KLTH#KQIV
{{Short description|Radio station in Lake Oswego–Portland, Oregon}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KLTH
| logo = File:KLTH 106.7TheEagle logo.png
| city = Lake Oswego, Oregon
| area = Portland, Oregon
| branding = 106.7 The Eagle
| frequency = 106.7 MHz {{HD Radio}}
| airdate = September 15, 1972 (as KQIV)
| format = Classic hits
| subchannels = HD2: KEX simulcast (news/talk)
| erp = 100,000 watts
| haat = {{Convert|502|meters|ft}}
| class = C
| licensing_authority = FCC
| facility_id = 4115
| coordinates = {{coord|45|30|58|N|122|43|59|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| callsign_meaning = "K-Lite" (former branding)
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KQIV (1972–1977)|KMJK (1977–1991)|KMXI (1991–1993)|KKBK (1993–1994)|KKJZ (1994–2002)}}
| owner = iHeartMedia, Inc.
| affiliations = {{ubl|Premiere Networks|KATU-TV (weather)}}
| licensee = iHM Licenses, LLC
| sister_stations = KEX, KFBW, KKCW, KKRZ, KPOJ, KXJM
| webcast = [http://www.iheart.com/live/1067-the-eagle-4315/ Listen Live]
| website = [http://1067theeagle.iheart.com 1067theeagle.iheart.com]
}}
KLTH (106.7 MHz "The Eagle") is a commercial FM radio station, licensed to Lake Oswego, Oregon, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a classic hits radio format. Specialty programs on KLTH include Casey Kasem's "American Top 40: The 70s" on Saturday mornings and "American Top 40: The 80s" on Sunday mornings. Sundays also feature "Yacht Rock".
KLTH's studios and offices are located on SW 68th Parkway in Tigard, Oregon.{{cite web|url=https://1067theeagle.iheart.com/contact|title=Contact|work=1067theeagle.iheart.com|access-date=February 13, 2024}} The transmitter is located on SW Barnes Road in the Tualatin Mountains.{{cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?sr=Y&s=C&call=Klth&nav=&x=0&y=0|title=KLTH-FM 106.7 MHz - Lake Oswego, OR|website=radio-locator.com}} KLTH covers much of Northwestern Oregon and Southwestern Washington.
History
=KQIV=
The station signed on for the first time at 10:15 p.m. on September 15, 1972, as KQIV.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1973/B%202%20YB%201973.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1973 page B-164] It was a short-lived but popular progressive rock station. KQIV was owned and operated by Willamette Broadcasting Company, Inc., with Walter J. M. Kraus serving as president. The station also called itself "KQ4" and "FM 107".
The original KQIV offices and studios were located at the Lake Oswego Elks Lodge (#2263). Members of this historically conservative organization frequently crossed paths with the station's hippie disc jockeys and creative staff.
The KQIV transmitter was located between Oregon City and Carver. An American Electronic Laboratories (AEL) FM-25KD transmitter fed 24,000 watts into a Jampro JSCP eight element antenna yielding an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts. The antenna was mounted on a 200-foot tower based at an elevation of 800 feet in height above average terrain (HAAT).
Both the "Q" and "IV" in the station's call sign alluded to four-channel quadraphonic sound. KQIV was reported in the local press to be the second quadraphonic radio station in the world.{{cite news
| url = http://kqiv.apollohosting.com/KQIV/Oregon-Journal-15-Sep-1972.jpg
| title = New-Style Station Airs From Oswego
| author = LaNita Anderson
| work = Oregon Journal
| date = September 15, 1972
| access-date = March 24, 2008
}} and the first to be designed and built to be quadraphonic,{{cite news
| url = http://kqiv.apollohosting.com/KQIV/jeffnfaith.jpg
| title = First In The Nation—New Station Not After 'Kicksy' Crowd
| date = November 24, 1972
| work = Enterprise Courier
| access-date = March 24, 2008
}} But those reports were based on erroneous information. KQIV established its quadraphonic identity and "Rockin' in Quad" branding in anticipation of being selected as the exclusive FM station in the Portland radio market to field test the Dorren Quadraplex System, invented by audio engineer Louis Dorren. About a month before KQIV went on the air, the FCC suspended further testing of Quadraplex due to a concern that the system used a subcarrier component not permitted under its regulations.{{cite web|url=https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-302314A1.pdf |title=Public documents |publisher=apps.fcc.gov |access-date=January 25, 2020}}
KQIV continued to identify itself as a quadraphonic station in the hope that Quadraplex testing eventually would be permitted. Meanwhile, the station broadcast music from phonograph records encoded in various quadraphonic matrix formats.
