Kale
KALE began broadcasting on the 1st of April 1950. The station started with 1,000 watts of power on AM 900 kHz. Yakima Broadcasting Corp owned the new signal in Richland, Washington. Listeners in the Tri-Cities area tuned into a Top-40 radio format during those early years. The station reached its zenith as an AM station during the early to mid-1970s. It consistently ranked at or near the top of the age 18-to-49 ratings block. Teens also followed KALE frequently throughout that decade. Sales billings often led the market for local advertisers. The news department won numerous regional and statewide Society of Professional Journalists awards. Ratings dominance waned as listeners began migrating from AM to FM during the latter 1970s and early 1980s.
In the 1970s the station was owned by Sterling Recreation Organization. Later ownership passed to Revitalization Partners before New Northwest Broadcasters purchased the station. December 2010 marked a major shift when Townsquare Media announced it was acquiring 12 stations owned by New Northwest Broadcasters. They planned to spin off 11 stations once the sale closed. July 2011 brought regulatory intervention that stopped Townsquare Media's plan to buy 12 Tri-City and Yakima radio outlets from New Northwest Broadcasters. An eight-page letter from the FCC to Townsquare released on the agency's website Friday said proposed use of a divestiture trust was a substantial departure from the kinds of uses previously approved by the commission. Five sets of applications were dismissed that would have reassigned the radio station licenses. the 6th of November 2011 saw Ingstad Radio Washington agree to purchase more than $16 million in debt owed by Seattle-based New Northwest Broadcasters from a creditor, CIT Group. The discounted price for Ingstad is about $6.7 million for all 12 stations.
KALE had a Top-40 radio format until the early 1980s when it switched to a more adult contemporary format. the 15th of May 2012 brought a change as the station switched to a Country Legends classic country format with sports programming being moved to sister station AM 1340. the 24th of February 2016 marked another shift when KALE changed its format to adult contemporary, branded as 106.1 More FM. the 19th of September 2016 saw KALE change its format from adult contemporary to classic hits, branded as Classic Hits 106.1. the 26th of December 2017 followed stunting with Christmas music through the holiday season as KALE rebranded as Big 106.1. the 26th of July 2018 found KALE flipping back to adult contemporary, branded again as 106.1 More FM. October 31 of that year began stunting with Christmas music again as Santa 106.1. the 26th of December 2018 returned KALE to its current adult contemporary format and 106.1 More FM branding. the 17th of June 2022 changed the format from adult contemporary to contemporary Christian, branded as 106.1 The Bridge.
KALE's broadcast studios were initially at the transmitter site at Road 68 in Pasco, Washington. The studios then moved to 218 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick, Washington. In 1978 the studios moved again to 310 W. Kennewick Ave. when KALE's FM station, KIOK, FM 94.9, was licensed and began broadcasting. The site at 310 W. Kennewick Ave. was the former site of the historic Benton Theatre which, at the time of the move, was also owned by Sterling Recreation Organization. After broadcasting from North Columbia Center Blvd. in Kennewick for several years, KALE moved to its current home at 4304 S. 24th Ave in Kennewick in 2012. Each physical relocation reflected changes in technology and market strategy over seven decades.
Townsquare Media announced it was acquiring 12 stations owned by New Northwest Broadcasters in December 2010. They planned to spin off 11 stations once the sale closed. July 2011 brought FCC intervention that stopped Townsquare Media's plan to buy 12 Tri-City and Yakima radio outlets from New Northwest Broadcasters. An eight-page letter from the FCC to Townsquare released on the agency's website Friday said proposed use of a divestiture trust was a substantial departure from the kinds of uses previously approved by the commission. Five sets of applications were dismissed that would have reassigned the radio station licenses. The Federal Communications Commission blocked the proposed divestiture trust plan in 2011. Ingstad Radio Washington eventually purchased the stations instead through a discounted debt acquisition deal worth about $6.7 million for all 12 stations.
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Common questions
When did KALE begin broadcasting in Richland Washington?
KALE began broadcasting on the 1st of April 1950. The station started with 1,000 watts of power on AM 900 kHz.
What radio formats has KALE used since its launch?
KALE had a Top-40 radio format until the early 1980s when it switched to adult contemporary. The station later adopted Country Legends classic country format on the 15th of May 2012 and changed to contemporary Christian branded as 106.1 The Bridge on the 17th of June 2022.
Who owns KALE today after the 2011 regulatory intervention?
Ingstad Radio Washington purchased more than $16 million in debt owed by Seattle-based New Northwest Broadcasters from CIT Group on the 6th of November 2011. The discounted price for Ingstad is about $6.7 million for all 12 stations including KALE.
Where are the current broadcast studios for KALE located?
KALE moved to its current home at 4304 S. 24th Ave in Kennewick in 2012. Previous locations included Road 68 in Pasco, 218 W. Kennewick Ave., and 310 W. Kennewick Ave.
Why did Townsquare Media fail to acquire KALE in 2011?
The Federal Communications Commission blocked the proposed divestiture trust plan in 2011 because it was a substantial departure from previously approved uses. Five sets of applications were dismissed that would have reassigned the radio station licenses.