KUHL
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{for|the Lompoc, California, radio station known as KUHL from 2006 to 2009|KTNK}}
{{other uses|Kuhl (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KUHL
| logo =
| city = Santa Maria, California
| country = US
| area = Santa Maria-Lompoc, California
| branding = AM 1440
| frequency = 1440 kHz
| translator = {{Radio Relay|106.3|K292HD|Los Alamos}}
| airdate = {{start date|1947|1|17}} (as KCOY)
| format = Silent
| power = {{ubl|5,000 watts day|1,000 watts night}}
| class = B
| facility_id = 24952
| licensing_authority = FCC
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|34|59|2.00|N|120|27|10.00|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}}}
| callsign_meaning =
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KCOY (1947–1969)|KUHL (1969–2006)|KINF (2006–2009)}}
| former_frequencies = 1400 kHz (1947–1960)
| affiliations = Westwood One
| owner = Knight Broadcasting Inc.
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast = {{TuneIn|KUHL-1440-s35885}}
| website = {{url|http://www.am1440.com}}
}}
KUHL (1440 AM) is a silent commercial radio station that is licensed to Santa Maria, California, and serves the Santa Maria—Lompoc, California area. The station is owned by Knight Broadcasting Inc. and broadcasts a news/talk format.{{cite web |website=Arbitron |url=https://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/station_information.htm |title=Station Information Profile }}
History
The station first signed on January 17, 1947, as KCOY at the 1400 kHz frequency. It was launched by News-Press Publishing Company, owner of KTMS in Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara News-Press.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/40s-OCR-YB/1948-YB/1948-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0088.pdf |title=Directory of Standard Broadcasting Stations of the United States |magazine=Broadcasting/Telecasting 1948 Yearbook Number |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=94 |date=1948 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }} On April 5, 1955, KCOY was sold to Arenze Broadcasters, headed by James H. Ranger, for $34,000.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/55-OCR/1955-04-18-BC-OCR-Page-0109.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting/Telecasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=109 |date=April 18, 1955 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }} It moved to 1440 kHz in 1960.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/BC-1960-05-16-OCR-Page-0127.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=127 |date=May 16, 1960 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/60s-OCR-YB/1961-YB/1961-62-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0213.pdf |title=Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S. |magazine=1961-62 Broadcasting Yearbook |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=B-25 |date=1961 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }} In its early years, KCOY was a full service station, broadcasting a variety of news, sports, and rock music programming.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-07-14-BC.pdf |title=Where three-dollar spots are top rate |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |pages=54–58 |date=July 14, 1969 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}
In April 1969, Ranger bought out his Arenze Broadcasters partners for $250,000, taking full ownership of KCOY.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/69-OCR/1969-04-21-BC-OCR-Page-0058.pdf |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=58 |date=April 21, 1969 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }} The station then changed its call letters to KUHL.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/69-OCR/1969-05-05-BC-OCR-Page-0093.pdf |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=85 |date=May 5, 1969 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }}
In 1986, Ranger sold KUHL and FM sister station KXFM in Santa Maria to Great Electric Communications Inc. for $2.25 million.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-10-06-OCR-Page-0063.pdf |title=Changing Hands |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=63 |date=October 6, 1986 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-02-09-OCR-Page-0088.pdf |title=Changing Hands 1986 |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=88 |date=February 9, 1987 |access-date=July 26, 2018 }} On March 1, 1989, the transmitters for four stations in Santa Maria, including KUHL, were knocked off the air due to acts of vandalism. That evening, the towers fell as guy wires supporting the structures had been cut. Two males, ages 18 and 15, were suspected of inflicting the damage which was estimated to be $100,000.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1989/RR-1989-03-10.pdf |title=Tower-Trashing Teens Terrorize Santa Maria |magazine=Radio & Records |pages=1, 34 |date=March 10, 1989 |access-date=July 27, 2018 }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/89-OCR/BC-1989-03-06-OCR-Page-0086.pdf |title=In Brief |magazine=Broadcasting |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |page=88 |date=March 6, 1989 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }} Great Electric sold KUHL and KXFM in 1991 to Roger Blaemire's Blackhawk Communications Inc. for $1.15 million.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/90s/91/RR-1991-09-06-OCR-Page-0006.pdf |title=Willis Takes Tidewater In $1.23 Million FM Deal |magazine=Radio & Records |page=6 |date=September 6, 1991 |access-date=July 27, 2018 }}
On September 19, 2006, KUHL switched call signs to KINF. Three years later, on January 27, 2009, the station reverted to the KUHL call letters.{{cite web |title=Call Sign History: KUHL |url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=24952&Callsign=KUHL |website=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=October 21, 2024 }} On January 20, 2010, lightning struck the KUHL transmitter, knocking the station off the air temporarily. It was one of 11 stations in the Santa Maria area affected by storm-related power outages and equipment damage.{{cite news |url=https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/week-s-stormy-weather-causes-local-radio-silence/article_2d9a4402-07f5-11df-acd9-001cc4c03286.html |last=Ramos |first=Julian J. |title=Week's stormy weather causes local radio silence |newspaper=Santa Maria Times |date=January 23, 2010 |access-date=July 27, 2018 }}
On May 15, 2024, station owner Sandy Knight announced that KUHL would shut down at the end of the month. The closure is concurrent with the sale of the other two Knight Broadcasting stations, KRAZ and KSYV, to third parties.{{cite news |last1=Chavez |first1=April |title=Longtime Santa Maria talk radio station KUHL 1440 to close |url=https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/longtime-santa-maria-talk-radio-station-kuhl-1440-to-close/article_3b15278e-3332-5768-a732-eea90c14a933.html |access-date=May 16, 2024 |work=Santa Maria Times |date=May 15, 2024 |language=en}}
Translator
{{RadioTranslators
| call1 = K292HD
| freq1 = 106.3
| watts1 = 125 vertical
| class1 = D
| fid1 = 156143
| city1 = Los Alamos, California
| coord1 = {{coord|34|41|27.9|N|120|16|1.5|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|name=K292HD}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website |http://www.am1440.com/ }}
- [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=45044 FCC History Cards for KUHL]
- {{AM station data|24952|KUHL}}
- {{FCC-LMS-Facility|156143|K292HD}}
- {{FXL|K292HD}}
{{Santa Maria-Lompoc Radio}}
{{News/Talk Radio Stations in California}}
Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1947