KRCL

Last updated

KRCL
Broadcast area Salt Lake City metropolitan area
Frequency 90.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding90.9 KRCL
Programming
Format Community radio
Ownership
OwnerListeners Community Radio of Utah
History
First air date
December 3, 1979 (1979-12-03)
Call sign meaning
"LCR" backwards [1]
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 37766
Class C
ERP 25,000 watts
HAAT 1,140 meters (3,740 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 40°39′34″N112°12′5″W / 40.65944°N 112.20139°W / 40.65944; -112.20139
Translator(s)
  • 90.9 KRCL-FM1 (Park City)
  • 96.7 K244EN (Park City)
Links
Public license information
Webcast krcl.org/listen-live/
Website krcl.org

KRCL (90.9 FM) is a listener-supported community radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.

Contents

KRCL is a non-profit organization that airs music and public affairs programming. Music programs are hosted by DJs who choose their own playlist. Many programs feature alternative, indie rock, folk, blues, and world music. Public affairs programming includes locally generated content, as well as nationally syndicated programs such as Pacifica Radio's Democracy Now!

The station began broadcasting in 1979 and was the first station of its kind in the Salt Lake City area.

History

KRCL was conceived in part by Stephen Holbrook, a community activist and member of the Utah State Legislature. Holbrook was concerned that the media in Salt Lake were not adequately serving minority points of view and communities, particularly after a 1965 dispute with radio station KSL. While visiting California, Holbrook was exposed to KPFA, the Pacifica Foundation radio station in Berkeley. He endeavored to start a similarly oriented station in Utah. [1] In 1975, Listeners Community Radio of Utah was formed, bringing together smaller groups that were interested in radio but did not have the resources to pursue their own station. [3]

While it began to air occasional programs on public radio station KUER-FM, [4] Listeners also applied for a license to build its own station on June 27, 1976. [5] One legacy of the dispute with KSL was that its owner, Bonneville International, donated space on the Farnsworth Peak tower used by KSL's FM radio and television stations as well as other equipment; this allowed Holbrook to ensure regional coverage, as he felt it was essential the new outlet be a "Wasatch Front station" rather than a low-wattage, limited-range facility. [6] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a construction permit on April 11, 1978, [5] and plans were initially announced to locate the studios at Westminster College. [7] The college, however, dropped out because of entreaties by utility company Mountain Fuel Supply, which objected to Holbrook's legislative work relating to utilities. [8] The antenna on Farnsworth Peak was erected before the winter of 1978–1979, sitting unused for more than a year. [9]

KRCL began broadcasting on December 3, 1979, [1] from a facility above the Blue Mouse bar downtown and after a $95,000 investment, which included grant money which Robert Redford had helped secure from the Community Services Administration. [10] [11] It initially broadcast for 11 hours on weekdays and longer on weekends. [12] Primarily based on a block programming format where volunteers often played albums from their own record collections on the air, the station also featured specialist programming, including shows for gays and lesbians, Native Americans, Tongan Americans. [13] [14] In the early years, it was nicknamed "Radio Free Utah" [13] and "Lion of Zion". [15] It moved from its original studios to a site at 200 West and 900 North in 1982. [16] Over the course of its history, the emphasis on representing minority communities lessened, particularly with the Hispanic community, as Spanish-language radio came to Utah. [8]

It operated generally on a shoestring, with four full-time paid staffers in 1984 and five in 1999. [17] [18] However, in 2000, it was able to move to its own building at 1973 West North Temple after a multiyear capital campaign. [19] The station remained on North Temple until 2021, when it sold the property to a developer seeking to build low-income housing and moved to a new temporary facility. [20]

In 2008, KRCL replaced its 18 volunteer on-air hosts with three paid DJs in a bid to make its music programming more consistent and encourage listeners who were younger and listened for longer. The suggestion had been made in connection with a "station renewal" grant by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting—which supplied 12 percent of its budget and negotiated its music licensing royalties—as a way to possibly reverse a decline in listenership. [21] [22] The changes were successful in increasing the station's listener base but simultaneously alienated many dismissed DJs, some of whom moved to online stations; news of the shuffle led to protests at the Salt Lake City library. Further, fundraising dropped from 2007 to 2009. [22]

More controversy erupted in 2017 when KRCL's afternoon drive host, "Bad" Brad Wheeler, announced his resignation on air, which led to criticism of general manager Vicki Mann and ultimately to her resignation. [23] [24] She was replaced by Tristin Tabish, a former station employee who had been a listener since growing up in Magna, 20 miles (32 km) from Salt Lake, in the 1980s. [24] [6]

Translator

In addition to the main station, KRCL is relayed by an additional booster and translator to serve Park City, which is blocked from Salt Lake radio signals by terrain. [25]

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) Class FCC info
KRCL-FM190.9 FM Park City, Utah 16523799D LMS
K244EN96.7 FM Park City, Utah 3776499D LMS

