KTNF

Last updated

KTNF
Broadcast area Minneapolis-St. Paul
Frequency AM 950 kHz
BrandingAM 950 KTNF, The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Programming
Format Progressive talk
Network AP Radio News
Ownership
OwnerJR Broadcasting
History
First air date
May 13, 1958;65 years ago (May 13, 1958)
Former call signs
KJJO (1986-1989)
KZOW (1989-1990)
KJJO (1990-1995)
KSGS (1995-2001)
KDOW (2001)
KCCO (2001-2004)
KSNB (2004)
Technical information
Facility ID 57833
Class B
Power 1,000 watts
Links
Webcast am950radio.com/Listen-Live
Website am950radio.com

KTNF (950 kHz, "AM 950") is a commercial AM radio station licensed to St. Louis Park, Minnesota that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The station brands itself as "The Progressive Voice of Minnesota," and offers a combination of locally produced and nationally syndicated progressive talk programming. It is owned by JR Broadcasting.

Contents

KTNF's studios and transmitter are located on Valley View Road in Eden Prairie. [1] It operates with 1,000 watts around the clock, using a directional antenna, with a two-tower array by day and a three-tower pattern at night.

Syndicated shows heard on KTNF include The Stephanie Miller Show, The Thom Hartmann Program, Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman, The Morning Drive with Santita Jackson and The David Pakman Show . Most hours begin with an update from AP Radio News.

History

On May 13, 1958;65 years ago, the station signed on the air. The original call sign was KRSI. [2] It was owned by Radio Suburbia and its studios were located at 4500 Excelsior Blvd. in St. Louis Park. On July 1, 1962, it started an FM sister station at 104.1 MHz, which is now KZJK. At one point, both stations were owned by Red Owl Stores. In October 1972, the two stations moved to what is now the AM station's current studio and transmitter facility in Eden Prairie.

The 950 AM frequency has been home to many formats. KRSI was one of the first Top-40 stations in the Twin Cities in the late 1950s. While it was owned by Roy H. Park, KRSI carried one of its most popular formats, simulcasting with 104.1 KRSI-FM as Top 40 "All Request Radio," between 1968 and 1972.

Over the years the station has been through many formats, including:

AM 950 simulcast with co-owned 104.1 during a number of periods in its history.

The station was running a combination format of news, sports and business news (as KDOW, KCCO, then KSNB) when it was sold by previous owner CBS Radio in 2004. The company that purchased KTNF was founded by Minnesota attorney Janet Robert and former Minnesota Congressman Bill Luther in November 2003, as a result of their concern about the impact right wing talk radio had in the 2002 elections and inspired by Sydney Blumenthal's book The Rise of the Counter-Establishment: The Conservative Ascent to Political Power. When Air America Radio made its debut on March 31, 2004, WMNN, where the group leased airtime, became one of the new network's original affiliates with Al Franken's show, as well as Democracy Radio's Ed Schultz. Eventually, more syndicated and local shows were added. After the sale of WMNN six months later, the format split to broadcasting on both 740 AM and 1530 AM. In October 2004, 950 AM was purchased, and became the permanent home of "Air America Minnesota".

In the summer of 2004, the station was purchased by Janet Robert, former Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate for the US House of Representatives, to provide a local outlet for syndicated programming from the former Air America Radio network (the station was originally known as "Air America Minnesota").

The station procured some programs from Dial Global, which syndicated The Stephanie Miller Show and The Bill Press Show. Along the way, Air America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reorganizing under new investors. By the time Al Franken launched his Senate campaign in 2007, Air America was KTNF's source for The Thom Hartmann Show and a handful of weekend programs. Air America ceased operations in January 2010.

The station's ownership transitioned in October 2013 to long time employee Chad Larson. Branded as "AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota" the station is the only Progressive Talk Radio station in Minnesota. The station broadcasts national programs including Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Norman Goldman, Amy Goodman, David Pakman and Brad Friedman. Local weekday drive time programming includes the Matt McNeil Show and Native Roots Radio. AM950 receives its funding through paid advertisements and listener donations. [3]

Former Logos

Former KTNF logo and branding (as "Air America Minnesota"). This was used until 2008. AirAmericaMN.png
Former KTNF logo and branding (as "Air America Minnesota"). This was used until 2008.

KTNF2008.JPG

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDWB-FM</span> Radio station in Richfield–Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota

KDWB-FM is an American commercial radio station broadcasting in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, licensed to suburban Richfield. KDWB's radio format is Top 40/CHR. Its transmitter is located in Shoreview, while its studios are in St. Louis Park. The station is owned by iHeartMedia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFXN-FM</span> Sports radio station in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area

KFXN-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, broadcasting a sports talk format. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, and serves the Twin Cities market. KFXN-FM's transmitter is located in the suburb of Shoreview on KMSP-TV's tower. Its effective radiated power is 100,000 watts. The station's main studios are in St. Louis Park.

KZJK is a commercial radio station licensed to St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul radio market. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., and airs an adult hits radio format known as "104.1 Jack FM." Audacy also owns Jack FM stations in Los Angeles and Dallas. KZJK's studios and offices are on Second Avenue South in Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWDC (FM)</span> Alternative rock radio station in Washington, D.C.

WWDC is a commercial FM radio station in Maryland, near Washington, D.C. The station is owned by iHeartMedia through licensee iHM Licenses, LLC, and broadcasts an alternative radio format. Studios and offices are in Rockville, Maryland. WWDC serves as the flagship station for the syndicated radio show Elliot in the Morning and as the local affiliate for Skratch 'N Sniff.

