KUJ (AM)

Last updated
KUJ
KUJ 1420AM logo.jpg
Broadcast area Athena, Oregon
Dayton, Washington
Pendleton, Oregon
Frequency 1420 kHz
BrandingKUJ 1420 AM
Programming
Format News/Talk
Ownership
OwnerAlexandra Communications
KNHK-FM
History
First air date
December 3, 1926 (first license granted)
Former call signs
KGEA (1926)
Technical information
Facility ID 35718
Class B
Power 5,000 watts day
900 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
 46°4′2″N118°24′5″W / 46.06722°N 118.40139°W / 46.06722; -118.40139
Translator(s) 98.7 K254DK (Walla Walla)

KUJ (1420 AM) is a radio station licensed to Walla Walla, Washington, United States. The station is currently owned by Alexandra Communications. [1] It features a news/talk format. [2] The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power increase to 10,000 watts during the day.

Contents

History

The station was initially licensed, as KGEA, on December 3, 1926, to the Puget Sound Radio Broadcasting Co. at 5811 Fifth Avenue, Northeast, in Seattle. [3] The original call letters were randomly assigned from an alphabetical roster of available call signs, moreover, the station's call letters were immediately changed to KUJ. [4]

KUJ first went on the air in early 1927. [5] The station subsequently got new owners, and was moved to Longview, Washington in late May 1928. [6] It remained on the air in Longview during 1928 and 1929, and at some point was leased to the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), which began operating the station. [7]

In November 1930, the ownership of KUJ was acquired by a Portland, Oregon broadcaster Paul R. Heitmeyer, who made arrangements to move KUJ from Longview to Walla Walla, although he did not specify when the move would take place. At that time, KUJ operated with a power of 100 watts. [8] Heitmeyer subsequently announced the acquisition of a radio tower and the plan to put KUJ on the air in Walla Walla in mid-January 1931. [9] The new station made its official debut as a Walla Walla station on Saturday January 17, 1931. [10]

During the early 1930s, KUJ broadcast programs that were focused on performers and guest speakers who lived in the Walla Walla area. In addition to musical performances, the station also broadcast educational programs, some religious broadcasts, talent shows, programs aimed at homemakers, local news and sports, and other programs typical of that era. At some time circa 1933, Heitmeyer sold KUJ, [11] although this was not widely announced at the time. It was acquired by Louis Wasmer, who owned KHQ in Spokane. Wasmer divested from the station in June 1934, [12] selling it to H. E. (Herbert) Studebaker, who also co-owned KRLC in Lewiston, Idaho. [13] Under the new ownership, KUJ's programming did not change substantially, and in 1938, it received permission to increase its power from 100 watts to 250 watts. [14] In September 1940, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized the station to move to 1390 kHz, with a power of 1,000 watts. [15]

In March 1941, the FCC, with the implementation of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, moved a number of radio stations to new frequencies, and KUJ was assigned to 1420 kHz. [16]

Herbert E. Studebaker announced that he was selling KUJ in February 1958 to Vernon W. Emmerson, a California businessman who had formerly worked at KUJ during the early 1940s. [17] However, at the last minute, Emmerson seems to have decided not to go forward, and the sale was cancelled. [18] Studebaker continued as KUJ's owner.

In March 1963, KUJ became an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network. The station had not been affiliated with any network previous to this. KUJ was operating with 5,000 watts, and it remained at 1420 on the AM band. [19] In the late 1960s, Studebaker still owned 56% of the station, and was again in the process of seeking new owners. In November 1968, he reached an agreement to sell KUJ to a group led by Laverne (Verne) D. Russell and Barbara L. Russell. Verne Russell was KUJ's assistant manager at that time, and he took over ownership of the station. [20]

In the 1970s, KUJ had a Top-40 music format with such personalities as Jockey John, Wee Willie Winkle, Kent Phillips (now one half of the Kent & Alan team at KPLZ-FM in Seattle), Bobby Dancer, Mason Dixon (a.k.a. Larry Brown), Ivanhoe, Chuck Taylor and C. Hamilton Banks. Conservative radio host Glenn Beck and Bob Larson, now a reporter at KIRO-FM in Seattle, did stints at KUJ. Las Vegas TV personality Dana Wagner also had a stint at KUJ.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Public Broadcasting</span> PBS and NPR member networks in Oregon

Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is the primary television, radio and digital public broadcasting network for most of the U.S. state of Oregon as well as southern Washington. OPB consists of five full-power television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, and over 20 radio stations and frequencies. Broadcasts include local and regional programming as well as television programs from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and American Public Television (APT), and radio programs from National Public Radio (NPR), American Public Media (APM), Public Radio Exchange (PRX), and the BBC World Service, among other distributors. Its headquarters and television studios are located in Portland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQNT</span> Radio station in Spokane, Washington

KQNT is a commercial radio station licensed to Spokane, Washington. It is one of the oldest radio stations in Washington, going on the air in 1922 in Seattle. KQNT offers a news/talk format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on East Sprague Street in Spokane.

KJYR is a non-profit FM radio station licensed to Newport, Washington, and serving the Spokane metropolitan area. The station is owned by the Growing Christian Foundation, and broadcasts a Christian adult contemporary radio format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFIS</span> Radio station in Scappoose, Oregon

KFIS is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Scappoose, Oregon, and serving the Portland metropolitan area. It is owned by the Salem Media Group and airs a Contemporary Christian (CCM) radio format. As with other Salem CCM stations in cities such as Los Angeles and Atlanta, KFIS uses the branding "The Fish", a symbol was often used by the early Christian church.

WHIS is a talk-formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Bluefield, West Virginia, serving Bluefield in West Virginia and Bluefield in Virginia. WHIS is owned and operated by Charles Spencer and Rick Lambert, through licensee First Media Services, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFXX (AM)</span> Radio station in Portland, Oregon

KFXX is a commercial AM radio station in Portland, Oregon. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. and runs a sports radio format. The studios and offices are on SW Bancroft Street in Portland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUJ-FM</span> Radio station in Burbank (Tri-Cities), Washington

KUJ-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Burbank, Washington, and serving the Tri-Cities area. It airs a Top 40 (CHR) radio format. Weeknights it carries the syndicated Tino Cochino Radio Show and on weekends it airs American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest. It is owned by Stephens Media Group, with studios on West 24th Avenue in Kennewick.

WWSZ is a commercial radio station licensed to Decatur, Georgia, and serving the Atlanta metropolitan area. It is owned by JDJ Communications, LLC, and airs a hip hop radio format. The station calls itself "Streetz 94.5, Atlanta's New Hip Hop Station." WWSZ is simulcast on FM translator station 94.5 W233BF in Atlanta, which forms the middle leg of a three-transmitter simulcast of Streetz on 94.5 MHz. The station broadcasts a hip hop music format, with a heavy emphasis on local artists, and is less mainstream than other similar stations in the format such as WHTA and WVEE.

KBKR is a radio station licensed to serve Baker City, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The station is owned by the Pacific Empire Radio Corporation.

KYOZ is a commercial AM radio station in Spokane, Washington, owned by 247 Media Ministries. It airs a worship music radio format, known as "Worship 24/7".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPDQ (AM)</span> Radio station in Portland, Oregon

KPDQ is a commercial AM radio station in Portland, Oregon. It is owned by Salem Media Group and serves the Portland metropolitan area, with a Christian talk and teaching radio format known as "True Talk 800." The studios and offices are on SE Lake Road in Portland. KPDQ is co-owned with KPDQ-FM, also a Christian talk and teaching station. Each station runs its own schedule.

KYZS is a terrestrial radio station licensed to Tyler, Texas, paired with an FM translator, and simulcast with sister station 1240 KDOK Kilgore, serving the Tyler-Longview market with a classic hits format. The station, and translator, are owned by Charles Conrad, through licensee Chalk Hill Communications, LLC.

KZGD is an American radio station licensed to serve Salem, Oregon, United States. The station, founded in 1934 as KSLM, is currently owned by Iglesia Pentecostal Vispera del Fin. KZGD broadcasts a Regional Mexican format.