From 2007 to 2011, KZCL (90.5 FM) in Logan operated as a higher-power repeater of KRCL for northern Utah. [26] The facility, which had been planned for more than a decade, struggled from engineering issues and the ability to receive a reliable signal of KRCL. It was sold to the University of Utah in 2011 and became KUEU, rebroadcasting KUER-FM; one local booster of the rebroadcast effort apologized in a letter to the editor for representing KRCL. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUEN</span> Educational TV station in Ogden, Utah

KUEN, known as UEN-TV, is an educational television station licensed to Ogden, Utah, United States, serving Salt Lake City and the state of Utah. The station is owned by the Utah Board of Higher Education and part of the Utah Education Network (UEN), which provides connectivity services to the state's K-12 and higher education systems. KUEN's studios are located at the Eccles Broadcast Center on the University of Utah campus; its transmitter is located at Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains, southwest of Salt Lake City, and is extended by dozens of broadcast translators across the state.

KLO-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Coalville, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. It airs a classic alternative radio format, known as "103.1 The Wave," and it is owned by Capital Broadcasting. The station is the radio home for Weber State University sporting events. The radio studios and offices are at the 257 Tower in Downtown Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUUU</span> Radio station in South Jordan–Salt Lake City, Utah

KUUU is a radio station licensed to South Jordan, Utah, serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. Owned by Broadway Media, the station primarily broadcasts a Rhythmic adult contemporary format during the daytime hours, but transitions to a rhythmic contemporary-based playlist during the evening and overnight hours. The station's studios are located in Downtown Salt Lake City and its transmitter site is located southwest of the city on Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains.

KUUB, known as Avanza 88.3, is a public radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, airing Spanish-language radio programming from Radio Bilingüe. It is owned by the University of Utah and originates from the Eccles Broadcast Center on its campus, with a transmitter in the Oquirrh Mountains southwest of West Valley City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUER-FM</span> Public radio station in Salt Lake City

KUER-FM is a public radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Owned by the University of Utah, its studios are located in the Eccles Broadcast Center on the University of Utah campus, while its main transmitter is located on Farnsworth Peak; an extensive transmitter network rebroadcasts its signal across Utah. KUER-FM features programming from NPR and other public radio distributors as well as local news coverage for Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBEE</span> Radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah

KBEE, branded as B98.7, is a commercial radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is one of the oldest FM stations in the Western United States, tracing its history to 1947. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and it airs an adult contemporary radio format. KBEE's studios are located in South Salt Lake. The station is also broadcast on HD radio.

KNKL is a contemporary Christian music radio station in Tremonton, Utah, United States. The station is owned and operated by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) and broadcasts EMF's K-Love programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KODJ</span> Radio station in Salt Lake City

KODJ is a commercial radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah. The station airs a classic hits radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station's studios and offices are located in West Valley City.

KSFI is a radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. KSFI maintains studio facilities located at the KSL Broadcast House building in Salt Lake City's Triad Center, and its transmitter is located on Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains, southwest of Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHTB</span> Radio station in Ogden, Utah

KHTB is a commercial radio station licensed to Provo, Utah, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. It is owned by Cumulus Media and broadcasts a top 40 (CHR) radio format, simulcast with 94.9 KENZ Provo. The radio studios are in South Salt Lake, near the I-15/I-80 interchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSL (AM)</span> Radio station in Utah, United States

KSL is a commercial radio station licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah. KSL and sister station 102.7 KSL-FM simulcast a news-talk radio format. They are owned by Bonneville International, a broadcasting subsidiary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). They and co-owned television station KSL-TV have studios in the Broadcast House building at the Triad Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

KWDZ was a broadcast radio station licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah, serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station was owned and operated by iHeartMedia. The KWDZ broadcast license was held by Citicasters Licenses, Inc.

KNIT is an AM radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is one of the oldest stations in Salt Lake City, established in 1922 as KDYL. The studios are on South Murray Boulevard. KNIT carries a Christian radio format supplied by Your Network of Praise, featuring Christian music and teaching programs. The non-profit organization also has stations in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and North Dakota. The network holds periodic fundraisers on the air to support its ministry. National religious leaders heard on KNIT include David Jeremiah, Joni Eareckson Tada, Chuck Swindoll and Jim Daly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KKAT (AM)</span> Radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah

KKAT is an AM radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. KKAT is licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah and is owned by Cumulus Media. The station's studios are located in South Salt Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDYL (AM)</span> Radio station in South Salt Lake, Utah

KDYL is an AM radio station licensed to South Salt Lake, Utah broadcasting a Spanish Variety format. The station is owned by Eric Palacios, through licensee Radio Activo 3 LLC.

