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| Broadcast area | Central California |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 940kHz |
| Branding | KYNO 940 AM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Oldies |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | John and Katrina Ostlund |
| KJWL | |
| History | |
First air date | August 18, 1937; 87 years ago (1937-08-18) (as KFRE) |
Former call signs | KFRE (1937–2000) KWRU (2000–2010) KYNO (2010–2012) KFIG (2012–2021) |
Former frequencies | 1190 kHz (1937–1939) 890 kHz (1939–1941) 920 kHz (1941–1942) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 18407 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 50,000watts |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kynofresno.com |
KYNO (940AM) is aradio stationlicensed toFresno, California and is owned by John Ostlund and Katrina Ostlund. KYNO airs anoldiesformat, switching toChristmas music for much of December. KYNO'sradio studios and offices are on Fulton Street in Fresno and itstransmitter is off Avenue 384 inMonson, California.[2]
KYNO operates with 50,000watts around the clock, the highest power permitted for American AM radio stations. 940 KYNO is the most powerful Oldies radio station in America with daytime coverage from Sacramento to Bakersfield and throughout the Central Coast of California. But becauseAM 940 is aclear channel frequency, KYNO uses adirectional antenna to avoid interfering withClass A stationsXEQ inMexico City andCFNV inMontreal. Even with these restrictions, it can be heard across much of theWestern United States at night with a good radio.
KFRE was first licensed on August 18, 1937, on 1190 kHz. It moved to 890 kHz in 1939 then to 920 kHz in 1941 as a result of theNorth American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA). It moved to the current 940 kHz frequency in 1942.
KYNO Fresno signed on in 1948 with 1000 watts on 1300 kHz (White's Radio Log, Fall 1948)
KYNO from 1956 and throughout the 1960s and 1970s, was a Top-40 station, and was the #1 "Hooper" rated station in Fresno under the ownership of Gene Chenault. KYNO was the testing ground for the "Boss Radio" format that would be adopted at major market stations such asKHJ,Los Angeles;KFRC,San Francisco andCKLW,Windsor-Detroit.
Program directorBill Drake anddisc jockeys such as K.O. Bailey, Les Turpin, Ed Mitchell, and Gary Mack went against the cross town rival 1340 KMAK (nowKCBL), its program director Ron Jacobs and DJsRobert W. Morgan (who would become legendary in Los Angeles), Jim Price, Glenn Adams, Jay Stevens, Frank Terry & Tom Maule. This radio war is now known as the "Battle Of Fresno."
Eventually, KYNO stopped playing music and for a time was an all-sports station that carried theFresno Grizzlies of thePacific Coast League. They also broadcast live games of the Fresno Cardinals (St. Louis farm team) up to 1956, and the independent Fresno SunSox (1957). The team became a farm team of the San Francisco Giants in 1958 (Fresno Bee Radio Logs - various)
From 1999 until August 30, 2008, KYNO was aSpanish languageChristian music and preaching station, known asRadio Guadalupe.
KYNO changed frequencies from 1300 AM to 940 AM on April 1, 2010, and then changed frequencies from 940 AM to 1430 AM on October 6, 2012.
In 2008, the station was purchased by John Ostlund, owner of FM stationKJWL.[3]
The new ownership changed to a politically conservativenews/talk format (one of five such formats in the region) on September 1, 2008, starting with a lineup featuring nationally syndicated talk show hosts, such asBill O'Reilly,Dennis Miller,Dr. Laura,Don Imus andLarry King Live.
On October 6, 2012, KYNO dropped the news talk format to become a full-timesports radio station, as anESPN RadioNetwork affiliate under new call letters, KFIG. It also broadcast some local sports shows in the afternoon and early evening. KFIG carried bothSan Francisco Giants andOakland Athleticsbaseball games, as well asSan Francisco 49ers andLas Vegas Raidersfootball games.
On July 19, 2021, KYNO returned to the 940 dial position and began broadcasting oldies music. The KFIG call letters and sports format moved to 1430.[4]
36°29′20″N119°19′33″W / 36.48889°N 119.32583°W /36.48889; -119.32583