KRDG (AM)
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KRDG
| city = Redding, California | country = US
| frequency = {{Frequency|1330|kHz}}
| format = Contemporary Christian music
| owner = Prather-Breck Broadcasting of California, Inc.
| airdate = {{Start date|1958|6|3}}
| last_airdate = {{End date|1994|11}}
| power = 5,000 watts daytime
| coordinates = {{coord|40|31|27|N|122|22|15|W}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1992/1992-BC-YB.pdf#page=122|page=A-44|title=KRDG(AM)|date=1992|work=Broadcasting Yearbook|via=World Radio History|access-date=2022-02-16|archive-date=2021-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031011943/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1992/1992-BC-YB.pdf#page=122|url-status=live}}
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KPAP (1958–1961)|KAHR (1961–1969)|KCLM (1969–1987)}}
| former_frequencies = 1270 kHz (1958–1961)
}}
KRDG (1330 AM) was a radio station in Redding, California, United States. It was last owned by Prather-Breck Broadcasting of California and broadcast from 1958 to 1994. It broadcast primarily country music over the course of history, though its last format was contemporary Christian music.
History
C.E. Wilson and Philip D. Jackson, doing business as Independent Broadcasters, were granted a construction permit by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 6, 1957, for a new 1,000-watt, daytime-only radio station to serve Redding.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=34580 |title= History Cards for KRDG|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) Wilson sold his interest to his partner before launch, and Jackson built and started KPAP, which began broadcasting June 3, 1958, as the town's fourth radio station, with a format consisting of pop and country music.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95059425/new-redding-radio-station-has-plans-for/|date=June 9, 1958|page=9|title=New Redding radio station has plans for FM programs|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065056/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95059425/new-redding-radio-station-has-plans-for/|url-status=live}} Jackson owned the station scarcely a month before filing to sell it to High Fidelity Stations, Inc., which in turn was granted a move to 1330 kHz and a power increase to 5,000 watts in 1960.{{r|hc}} On February 1, 1961, KPAP changed its call sign to KAHR, continuing with its country format.{{r|hc}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95059813/kpap-changes-name-to-kahr/|date=February 10, 1961|page=3|title=KPAP changes name to KAHR|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065055/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95059813/kpap-changes-name-to-kahr/|url-status=live}} The frequency change was completed on October 10 of that year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95060172/ceremonies-mark-radio-stations-power-ch/|date=October 11, 1961|page=9|title=Ceremonies mark radio station's power change|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065056/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95060172/ceremonies-mark-radio-stations-power/|url-status=live}} On April Fool's Day 1966, KVIP (540 AM) and KAHR engaged in a prank by which the two stations switched signals for the day; lines were run between the two stations to allow them to broadcast each other's programming. Callers flooded both stations' switchboards, one even thinking the stunt was a "John Birch Society plot", as the event led to what KVIP manager Donald Chamberlain termed "mass confusion".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95060734/redding-radio-stations-pull-april-fools/|date=April 2, 1966|page=5|title=Redding radio stations pull April Fools' joke|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216064108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95060734/redding-radio-stations-pull-april/|url-status=live}}
While High Fidelity made a deal to buy an FM station construction permit at 92.9 MHz in 1966,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95060685/redding-radio-station-plans-to-offer-fm/|date=March 31, 1966|page=6|title=Redding radio station plans to offer FM broadcasting|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065056/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95060685/redding-radio-station-plans-to-offer-fm/|url-status=live}} ("92.8" should be "92.9" per mention of "channel 225"){{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061716/commission-oks-scale-of-station/|date=October 29, 1966|page=9|title=Commission OK's scale of station|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065056/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061716/commission-oks-scale-of-station/|url-status=live}} nothing ever came of the purchase. Instead, High Fidelity found itself in bankruptcy, and the buyer caused a series of shuffles in Redding radio. California Northwest Broadcasting Company, the McConnell family and owners of KVIQ-TV in Eureka, had the winning bid of $55,000 in bankruptcy court in February 1968.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061952/station-kahr-is-sold/|date=February 16, 1968|page=1|title=Station KAHR is sold|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216064107/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061952/station-kahr-is-sold/|url-status=live}} McConnell was also a shareholder in Shasta Broadcasting Corporation, which owned KVIP. As McConnell promised to divest himself of KVIP, a series of KVIP staff left that station and came to KAHR to stabilize the financially ailing operation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061206/kvip-staff-replaces-employes-at-kahr/|date=May 17, 1968|page=9|title=KVIP staff replaces employes at KAHR|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216064108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061206/kvip-staff-replaces-employes-at-kahr/|url-status=live}} The station by this time had a full-time country music format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061458/am-programming-offers-variety/|date=August 23, 1968|page=Welcome Edition 49|title=AM programming offers variety|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216064110/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061458/am-programming-offers-variety/|url-status=live}} While KVIP stockholders decided to sell, and the station ultimately was silent for nearly a year before being purchased by a religious group,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95062455/kvip-sound-will-be-added/|date=January 3, 1970|page=4|title=KVIP: sound will be added|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065057/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95062455/kvip-sound-will-be-added/|url-status=live}} KAHR changed to KCLM (for "Carl and Leah McConnell") on February 10, 1969.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061887/kahr-will-die-kclm-will-be-born/|date=February 8, 1969|page=3|title=KAHR will die; KCLM will be born|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065057/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95061887/kahr-will-die-kclm-will-be-born/|url-status=live}}
