KKAA
Encyclopedia
KKAA is a radio station
licensed to serve Aberdeen, South Dakota
. The station is owned by Family Stations, Inc. It airs a Christian radio
format.
The station was assigned the KKAA call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
.
, but the radio station was listenable in Moscow, Russia because of the highly directional signal that pointed almost due north at roughly 350 degrees on the compass.
Extensive testing and measuring went into the fine-tuning of the 6 tower, directional antenna
array. The original equipment included a custom built antenna phasor built to specs provided by the Harold Munn Radio consulting group, and the original transmitter was a 5,000 watt, Continental, phase-modulated, solid-state, state of the art master-piece. The transmitter put out so much heat that it was used to heat the building in the winter time.
By summer's end ,(1974), the field measurements were done and the F.C.C. signed off for permission to begin normal broadcasting. The first words heard on KKAA after the station I.D. were by president Gerald Ford
welcoming KKAA to the airwaves. The first song played was "Easy Lovin'" by Freddy Hart, followed by "Stand by your man" by Tammy Wynette
.
The on-air format was modern country music and the station operated 24 hours a day. The staff was from all around the country and the average age was 24 years of age. The line-up included: David Laustsen, general manager; Jean Laustsen, operations manager; Bard Kallestad, chief engineer & D.J.; Telford Toffelmire, program director,& D.J.; Chuck Timanus, news director; Ray Smith, farm director; Bob Matsen, sales director; Jay Jackson, D.J. (morning man); Jeff James, D.J. (drive-time); Jefferson Red (Merle Valness), D.J.(evenings); Lovely-Liz (Elizabeth Epstein), D.J.(grave-yard shift).
Under the mantle of Sunset Broadcasting, the owner of the F.C.C. license was Dakota North Plains Corporation, who owned and operated the Dakota Farmer magazine and other businesses. Local acceptance of the new radio station was overwhelming and commercial sales were very successful. In fact, the price of advertising tripled in just over 1 year's time. Within 3 years, the general manager was elected to the South Dakota state legislature and most of the original crew were moving on to other opportunities. One of the people who moved on, was Aberdeen's own Jerry Oster, who migrated to WNAX, where he has held almost every job at the station and is now the news director.
In June 1997, Roberts Radio of Pleasantville, New York
, made a deal to acquire KSDN and KSDN-FM to accompany its previous still-pending deal to purchase of KKAA and KQAA-FM. The KKAA/KQAA deal was finalized on July 1, 1997. At the time, KKAA broadcast a Country music
format and a spokesman for Robert Radio stated they intended to maintain this programming.
In June 2000, Clear Channel purchased Roberts Radio in a deal valued at a reported $65.9 million. Aberdeen radio stations KKAA (1560 AM), KQAA (94.9 FM), KSDN (930 AM), KSDN (94.1 FM) and KBFO (106.7 FM) were part of that deal.
In May 2001, the station added "News and Views with Ed Schultz," a current affairs talk show based at KFGO in Fargo, North Dakota
, to its weekday lineup.
Show", moved over from KSDN. Local morning talk show "Aberdeen Today" was expanded from one to two hours, renamed "Talk of the Town," and moved from KSDN to KKAA. "Tradio
," a locally popular show during which listeners call in to buy and sell goods, remained on the Saturday morning schedule. Syndicated commentator Paul Harvey
also shifted from KSDN to KKAA. Before the shakeup there was a mix of news, sports, music, and talk shows on each station. KKAA became almost exclusively a news
/talk
station.
After the format change, the KKAA schedule as of October 2002 was "Coast to Coast AM
" with Art Bell
from midnight to 5 a.m., business news show "The Wall Street Journal This Morning," at 5 a.m., current events show "America in the Morning" at 6 a.m., Red River Farm Network news show "Country Morning" at 6:30 a.m., local talk show "Talk of the Town" at 7 a.m., "News and Views" with Fargo-based host Ed Schultz at 9 a.m., and local news show "KSDN Midday Report" at 11:30 a.m. This program included the Paul Harvey
news and commentary. Afternoon programming began at 1 p.m. with "The Rush Limbaugh Show", continued at 4 p.m. with consumer advocacy
show "Troubleshooter Tom Martino," and wrapped up at 6 p.m. with financial advice guru Bruce Williams. Satirical current events host Phil Hendrie
completed the night from 9 p.m. to midnight.
. In November 2004, Aberdeen Radio Ranch reached separate agreements to sell KQAA-FM to the Educational Media Foundation
, and KKAA (1560 AM) and KQKD (1380 AM) to Family Stations, Inc.
KKAA broadcasting Family Radio Ministry programs is preparing Aberdeen for the Rapture
on May 21, 2011 http://www.familyradio.com/index2.html , with the world ending on October 21, 2011. http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/almost_ch03.html#06
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to serve Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper...
. The station is owned by Family Stations, Inc. It airs a Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
format.
The station was assigned the KKAA call letters by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
Country music
The construction of KKAA occurred 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Aberdeen during the summer of 1974. Located just 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the city next to the waste treatment plant, the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²), antenna farm's ground conductivity was excellent for an A.M radio station. The Aberdeen area is basically a flood plain, soil like this allows for excellent radio wave propagation by having an excellent ground plane. At night, you might not be able to hear it in Ipswich, South DakotaIpswich, South Dakota
Ipswich is a city in Edmunds County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 954 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Edmunds County.-Geography:Ipswich is located at ....
, but the radio station was listenable in Moscow, Russia because of the highly directional signal that pointed almost due north at roughly 350 degrees on the compass.