The Stephanie Miller Show is a syndicated progressive talk radio program that discusses politics, current events, and pop culture using a fast-paced, impromptu, comedic style. The three-hour show is hosted by Stephanie Miller and is syndicated by Westwood One. Voice artist Jim Ward formerly co-hosted the show and is a recurring guest. Miller is frequently joined on the air by executive producer Travis Bone and general manager Chris Lavoie. The show debuted on September 7, 2004 and is broadcast live from Los Angeles, California each weekday morning from 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, on Pacifica station, KPFK in LA, and radio stations throughout the U.S., as well as online, and via SiriusXM Progress Channel 127. The show is also video simulcast live on Free Speech TV. Audio of each day's show is also available commercial-free for download from the show's website via the paid subscription Stephcast, which has been available since June 2005. The radio show should not be confused with Miller's short-lived 1995 syndicated TV talk show with the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KEIB</span> Radio station in Los Angeles, California

KEIB is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, California. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station brands itself as The Patriot, and broadcasts a talk radio format. The station's studios are on West Olive Avenue in Burbank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Speech TV</span> Progressive-leaning television network

Free Speech TV (FSTV) is an American progressive news and opinion network. It was launched in 1995 and is owned and operated by Public Communicators Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1974. Distributed principally by Dish Network, DirecTV, and the network's live stream at freespeech.org and on Roku, Free Speech TV has run commercial free since 1995 with support from viewers and foundations. The network claims to "amplify underrepresented voices and those working on the front lines of social, economic and environmental justice," bringing viewers an array of daily news programs, independent documentaries and special events coverage, predominantly from a progressive perspective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDOW</span> American radio station in Palo Alto, California

KDOW is a commercial radio station broadcasting a financial news/talk format. Licensed to Palo Alto, California, United States, the station serves the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The station is owned by the Salem Media Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMBZ-FM</span> Radio station in Kansas City, Kansas

KMBZ-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Kansas City, Kansas. Owned by Audacy, Inc., KMBZ-FM airs a news/talk radio format. Its studios and offices are on Squibb Road in Mission, Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPHX</span> Radio station in Arizona, United States

KPHX is a commercial AM radio station in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Jacob Garcia, through licensee La Hermosa Radio LLC. KPHX carries a Spanish language Christian talk and teaching radio format. It is also heard on FM translator 92.9 K225CT in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPTR (AM)</span> Talk radio station in Seattle

KPTR is a commercial AM radio station in Seattle, Washington. It airs a Conservative talk format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are in the Belltown neighborhood northwest of Downtown Seattle.

KMNQ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities radio market. The station simulcasts the Spanish-language programming of sister station KMNV, playing Regional Mexican music. In October 2021, it began stunting with a variety format, before leaving the air entirely in early 2022. In January 2023, it returned, again simulcasting sister station KMNV. It left the air again the following day.

Progressive talk radio is a talk radio format devoted to expressing left-leaning viewpoints of news and issues as opposed to conservative talk radio. In the United States, the format has included syndicated and independent personalities such as Arnie Arnesen, Michael Brooks, Alan Colmes, Jon Favreau, Al Franken, Brad Friedman, John Fugelsang, Norman Goldman, Amy Goodman, Thom Hartmann, Kyle Kulinski, Jon Lovett, Rachel Maddow, Mike Malloy, Stephanie Miller, Michael Moore, David Pakman, Mike Papantonio, Dan Pfeiffer, Bill Press, Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz, Sam Seder, Hal Sparks, and Tommy Vietor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WXXM</span> Radio station in Sun Prairie–Madison, Wisconsin, United States

WXXM is a commercial radio station licensed to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and serving the Madison metropolitan area. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, and broadcasts an adult hits radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. The station is noted for its runs as an alternative rock station during the 1980s and 1990s and as a progressive talk station in the 2000s and 2010s.

WABQ is a commercial radio station licensed to Painesville, Ohio, currently carrying a gospel music format. Owned by Radio Advantage One, LLC, WABQ serves Lake County and eastern parts of Greater Cleveland, and is a local affiliate for the Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network. WABQ's studios and transmitter tower are located off of One Radio Place on the northeastern end of Painesville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KABQ (AM)</span> Radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico

KABQ is a commercial AM radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and is airing a sports radio format as "Fox Sports 1350". It had been carrying all iHeart podcasts since 2019.

<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">WINQ (AM)</span> Radio station in Brattleboro, Vermont

WINQ is an AM radio station licensed to serve Brattleboro, Vermont. The station is owned by Saga Communications and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC; it operates as part of its Monadnock Broadcasting Group. WINQ simulcasts the country music programming of Keene, New Hampshire, sister station WINQ-FM.

KTRC is a commercial radio station broadcasting a progressive talk radio format. It is licensed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is owned by Hutton Broadcasting, LLC. Its studios and transmitter are located in Santa Fe.

WMDX is a commercial radio station licensed to Columbus, Wisconsin, and serving the Madison metropolitan area radio market. The station is owned by Sage Weil and Michael Crute, through licensee Civic Media, Inc. Crute is the host of "The Devil's Advocates", a syndicated show for which WMDX serves as the flagship station. Branded as "Mad Radio 92.7", WMDX airs a progressive talk radio format. WMDX carries live locally programmed news and talk programming for most of the day originating from studios in the Sunset Village neighborhood of Madison as well the Waukesha studios of sister station WAUK. The station also carriers live syndicated programing from Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann. WMDX also serves as the flagship station of the Civic Media Network, a statewide news network with affiliates across Wisconsin.

References

  1. "KTNF-AM Radio Station Coverage Map". radio-locator.com.
  2. "Broadcasting Yearbooke 1960 page A-177" (PDF).
  3. "AM 950 – The Progressive Voice of Minnesota".

Thom Hartmann

44°52′03″N93°25′15″W / 44.86758°N 93.42072°W / 44.86758; -93.42072