What is KALE radio station in Richland, Washington?
KALE is a radio station broadcasting at 960 AM and branded as "106.1 The Bridge." It is licensed to Richland, Washington, serves the Tri-Cities area, and is owned by Stephens Media Group.
Questions about KALE
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did KALE first begin broadcasting?
KALE began broadcasting on the 1st of April 1950, with 1,000 watts of power on AM 900 kHz. It was owned at the time by Yakima Broadcasting Corp.
Why did the FCC block the sale of KALE to Townsquare Media?
In July 2011 the FCC stopped Townsquare Media's plan to buy 12 Tri-City and Yakima stations. An eight-page FCC letter said the proposed use of a divestiture trust was a substantial departure from previously approved uses and dismissed five sets of license-reassignment applications.
Who bought KALE and the New Northwest Broadcasters stations?
Ingstad Radio Washington, a radio owner from Fargo, North Dakota, acquired the stations. It bought more than $16 million in New Northwest Broadcasters debt from creditor CIT Group at a discount, paying about $6.7 million for all 12 stations.
What format does KALE 106.1 The Bridge play now?
KALE plays a contemporary Christian format branded as "106.1 The Bridge." It adopted this format on the 17th of June 2022, after years of adult contemporary and classic hits programming.
How many times has KALE changed its branding and format?
KALE changed identity repeatedly, moving through "106.1 More FM," "Classic Hits 106.1," "Big 106.1," "Santa 106.1," More FM again, and "106.1 The Bridge" between 2016 and 2022. Earlier formats included Top-40, adult contemporary, FOX Sports, and "Country Legends" classic country.