In 1974, operation of KQIV was turned over to Brotherhood Broadcasting Company, with Roy Jay as president. Brotherhood changed the station's music format to urban contemporary, branded as "Soul 107". In 1975, the KQIV offices and studios were moved to Milwaukie. But the station's ratings failed to improve. Ongoing financial difficulties led to the court-ordered liquidation of KQIV, which went off the air on June 18, 1976.{{cite news
| url = http://kqiv.apollohosting.com/KQIV/goingdark.jpg
| title = KQIV-FM goes off air Friday
| author = Francis Murphy
| work = The Oregonian
| date = June 18, 1976
| access-date = March 24, 2008
}}
=KMJK=
KQIV remained silent for nearly 14 months. On August 1, 1977, Communico Northwest Corp. began operating the station, using the same license as KQIV. The call sign switched to KMJK, using the moniker "Magic 107" and playing soft rock.{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-august-archive-edition/|title=Topic: This Day in Portland Radio History (August) (Archive Edition) | Feedback.pdxradio.com}} The offices and studios moved to "Magic Manor" in Lake Oswego and the transmitter was relocated to Portland.{{cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=73087|title=FCC History Cards: KQIV/KMJK|date=1980|access-date=July 1, 2017|author=Federal Communications Commission}}
On June 29, 1979, KMJK changed its format to Top 40, but still called "Magic 107". The contemporary hit format failed to catch on, and in July 1981, KMJK changed back to soft adult contemporary music, still using the "Magic 107" moniker. In August 1982, KMJK switched back to Top 40, while retaining the "Magic 107" name. On April 13, 1987, at 6 a.m., after a 12-hour stunt, KMJK changed its format to classic hits, now calling itself "Classic Hits 106.7".{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-april-5/|title=Topic: THIS DAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY (APRIL) | Feedback.pdxradio.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CVdIzWLNis |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/3CVdIzWLNis |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |url-status=live|title=KMJK Portland Radio Station 80s Commercial (1988)|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}} On September 1, 1989, KMJK shifted its format to classic rock, calling itself "Classic Rock 106.7".{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-september-archive-edition/|title=Topic: This Day in Portland Radio History (September) (Archive Edition) | Feedback.pdxradio.com}} On February 19, 1990, KMJK changed to hot adult contemporary as "106.7 Magic FM".{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-february-5/page/2/|title=Topic: THIS DAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY (FEBRUARY) | Feedback.pdxradio.com | Page 2}}
=KMXI, KKBK and KKJZ=
On January 25, 1991, the station rebranded and changed call letters to "Mix 106" KMXI, while continuing its hot AC format.{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-january-5/page/2/|title=Topic: THIS DAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY (JANUARY) | Feedback.pdxradio.com | Page 2}} On December 30, 1991, KMXI changed its format to oldies as "Oldies 106.7".{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-december-4/page/3/|title=Topic: THIS DAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY (DECEMBER) | Feedback.pdxradio.com | Page 3}}
In 1993, KMXI was bought by BayCom Partners for $2.6 million.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1994/B-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1994-B&W.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1994 page B-B-304] On July 7, 1993, 106.7 flipped to classical music as "K-Bach" KKBK.{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-july-archive-edition/|title=Topic: This Day in Portland Radio History (JULY) (Archive Edition) | Feedback.pdxradio.com}} While the format was popular with mostly older listeners, the station struggled to attract advertisers.
