 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Phoenix metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 1510kHz |
| Branding | Money Radio 1510 & 105.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Financial news and talk |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KQFN | |
| History | |
First air date | November 1, 1962; 63 years ago (1962-11-01) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Financial news" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 14382 |
| Class | D |
| Power |
|
| Translator | 105.3 K287BX (Mesa) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | www |
KFNN (1510AM) is acommercial radio stationlicensed toMesa, Arizona, and serving thePhoenix metropolitan area. It airs a financial news and talkradio format, broadcasting from studios inNorth Scottsdale. KFNN is owned by CRC Broadcasting Company, Inc., headed by Ronald Cohen. The company also ownssports radio stationKQFN, as well asKJJZ 102.7 The Fanatic in thePalm Springs area, and a financial expo called Financial Fest. KFNN has a lineup of local and national money related programs, with some nationallysyndicatedconservative talk show hosts. KFNN says it had the first full-time financial format of its kind in the U.S., starting in 1988.
By day, KFNN is powered at 22,000 watts. However, because1510 AM is aclear-channel frequency reserved forClass A stationWLAC inNashville, Tennessee, KFNN must reduce nighttime power to 100 watts to prevent interference. It uses adirectional antenna at all times. Thetransmitter is on Black Mountain Boulevard at Rough Rider Road in Phoenix.[1] KFNN can also be heard onFM translatorK287BX at 105.3MHz in Mesa.
Maricopa County Broadcasters, owned by Sheldon Engel, built KALF in 1962. The stationsigned on the air on November 1.[2] It was adaytimer, required to go off the air at sunset. On June 1, 1970, it was relaunched as KMND ("Command Radio"), airing a country music format; the call sign had already been in use onKMND-FM 93.3.[3] KMND-AM-FM was acquired by the Dwight-Karma Broadcasting Corporation in 1971. Thecall signs switched to KDKB andKDKB-FM, playing analbum-oriented rock format.[4]
In 1978, the simulcast was broken, and 1510 AM flipped to anoldies sound of the 1950s and 1960s under a new KDJQ call sign. In 1980, the format at KDJQ changed tonew wave music for a brief time.[5]
WABQ, Inc., acquired KDJQ in early 1984[6] and sold it to B.J. Glascock of Texas. The station went off the air on June 5 and returned on November 5 as KNTS with a news-talk format andABC Talkradio programming.[7] On August 23, 1986, the station changed its call sign to KJAA with a country format, known as "KJ Country". The brand traded on the heritage ofKJJJ (910 AM), a longtime country music station.[8]
On December 12, 1988, 1510 AM changed its call sign to KFNN.[1] The station adopted a financial news format under the ownership of Ron Cohen, a former real estate agent.[9]
The station's transmitter and towers at the time of the change were located in Mesa, itscity of license as stated on itsFederal Communications Commission license. It was originally a 10,000-watt daytime signal until 1991, when the station towers were relocated to North Phoenix. From there the signal was authorized to increase to 22,000 watts daytime, and nighttime authorization was added. In 2013, KFNN begansimulcasting on FM, through translator station K257CD on 99.3 MHz. In 2017, the 99.3 translator began simulcasting co-ownedKQFN'ssports radio format. KFNN's FM signal began using a new translator, K287BX on 105.3 MHz.
Along with two other original partners, Ronald Cohen began the station's format with largely syndicated format fromBloomberg Radio and other radio networks. However, after several years, live, local programming began airing throughout the week. Don McDonald's financial planning program was one of the first major national shows broadcast on the station, along withKen and Daria Dolan, who featured a money and investment related program syndicated from theWOR Radio Network.
KFNN introduced a local wake up show,Business for Breakfast. Ken Morgan was its original host. He had been a long time morning show host and station manager, with much of his career spent inCleveland. Mark Asher is the current host. Other national business and money shows heard on KFNN includedClark Howard,Gary Kaltbaum andRay Lucia.[10]
In 2011, KFNN re-branded from "1510 KFNN, Financial Newsradio" to "Money Radio 1510 & 99.3 FM". The station's brand was changed to reflect the broader nature of program content that relates to all matters money. Some programs were also heard in the Palm Springs market on co-ownedKPSF. In 2019, KFNN began adding some conservative and libertarian-leaning political talk, includingTodd Schnitt,Chris Plante,Michael J. Knowles andBen Shapiro. It airsBloomberg Radio in the early morning, evenings and some weekend hours. Some paidbrokered programming is also on the schedule. Most hours begin with an update fromUSA Radio News.
33°41′34.1″N112°0′11.5″W / 33.692806°N 112.003194°W /33.692806; -112.003194