---|
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 10839 |
| Class | C1 |
| ERP | 25,000 watts |
| HAAT | 9 meters (30 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | klef98 |
KLEF (98.1
KLEF is a
History
Station construction
Northern Way Broadcasting wanted to build a new radio station in Anchorage. It was granted a
KLEF
Call letters
The launch of a new commercial classical music station was unusual in an era when classical stations in other cities were falling by the wayside or switching to non-commercial, listener-supported operations. The KLEF call letters were illustrative of this. They had last been used at two such stations: 94.5 FM in Houston, which had been KLEF from 1964 to 1986 before being sold, and 92.1 FM in nearby Seabrook, Texas, which used the designation when it picked up the format only to decide on new call letters upon a sale a year later.[5][6]
The new Alaska station was also a success with listeners, denting the ratings of
1080 AM
In 1998, Chinook Concert Broadcasters acquired 1080
In 2008, Goodfellow attributed KLEF's success to the unavailability of satellite radio – which serves many classical music listeners in the Lower 48 but cannot be received in Alaska. Anchorage also lacks an easy listening station, making classical music attractive to those unserved listeners.[11] On KLEF's 25th anniversary in 2013, Goodfellow calculated that there were 55 commercial classical stations in the United States when the station signed on in 1988 but just three a quarter-century later: KLEF in Anchorage, WFMT in Chicago, and WRR in Dallas.[12] WRR has since switched to a non-commercial, listener-supported operation.
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KLEF". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/KLEF
- ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 1, 1986. p. 120. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ Billington, Linda (September 25, 1988). "Californians come up with a classical music station for Alaskans". Anchorage Daily News. p. G1.
- ^ Gonzales, J. R. (2022-03-11). "Today in Houston history, March 11, 1986: KLEF goes away...for now". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ Parks, Louis B. (September 2, 1987). "Classical station changes call letters; series focuses on Bill of Rights". Houston Chronicle. p. Houston 3.
- ^ Billington, Linda (June 22, 1989). "Budget woes bring changes to KSKA". Anchorage Daily News. p. G1.
- ^ Dunham, Mike (June 5, 1994). "Artbeat". Anchorage Daily News. p. N2.
- ^ Doogan, Mike (August 26, 2001). "Computers, and a lot of hard work, make classical station go". Anchorage Daily News. p. B1.
- ^ Schell, Sarana (June 18, 2005). "Union is set to purchase left-leaning radio station". Anchorage Daily News. p. D1.
- ^ Dunham, Mike (September 14, 2008). "KLEF marks 20 years of beautiful music". Anchorage Daily News. p. D1.
- ^ Gerjevic, Frank (September 14, 2013). "Alaska Notebook: Happy 25th to KLEF". Anchorage Daily News.
External links
- Official website
- KLEF in the FCC FM station database
- KLEF in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
