KDAL (AM)

Last updated
KDAL
KDAL.png
Broadcast area Duluth-Superior
Frequency 610 kHz
Branding610 AM/103.9 FM KDAL
Programming
Format Talk radio
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KDAL-FM, KTCO, WDSM, WDUL, KDKE
History
First air date
November 22, 1936;87 years ago (1936-11-22)
Call sign meaning
Dalton Alexander LeMasurier (founder)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 60230
Class B
Power 5,000 watts
Translator(s) 103.9 W280FB (Duluth)
Links
Public license information
Webcast Listen Live
Website kdal610.com

KDAL (610 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Duluth, Minnesota, serving the Duluth-Superior area of Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. KDAL is owned and operated by Midwest Communications and broadcasts a talk radio format. The radio studios and offices for KDAL, KDAL-FM, KDKE, WDSM, WDUL and KTCO are at 11 East Superior Street, Suite 380, in downtown Duluth.

Contents

By day, KDAL transmits with 5,000 watts non-directional. At night, to protect other stations on 610 AM, KDAL uses a directional antenna. [2] Programming is also heard on 250-watt FM translator W280FB at 103.9 MHz.

Programming

Weekdays begin with Dave Stranberg and the KDAL Morning Show, featuring news, sports, weather, school closings and local information. Bruce Ciskie hosts a late morning sports show and Bob Sansevere is heard in afternoons. The rest of the weekday schedule comes from nationally syndicated talk shows including The Ramsey Show with Dave Ramsey, Markley, VanCamp and Robbins, Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb , Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis, This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory .

Weekends feature shows on health, money, religion, technology, travel, cars and home repair, with a polka music show on Saturday mornings. Weekend syndicated shows include Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy , Somewhere in Time with Art Bell and World Travel Connection with Rudy Maxa . KDAL broadcasts Minnesota Twins baseball and University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs college football and basketball. Most hours begin with world and national news from CBS Radio News. Local news and weather is supplied by KBJR-TV.

History

KDAL signed on the air as a 100-watt station at 1500 kHz on November 22, 1936. The KDAL call sign came from the station's founder, Dalton A. LeMasurier, who was president and general manager of KDAL for many years. On September 5, 1937, power increased to 250 watts and the station joined the CBS Radio Network. KDAL broadcast CBS's dramas, comedies, news, sports, soap operas, game shows and big band broadcasts during the "Golden Age of Radio". With the enactment of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), the station moved to 1490 kHz in early 1941. [3]

KDAL switched frequencies to the current 610 kHz on October 24, 1941, increasing power to 1,000 watts. The switchover was dramatically made from a plane flying over the city. In 1947, a new transmitter and tower were constructed at 63rd Avenue West along the harborfront. The facilities remain to this day. KDAL got another power increase again to 5,000 watts on August 7, 1947. [4] A new transmitter and tower were constructed for the boost in wattage. This enabled KDAL to serve a wider area. The event was celebrated with a "Kilowatt Karnival" in the Duluth Armory.

In the 1948-1949 season, CBS raided NBC and grabbed some of their biggest stars. Radio's highest rated program, "The Jack Benny Program", moved to CBS and KDAL in January, 1949. "Amos 'n' Andy", "George Burns & Gracie Allen", "Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy" and Bing Crosby also made the switch. CBS was suddenly the number one network and KDAL finally made some headway against NBC's WEBC.

KDAL made the jump to television as KDAL-TV (now KDLH) in 1953. FM station KDAL-FM went on the air in 1985.

Network programming moved from radio to television in the 1950s. KDAL featured a full service, middle of the road (MOR) format of popular music, news and sports in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s, the music was updated to adult contemporary. By the late 1990s, the music shows were eliminated and the station became a full time talk outlet.

Logo prior to FM translator. 610 KDAL.jpeg
Logo prior to FM translator.

In the beginning of the 2000s, Midwest acquired KDAL AM/FM, KRBR-FM, WDSM, KTCO and KXTP in the Duluth/Superior market. KDAL would gain an additional sister station in the form of KQDS-FM in 2016, acquired by Midwest from Red Rock Radio.

In 2022, Midwest Communications merged the news-talk programming of sister station WDSM into KDAL. [5] Simultaneously, WDUL's sports-talk format was moved to WDSM. AM 710 is now branded as The Game with most programming originating from WRNW in Milwaukee. The 98.1 translator from WDSM moved to WDUL, which now airs a contemporary hit radio format as Hot 98.1. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDSE-FM</span> Radio station in Duluth, Minnesota

WDSE-FM is a 95,000-watt public radio station in Duluth, Minnesota, operated by the Duluth–Superior Area Educational Television Corporation, which primarily carries an adult alternative radio format but also has a number of programs focusing on jazz, blues, and other genres. It is part of Minnesota's Independent Public Radio network. Programming from national sources includes World Cafe and American Routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCCO (AM)</span> Radio station in Minneapolis, Minnesota

WCCO is a commercial AM radio station located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and owned by Audacy, Inc. Its studios and offices are located on Second Avenue South in Downtown Minneapolis. WCCO features a news/talk format, with frequent newscasts and sports programming. Local hosts are heard most hours of the day and evening, including Chad Hartman, Vineeta Sawkar, Paul Douglas, Jordana Green and Adam Carter, Jason DeRusha, and Henry Lake. Overnight, two syndicated shows are carried: Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb and America in the Morning with John Trout. World and national news is supplied by CBS News Radio. WCCO is the flagship radio station for the Minnesota Twins baseball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEBC</span> Radio station in Duluth, Minnesota

WEBC is a commercial AM radio station in Duluth, Minnesota, and serving the Duluth-Superior radio market. It is owned by Townsquare Media and it airs a sports radio format branded as "Northland Fan". The studios and offices are on West Superior Street.