The McConnells sold KCLM to Colgan Communications Corporation in 1976.{{r|hc}} The owner, John A. Colgan, was a former advertising salesman for The Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95062601/ad-man-takes-over-radio-station-kclm/|date=December 3, 1976|page=6|title=Ad man takes over radio station KCLM|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065057/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95062601/ad-man-takes-over-radio-station-kclm/|url-status=live}} Colgan filed for a construction permit to build an FM station in addition to KCLM,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063237/three-vie-for-redding-fm-nod/|date=March 1, 1977|page=15|title=Three vie for Redding FM nod|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065057/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063237/three-vie-for-redding-fm-nod/|url-status=live}} which ended in a settlement whereby Colgan received a 19 percent stake in KSHA (104.3 FM), which started in 1981.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063352/redding-gets-in-on-fm-explosion/|date=December 26, 1981|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063331/four-radio-stations-planned-for-shasta/ 4]|first=Bill|last=Miller|title=Redding gets in on FM 'explosion'|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065059/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063352/redding-gets-in-on-fm-explosion/|url-status=live}} While a sale agreement was reached that same year to sell the station to Walls and Jones Broadcasting of Tulare,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063405/in-other-business/|date=June 29, 1981|page=17|title=In other business|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065058/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063405/in-other-business/|url-status=live}} no deal was ever concluded, and after John Colgan died at 55 in August 1982,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063490/john-colgan-kclm-owner-dies-at-age-55/|date=August 18, 1982|page=2|title=John Colgan, KCLM owner, dies at age 55|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065059/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063490/john-colgan-kclm-owner-dies-at-age-55/|url-status=live}} the station was left without the promotional budget to compete against other country music stations and in an increasingly FM-oriented market.{{r|Reco840814}}
Larry and Mildred DeBeau, who had previously owned stations in Michigan and Florida, filed in 1984 to acquire KCLM from Colgan's estate for $400,000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063285/kclm-radio-on-the-block-for-400000/|date=August 14, 1984|page=B-6|title=KCLM radio on the block for $400,000|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022}} The DeBeaus installed an "uptempo easy listening" format on the station, relocated it to new studios, and converted it to broadcast C-QUAM stereo, the first in the Redding area.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063618/reddings-kclm-to-offer-new-format/|date=October 30, 1984|page=A-10|title=Redding's KCLM to offer new format|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022}} The call sign was retained, with the station branding as "K-Calm".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063780/the-staff-and-management-of-kclm/|date=November 12, 1984|page=A-5|title=The Staff and Management of KCLM...|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022}} The DeBeaus sold the station after less than a year to Jeffrey Broadcasting—owned by two couples from Walnut Grove—because their son opted to remain a law enforcement official in Florida instead of moving to Redding to run KCLM.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95063856/radio-station-is-being-sold/|date=June 11, 1985|page=B-5|title=Radio station is being sold|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022}}
In January 1987, Prather-Breck Broadcasting, a partnership of two Redding men that owned KEWB (94.7 FM) in Anderson, acquired KCLM from Jeffrey Broadcasting. They replaced the existing easy listening format with oldies and acquired a set of heritage call letters: KRDG, which at 1230 AM had belonged to Redding's heritage Top 40 station in the 1950s and 1960s.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95064269/krdg-radio-is-back-kclm-out/|date=January 20, 1987|page=A-3|title=KRDG radio is back, KCLM out|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022}} In 1989, Prather and Breck sold KEWB to another company but retained KRDG.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95064358/kewb-to-move-gets-new-owner/|date=October 10, 1989|page=A-4|title=KEWB to move, gets new owner|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022}} A year later, the station dropped its oldies format and flipped to contemporary Christian music, taking a feed from KLVR in Santa Rosa.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95064397/krdg-takes-christian-format/|date=July 20, 1990|page=9|title=KRDG takes Christian format|newspaper=Record Searchlight|location=Redding, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216065124/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95064397/krdg-takes-christian-format/|url-status=live}}
In 1991, Prather-Breck filed to sell KRDG to the owner of KLVR, the Educational Media Foundation, for $46,000.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-08-26.pdf|title=Changing Hands|work=Broadcasting|page=53|date=August 26, 1991|access-date=2022-02-16|archive-date=2021-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151249/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-08-26.pdf|url-status=live}} No transaction ever closed, and in July 1996, the license was deleted, with the FCC noting that it had last broadcast in November 1994.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1996-07.pdf|work=M Street Journal|page=7|date=July 3, 1996|title=Washington This Week|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930002027/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1996-07.pdf|url-status=live}}