Extensive testing and measuring went into the fine-tuning of the 6 tower, directional antenna
Directional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions allowing for increased performance on transmit and receive and reduced interference from unwanted sources....
array. The original equipment included a custom built antenna phasor built to specs provided by the Harold Munn Radio consulting group, and the original transmitter was a 5,000 watt, Continental, phase-modulated, solid-state, state of the art master-piece. The transmitter put out so much heat that it was used to heat the building in the winter time.
By summer's end ,(1974), the field measurements were done and the F.C.C. signed off for permission to begin normal broadcasting. The first words heard on KKAA after the station I.D. were by president Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
welcoming KKAA to the airwaves. The first song played was "Easy Lovin'" by Freddy Hart, followed by "Stand by your man" by Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
.
The on-air format was modern country music and the station operated 24 hours a day. The staff was from all around the country and the average age was 24 years of age. The line-up included: David Laustsen, general manager; Jean Laustsen, operations manager; Bard Kallestad, chief engineer & D.J.; Telford Toffelmire, program director,& D.J.; Chuck Timanus, news director; Ray Smith, farm director; Bob Matsen, sales director; Jay Jackson, D.J. (morning man); Jeff James, D.J. (drive-time); Jefferson Red (Merle Valness), D.J.(evenings); Lovely-Liz (Elizabeth Epstein), D.J.(grave-yard shift).
Under the mantle of Sunset Broadcasting, the owner of the F.C.C. license was Dakota North Plains Corporation, who owned and operated the Dakota Farmer magazine and other businesses. Local acceptance of the new radio station was overwhelming and commercial sales were very successful. In fact, the price of advertising tripled in just over 1 year's time. Within 3 years, the general manager was elected to the South Dakota state legislature and most of the original crew were moving on to other opportunities. One of the people who moved on, was Aberdeen's own Jerry Oster, who migrated to WNAX, where he has held almost every job at the station and is now the news director.
In June 1997, Roberts Radio of Pleasantville, New York
Pleasantville, New York
Pleasantville is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 7,019 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Pleasantville is home to a campus of Pace University and to the Jacob Burns Film Center...
, made a deal to acquire KSDN and KSDN-FM to accompany its previous still-pending deal to purchase of KKAA and KQAA-FM. The KKAA/KQAA deal was finalized on July 1, 1997. At the time, KKAA broadcast a Country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format and a spokesman for Robert Radio stated they intended to maintain this programming.
In June 2000, Clear Channel purchased Roberts Radio in a deal valued at a reported $65.9 million. Aberdeen radio stations KKAA (1560 AM), KQAA (94.9 FM), KSDN (930 AM), KSDN (94.1 FM) and KBFO (106.7 FM) were part of that deal.
In May 2001, the station added "News and Views with Ed Schultz," a current affairs talk show based at KFGO in Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, to its weekday lineup.
News/Talk
In early October 2002, Clear Channel juggled the lineups of KKAA and KSDN to give KKAA a current events talk focus and KSDN a sports talk focus. KKAA shifted from a full-service format mixing country music, agriculture news, and some talk programming to a news and information talk station. On KKAA, Dr. Laura Schlessinger's afternoon advice show was replaced by "The Rush LimbaughRush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
Show", moved over from KSDN. Local morning talk show "Aberdeen Today" was expanded from one to two hours, renamed "Talk of the Town," and moved from KSDN to KKAA. "Tradio
Tradio
Tradio is the name given to a type of talk radio show format where listeners call in to buy or sell items. The concept of is analogous to classified ads in local newspapers....
," a locally popular show during which listeners call in to buy and sell goods, remained on the Saturday morning schedule. Syndicated commentator Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
also shifted from KSDN to KKAA. Before the shakeup there was a mix of news, sports, music, and talk shows on each station. KKAA became almost exclusively a news
News Radio
News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format....
/talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station.
After the format change, the KKAA schedule as of October 2002 was "Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
" with Art Bell
Art Bell
Arthur W. "Art" Bell, III is an American broadcaster and author, known primarily as one of the founders and the original host of the paranormal-themed radio program Coast to Coast AM. He also created and formerly hosted its companion show, Dreamland...
from midnight to 5 a.m., business news show "The Wall Street Journal This Morning," at 5 a.m., current events show "America in the Morning" at 6 a.m., Red River Farm Network news show "Country Morning" at 6:30 a.m., local talk show "Talk of the Town" at 7 a.m., "News and Views" with Fargo-based host Ed Schultz at 9 a.m., and local news show "KSDN Midday Report" at 11:30 a.m. This program included the Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
news and commentary. Afternoon programming began at 1 p.m. with "The Rush Limbaugh Show", continued at 4 p.m. with consumer advocacy
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
show "Troubleshooter Tom Martino," and wrapped up at 6 p.m. with financial advice guru Bruce Williams. Satirical current events host Phil Hendrie
Phil Hendrie
Philip Stephen Hendrie is an American radio personality. He is best known as the host of The Phil Hendrie Show, a comedy talk radio program that is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network...
completed the night from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Religious
In August 2004, KKAA was acquired by locally-owned Aberdeen Radio Ranch as part of a group sale by Clear Channel CommunicationsClear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. In November 2004, Aberdeen Radio Ranch reached separate agreements to sell KQAA-FM to the Educational Media Foundation
Educational Media Foundation
Educational Media Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that operates the K-LOVE and Air 1 radio networks. EMF is based in Rocklin, California....
, and KKAA (1560 AM) and KQKD (1380 AM) to Family Stations, Inc.
KKAA broadcasting Family Radio Ministry programs is preparing Aberdeen for the Rapture
Rapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
on May 21, 2011 http://www.familyradio.com/index2.html , with the world ending on October 21, 2011. http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/waat/almost_ch03.html#06