KTIX is a radio station licensed to serve Pendleton, Oregon, United States. The station, which began broadcasting as KWRC in May 1941, is currently owned by Randolph and Debra McKone's Elkhorn Media Group and the broadcast license is held by EMG2, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWHT</span> Radio station in Pendleton, Oregon

KWHT is a radio station licensed to serve Pendleton, Oregon, United States. The station, which began broadcasting in 1984, is currently owned by Randolph and Debra McKone's Elkhorn Media Group and the broadcast license is held by EMG2, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWVN-FM</span> Radio station in Pendleton, Oregon

KWVN-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Pendleton, Oregon, United States. The station, originally launched in October 1978, is currently owned by Randolph and Debra McKone's Elkhorn Media Group and the broadcast license is held by EMG2, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSHO</span> Radio station in Lebanon, Oregon

KSHO is a radio station licensed to serve Lebanon, Oregon, United States. The station, which began broadcasting in 1951, is currently owned by the Eads Broadcasting Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTHH</span> Radio station in Albany, Oregon

KTHH is a radio station licensed to serve Albany, Oregon, United States. The station, which began broadcasting in 1959, is currently owned by Bicoastal Media and the broadcast license is held by Bicoastal Media Licenses V, LLC.

KQFM is a radio station licensed to serve Hermiston, Oregon, United States. The station, established in 1978, is owned by West End Radio, LLC, which is in turn owned by the Ronald L. Hughes and Gloria Hughes Living Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KISN (Vancouver, Washington)</span> Former radio station in Vancouver, Washington

KISN was an AM radio station licensed to Vancouver, Washington and broadcasting to Portland, Oregon. broadcasting on 910 kHz and licensed for 5,000 watts. The station began broadcasting in 1939 as KVAN, but after it changed formats to Top 40 and became KISN in 1959, KISN became not only the number one rated rock station in the market, but at times the most popular radio station in Portland. In 1976, the FCC revoked KISN's license and others owned by the Star Stations group due to a series of indiscretions involving connections to candidates for the United States Senate in Indiana and Oregon. The KISN call letters have been used several times for oldies radio stations in the Portland area, most recently by KISN-LP, a Low-power broadcasting station that has been on the air since 2014 with a format that recalls the original.

References

  1. ↑ "KUJ Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. ↑ "KUJ Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  3. ↑ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, November 30, 1926, page 3.
  4. ↑ "Alterations and corrections", Radio Service Bulletin, December 31, 1926, page 8.
  5. ↑ Robert Mack, "100 Stations Ordered to Shift to Standard Frequencies", Chicago Daily News, April 13, 1927, p. 41.
  6. ↑ "Longview Gets Station", (Portland) Oregon Journal, May 31, 1928, p. 25.
  7. ↑ "Radio License of Schaeffer Company, Portland, Renewed", (Portland) Oregon Journal, April 16, 1930, p. 30.
  8. ↑ "New Broadcasting Station is Planned for Walla Walla", (Portland) Oregon Journal, November 12, 1930, p. 7.
  9. ↑ "Paul Heitmeyer Acquires Radio Station of His Own", Portland Oregonian, January 11, 1931, section 4, p. 5.
  10. ↑ "KUJ To Open Tonight", Portland Oregonian, January 17, 1931, p. 16.
  11. ↑ Louis A. Skaggs, "Hometown Interview," Ogden (Utah) Standard-Examiner, May 14, 1939, p. 7B
  12. ↑ "KFPY Owner Faces Loss of Station", Spokane Chronicle, June 8, 1934, p. 1.
  13. ↑ "New Radio Station Goes on Air Today", Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune, March 31, 1935, p. 10.
  14. ↑ "Walla Walla Radio Gets Permit for More Power", Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune, June 10, 1938, p. 2.
  15. ↑ "Radio Stations to Swamp Frequencies by Order," Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune, September 26, 1940, p. 4.
  16. ↑ "On the Air", (Portland) Oregon Journal, March 23, 1941, section 3, p. 6.
  17. ↑ "Radio KUJ Sold at Walla Walla", (Pasco, Washington) Tri-City Herald, February 20, 1958, p. 13.
  18. ↑ "Announcement", Walla Walla Union Bulletin, August 24, 1958, p. 29.
  19. ↑ "CBS Radio Acquires Three New Affiliates", Broadcasting, March 11, 1963, p. 47.
  20. ↑ "Ownership Changes", Broadcasting, November 11, 1968, p. 99.
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.