KZNS is an AM commercial radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah. It airs a Sports radio format and is owned by Jazz Communications LLC. Programming is simulcast on co-owned KZNS-FM 97.5, licensed to Coalville, Utah. On weekdays, KZNS-AM-FM have local hosts discussing Salt Lake City and national sports. Nights and weekends, programming is supplied by Fox Sports Radio. KZNS-AM-FM are the flagship radio stations for the Utah Jazz basketball team, the Utah Hockey Club of the NHL, the Salt Lake Bees Minor League Baseball team, Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer, Utah Royals FC of the National Women's Soccer League, and Utah State Aggies football and men's basketball of the Mountain West Conference. When multiple games are occurring simultaneously, the AM and FM signals will air different live sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUMT</span> BYU Radio station in Randolph–Salt Lake City, Utah

KUMT is a radio station licensed to Randolph, Utah, United States, and serving the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station's transmitter is located on Humpy Peak in the Uinta Mountain range. Under the previous calls, KUDD and prior, the stations transmitter was located near Promontory Point, Utah, in Box Elder County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMRI</span> Radio station in West Valley City, Utah

KMRI is an AM radio station that broadcasts a sports format. Licensed to West Valley City, Utah, United States, the station serves the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station is owned by KRGO LLC. KRGO LLC is owned by communications attorney Barry Wood.

KYFO-FM is a radio station in Ogden, Utah, United States. The station serves Ogden and Salt Lake City with Conservative Christian programming from the Bible Broadcasting Network. The primary transmitter site is located west of Ogden; a 7-watt booster for the main signal and a translator at 91.3 FM are located on Ensign Peak, improving reception in Salt Lake City itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNRS (AM)</span> Radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah

KNRS is an AM radio station licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.. KNRS and sister station 105.9 KNRS-FM simulcast a talk radio format. The studios are located in West Valley City and the transmitter site is located off West 2300 North Street in Salt Lake City. KNRS operates with 5,000 watts around the clock, covering most of Northern Utah. Other iHeart stations in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area include KAAZ-FM, KZHT, KJMY, and KODJ.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Arave, Lynn (December 2, 2009). "Radio Dial: KRCL celebrates 30th birthday". Deseret News . Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KRCL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ "W.C. Chosen As Agent For Utah Listener's Community Radio". Parson. Salt Lake City, Utah. October 17, 1975. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "KUER to air Cleaver talk". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. January 19, 1977. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "FCC History Cards for KRCL". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Mann, Court (December 1, 2019). "Utah's KRCL is turning 40, and has some songs to share with you". Deseret News. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Station Receives FCC License". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. April 18, 1978. p. 6C. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Interview with Stephen Holbrook". Oral History of Utah Peace Activists Project. Utah Valley University. October 26, 2006. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Public radio for Utah is one month away, station picks program director" (PDF). The Enterprise. May 6, 1979. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ Laurella, Carl L. (February 22, 1980). "KRCL a new addition to SLC radio market". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Arave, Lynn (November 26, 1999). "KRCL plans birthday bash Thursday at Abravanel Hall". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  12. ↑ Funk, Nancy (December 2, 1979). "Novel S.L. Radio Station, KRCL-FM, Debuts Monday" (PDF). The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022. (Date assumed)
  13. 1 2 Williams, Ben (November 21, 2014). "Steve Holbrook and 35 years of KRCL". QSaltLake. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ Roberts, Bob (July 14, 1993). "KRCL an alternative to mediocre top-40 stations". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "5-Year-Old Community Radio Station: Listeners Pitch In to Keep KRCL on the Air". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. October 10, 1984. p. 24. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Clark, Doug (February 4, 1982). "It's All New At KRCL As Station Expands". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. T-1, T-2. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Paulos, Mark (December 14, 1984). "Community Radio KRCL Maintains Variety". The Forum. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Renzhofer, Martin (December 19, 1999). "KRCL Still Making Waves After 20 Years on the Air". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. E6. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Arave, Lynn (April 20, 2000). "20-year-old KRCL hoping to occupy new home in August: Pledges pass $1 million in station's capital campaign". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ Jaffe, Eugenie (May 21, 2021). "KRCL is Moving!". KRCL. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  21. ↑ McDonough, Ted (January 30, 2008). "Dead Air: KRCL is getting a corporate makeover. Is community radio done for?". Salt Lake City Weekly.
  22. 1 2 Burger, David (November 7, 2009). "KRCL at 30: Bruises and new blood". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  23. ↑ Walden, Eric (June 8, 2017). "'Bad' Brad Wheeler leaves KRCL as some say station has turned too commercial". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  24. 1 2 Walden, Eric (December 15, 2017). "KRCL radio hires beloved former employee as its new general manager — a 'big relief' after a year of drama". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Contact Us". KRCL. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  26. ↑ Falk, Aaron (September 23, 2007). "Valley can finally tune in KRCL radio". Logan Herald-Journal. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  27. ↑ Hansen, Matt (October 2, 2011). "KRCL donors gave money for nothing". Logan Herald-Journal. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
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.