In less than a year, management decided to try a different unique format that was catching on in many cities, smooth jazz. On March 17, 1994, the station became KKJZ, and rebranded as "Smooth Jazz 106.7".{{cite web|url=https://feedback.pdxradio.com/forums/topic/this-day-in-portland-radio-history-march-5/page/2/|title=Topic: THIS DAY IN PORTLAND RADIO HISTORY (MARCH) | Feedback.pdxradio.com | Page 2}}
=KLTH=
In 1998, KKJZ was acquired by Infinity Broadcasting, which later was merged into CBS Radio.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1999/D-Radio-NE-Ter-BC-YB-1999..pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook page D-364] On February 1, 2002, CBS changed the station's call sign to KLTH, and flipped back to soft AC as "Lite Rock 106.7, K-Lite".{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2002/RR-2002-02-08.pdf |title=R and R |publisher=American Radio History |date=2002 |access-date=January 25, 2020}}
On January 9, 2006, KLTH changed its format to 1960s and 1970s oldies as "106.7 K-Hits".{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2006/RR-2006-01-13.pdf |title=R and R |publisher=American Radio History|date=2006 |access-date=January 25, 2020}} Over time, KLTH expanded its scope to cover the 1980s as well. Its competition was adult hits KYCH, which was previously KKSN, Portland's outlet for the oldies format prior to KLTH's debut. The debut of “K-Hits” was quite successful, capitalizing on the oldies/classic hits vacuum left by KKSN. Programmed by Dennis Constantine and Creative Imaging by John Hugill, K-Hits was a top 3 contender until KQOL changed to classic hits and competed directly.
On April 1, 2009, CBS Radio sold KLTH to Clear Channel Communications along with KXJM. The sale made KLTH and KQOL sister stations. Both co-existed until May 6, 2009, when KQOL flipped to classic rock as KFBW. Previous KQOL listeners were redirected to KLTH, which aired the message "Welcome 105.9 listeners." Weekend specialty programs on KLTH included "Saturday Night Fever", a weekly classic disco show.
Shortly after the move, on August 17, 2009, the name was changed to "Oldies 106.7" with a logo identical to CBS Radio's WODS in Boston. This was later replaced by a more modern logo. In the May 2011 Arbitron PPMs, KLTH became the number one station in the Portland area radio rankings, overtaking the market's usual top station, co-owned KKCW, which plays adult contemporary music.[http://www.radio-info.com/markets/portland Portland Arbitrons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902234959/http://www.radio-info.com/markets/portland |date=September 2, 2011 }} from Radio-Info
On August 1, 2014, at 5 p.m., KLTH shifted its format to classic hits and rebranded as "106.7 The Eagle".{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/89623/portland-gains-an-eagle/|title=Portland Gains An Eagle|date=August 2, 2014}} Most listeners did not notice much of a change, since KLTH had already been cutting back 1960s titles and focusing mostly on the 70s and 80s hits.
KLTH-HD2
In 2010, KLTH began broadcasting in the HD Radio format. On June 4, 2010, KLTH-HD2 signed on a 1950s-1960s oldies format branded as "Real Oldies".{{cite web|url=https://www.pdxradio.com/fm.htm|title=FM Radio - Portland Radio Guide|website=www.pdxradio.com}} On April 17, 2015, KLTH-HD2 switched to iHeartMedia's "My 60s" format, featuring the hits of the 1960s (now known as "iHeart '60s").
KLTH-HD3
In December 2018 KLTH began airing "The Breeze" soft adult contemporary format on its HD3 subchannel. It has since been removed.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.rockininquad.com KQ4 Rockin' in Quad]: Former KQIV engineer and others document the history of KQIV
- [http://1067theeagle.iheart.com 106.7 The Eagle website]
{{FM station data|4115|KLTH}}
{{Portland, Oregon Radio}}
{{IHeartMedia}}
Category:Classic hits radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1972
Category:1972 establishments in Oregon