KCMO is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kansas City, Missouri. Owned by Cumulus Media, the station airs a talk radio format. The studios and offices are on Indian Creek Parkway in Overland Park, Kansas. KCMO is also heard on KCHZ in Ottawa, Kansas, FM translator K279BI (103.7) in Kansas City, Missouri, and on the second HD Radio channel of co-owned KCFX (101.1) in Harrisonville, Missouri.

WDSM is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Superior, Wisconsin, serving the Duluth-Superior area of Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. WDSM is owned and operated by Midwest Communications and broadcasts a sports radio format. The radio studios and offices for WDSM, KDAL, KDAL-FM, KDKE, WDUL and KTCO are at 11 East Superior Street, Suite 380, in downtown Duluth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDUL</span> Radio station in Superior, Wisconsin

WDUL is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Superior, Wisconsin. It airs a top 40 (CHR) radio format and is owned and operated by Midwest Communications. Midwest's six Duluth-Superior radio stations share studios at 11 East Superior Street in downtown Duluth, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwest Communications</span> American radio broadcasting company

Midwest Communications, Inc. is a Wausau, Wisconsin–based radio broadcasting company. It owns 82 radio stations located primarily within the Midwest United States, in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Illinois and Wisconsin. The company is a family-owned business and is headed by the Wright family.

WTAR is a commercial radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads radio market. WTAR is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc. It broadcasts an adult album alternative format as "96.5 The Coast". WTAR's studios and offices are on Waterside Drive in Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KIKK</span> Radio station in Pasadena, Texas, United States

KIKK is a daytime-only station, licensed to Pasadena, Texas, which broadcasts a sports gambling format under ownership of Audacy, Inc. Its studios are located in the Greenway Plaza district of Houston, and its transmitter is located in Pasadena. While it only broadcasts during daytime hours at 250 watts, KIKK's low frequency gives the station a large coverage area, stretching from Flatonia, Texas to the west, and past Lake Charles, Louisiana to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDAL-FM</span> Radio station in Duluth, Minnesota

KDAL-FM is an American radio station in Duluth, Minnesota, airing an adult contemporary format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDRC (AM)</span> News/talk radio station in Hartford, Connecticut

WDRC is a commercial AM radio station in Hartford, Connecticut. It is owned by Full Power Radio and airs a conservative talk radio format. The studios and transmitter site are located on Blue Hill Avenue in Bloomfield, Connecticut, with other radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGAN</span> News/talk radio station in Portland, Maine

WGAN is an commercial radio station licensed to Portland, Maine. The station is owned by Saga Communications and it airs a news/talk radio format. The station calls itself "Newsradio WGAN AM 560 and FM 98.5" The studios and offices are on Western Avenue in South Portland, Maine.

KTCO is a radio station in Duluth, Minnesota, airing a country music format. KTCO is owned by Midwest Communications, which also owns KDKE, WDSM, WDUL, KDAL, and KDAL-FM in Duluth. All the Duluth stations share the same studio location at 11 East Superior St. Suite 380, downtown Duluth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPEK</span> Radio station in Fairview, North Carolina

WPEK is a commercial AM daytimer radio station, known as "ESPN Asheville." It is licensed to Fairview, North Carolina and serves the Asheville metropolitan area. The station airs an all-sports radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Most programming comes from ESPN Radio. WPEK is largely simulcast on WMXF in Waynesville, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXTG (AM)</span> Radio station in Hampton, Virginia

WXTG is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Hampton, Virginia, and serving Hampton Roads, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Virginia Beach. WXTG is owned and operated by Terry Suggs, through licensee TL Broadcasting LLC. It carries a classic soul and urban oldies radio format.

WFAS is a commercial digital-only radio station licensed to serve White Plains, New York. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts with 1,000 watts from its transmitter site on Secor Road, in Hartsdale, New York. WFAS airs a conservative talk radio format with programming from Westwood One, which is itself owned by Cumulus Media. News updates are supplied by USA Radio News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWBA</span> Radio station in Largo, Florida

WWBA is a commercial AM radio station that airs a hot talk and sports radio format. Licensed to Largo, Florida, it serves the Tampa Bay area. The station is currently owned by Genesis Communications of Tampa Bay, LLC, and is operated by NIA Broadcasting under a local marketing agreement (LMA). Middays, nights and weekends, the station carries the Infinity Sports Network. Weekday mornings and for an hour in the afternoon, it runs the syndicated and Florida-based "Bubba The Love Sponge Show."

KONA is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, Washington, and serving the Tri-Cities region in Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla Counties. It broadcasts a news/talk format with farm reports, weather and sports. It is owned by Townsquare Media, through subsidiary Townsquare License, LLC, and calls itself "News Radio 610 KONA."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSDV</span> Radio station in Sarasota, Florida

WSDV is a commercial radio station licensed to Sarasota, Florida, and broadcasting to the Sarasota - Bradenton radio market. The station airs a hot adult contemporary format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHEY (AM)</span> Radio station in El Paso, Texas

KHEY is a Fox Sports Radio AM affiliate in the El Paso, Texas, United States, area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station is licensed to broadcast in HD radio, but does not currently broadcast in HD.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KDAL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KDAL
  3. ↑ Information from Broadcasting Yearbook 1941 page 132
  4. ↑ "KDAL (610 kc) to Boost Power to 5 kw on Aug. 1" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 21, 1947. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  5. ↑ https://radioinsight.com/headlines/219682/midwest-shuffles-am-programming-in-duluth/ [ bare URL ]
  6. ↑ https://radioinsight.com/headlines/224482/its-getting-hot-in-duluth/ [ bare URL ]

46°43′14″N92°10′36″W / 46.72056°N 92.17667°W / 46.72056; -92.17667

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.