KNWN (AM)
FCC | |
Facility ID | 21647 |
---|---|
Class | A |
Power | 50,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates | 47°27′49″N 122°26′27″W / 47.46361°N 122.44083°W |
Repeater(s) |
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Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | www |
KNWN (1000
KNWN is a
While KNWN primarily runs an all-news format, in the early morning on weekdays it carries two
KNWN's programming is simulcast full-time on 97.7 MHz KNWN-FM, licensed to Oakville, Washington, as well as on several FM translator stations.
History
Early years
In July 1926, KNWN was founded on
1944 call letter swap between KJR and KOMO
At its new frequency, KOMO began broadcasting with 50,000 watts of power from its current transmitter site on
In 1953,
Full service formats
Through the 1940s and 1950s, KOMO carried network dramas, comedies,
In January 1981, former FM rock Programmer Ken Kohl joined KOMO. When Kohl arrived, the station's ratings were in the middle of the pack. After building the station's news commitment and implementing KOMO's first major marketing effort, Kohl and his KOMO team inched to within a tenth of a point of market leader
All-news format, change to KNWN
In late 2002, Fisher Communications announced a six-year contract for Seattle Mariners play-by-play rumored to be worth at least $10 million annually, a record for any Major League Baseball radio broadcast agreement, which started in the 2003 season. After the agreement expired in 2008, Mariners broadcasts returned to KIRO.
Concurrent with the acquisition of the Mariners broadcast rights, KOMO dropped its talk shows and became an all-news station with reports from an enlarged radio news staff and material from KOMO-TV newscasts. Some notable anchors include Bill Yeend, Manda Factor, Brian Calvert (who also works as a reporter and weathercaster on KOMO-TV), Lisa Brooks, Bill Rice, Art Sanders, Nancy Barrick, Pamela McCall, and Eric Slocum. It was announced on May 11, 2009, that KOMO would be simulcast on KFMY, an FM station in Oakville, Washington, starting on May 15, 2009.[16] KFMY changed its call letters to KOMO-FM on May 18, 2009, to reflect the simulcast. The move was made to improve KOMO's coverage in the southern part of the market, as well as give listeners who prefer the sound of FM that option.
On April 11, 2013, after 87 years of owning the station, Fisher Communications announced that it would sell its properties, including KOMO, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group.[17] Although Sinclair primarily owns television stations, the company initially retained KOMO and Fisher's two other Seattle radio stations, KVI and KPLZ-FM.[18] The deal was completed on August 8, 2013.[19] Two months after the sale, several radio employees were laid off as part of general cutbacks by Sinclair at most of the stations they acquired from Fisher.[20]
On June 3, 2021, Sinclair announced they would sell KOMO-AM-FM, KVI, and KPLZ to Lotus Communications for $18 million. Of the $18 million, $5 million was in cash paid at closing; the remainder was Lotus' choice of either cash or advertising for Sinclair properties on Lotus' stations. Sinclair retained KOMO-TV, as well as rights to the KOMO call letters. Lotus and Sinclair also agreed to allow Lotus to use Sinclair equipment and IT systems, including sub-leasing the current KOMO studios, for 18 months following the sale; with it, KOMO-TV and KOMO-AM-FM were separated after 68 years.[21] The sale was completed on September 28, 2021.[22]
As required by the terms of the sale, KOMO's call sign was changed to KNWN (for "Northwest News") on February 2, 2022.
Marketing slogans
Early 1970s: "From the Olympics to the Cascades, from Vancouver (B.C., Canada) to Vancouver (Washington), this is KOMO Radio 1000!"
(also) "You're in KOMO Country". Slogan was used with a heavily orchestrated instrumental jingle package from a Canadian studio. The package was called "Big Timber", and was commissioned exclusively for KOMO.
Early 1980s: "A taste of what you're living for, KOMO AM 1000, Seattle!"
Early 1990s: "The station you depend on!"
2002–2005, 2006-2007: "First For Local News, Traffic and Weather." Similar to KOMO-TV's past slogan of "First 4 Local News".
2005–2006: "The commuter's best friend."
2007–2009: "The Northwest's News, Traffic and Weather Station."
2009–2014: "Everything you need to know."
2011–2012: "Western Washington's News, Traffic and Weather Station."
2012–2014: "What happens next, happens here."
2014–present: "Stay connected. Stay informed."
2016–2022: "Stay connected. Stay informed. Stay on time."
Logos
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KOMO's logo from 2002 to September 2006
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KOMO's Updated Logo, since September 2006
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KOMO's logo introduced May 2009
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KNWN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "New Radio Station Well Received By Fans", White Bluffs (Washington) Spokesman, January 21, 1927, page 3.
- ^ "Ban On Multiple Ownership in Same Area", Broadcasting, August 11, 1941, pages 6-7.
- ^ "KOMO-KJR Seek Relief on Duopoly", Broadcasting, March 13, 1944, page 18.
- ^ "KOMO, KJR in Seattle Exchange Call Letters", Broadcasting, April 24, 1944, page 72. 950 kHz was a "regional" frequency, with a power limit of 5,000 watts, while 1000 kHz was a "clear channel" frequency, which allowed powers up to 50,000 watts.
- ^ "KJR-KOMO Separation", Broadcasting, 12 November 1945, p. 100.
- ^ a b "KOMO Million-Dollar Studios Dedicated This Week" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 23, 1948. pp. 22–23, 40, 42. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "KOMO AM 1000 - Morning Radio TV Commercial - Larry Nelson (1984)". YouTube.
- ^ "1984 KOMO AM 1000 Promo with Larry Nelson". YouTube.
- ^ "KOMO Seattle 1986 TV Spot". YouTube.
- ^ "KOMO AM 1000 Claymation Norm Gregory commercial 1988". YouTube.
- ^ "KOMO AM 1000 - Radio Station Television Commercial - Jukebox White Glove (1988)". YouTube.
- ^ "KOMO AM 1000 - Radio Station Television Commercial - Jukebox White Glove - B (1988)". YouTube.
- ^ "Husky Football KOMO Commercial". YouTube.
- ^ "KOMO AM 1000 Claymation Larry Nelson Commercial 1994". YouTube.
- ^ KOMO Newsradio to be heard on FM and AM
- ^ Malone, Michael (April 11, 2013). "Sinclair to Acquire Fisher Stations for $373 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ Allison, Melissa (April 11, 2013). "KOMO owner Fisher Communications agrees to sale". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ "Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition". All Access. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
- ^ Stiles, Marc (22 October 2013). "KOMO not commenting on reported layoffs of nearly 20 staff members". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- ^ "More Details On Lotus' Purchase Of Sinclair's Seattle Radio Properties". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
- ^ Venta, Lance (September 28, 2021). "Lotus Closes On Purchase Of Sinclair's Seattle Radio Properties". RadioInsight. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c Lacitis, Erik (January 28, 2022). "So long, 'KOMO Country': KOMO Radio sold, gets new name". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Venta, Lance (January 28, 2022). "A Northwest News Battle Arises In Seattle As KOMO Is Set To Become KNWN". RadioInsight. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- KNWN in the FCC AM station database
- KNWN in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for KJR (covering KOMO 1927–1944, KJR 1944–1980)
- FCC History Cards for KNWN (covering KJR 1927–1944, KOMO 1944–1981)