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KIKX (Arizona)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sammi Brie (talk | contribs) at 00:59, 3 July 2017 (holy cake this station is something special alright). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

KIKX
Frequency580 kHz
History
First air date
1947
Former call signs
KCNA (1947-1959)
KTAN (1959-1967)
Former frequencies
1340 kHz (1947-1950)
Technical information
Facility ID191203
Power5,000 watts day
500 watts night

KIKX was a radio station on 580 kHz in Tucson, Arizona, which operated from 1947 until 1982, when its FCC license renewal was denied.

History

The Catalina Broadcasting Corporation signed on 1340 KCNA in 1947. It broadcast with 250 watts from a transmitter located at Cherry Avenue and 16th Street. In 1950, KCNA relocated to 580 kHz, where it was able to raise daytime power to 5,000 watts and operate at night with 500 watts; its transmitter moved to a site along Swan Road. In 1956, the station was sold to Harry B. and George B. Chambers, who changed the callsign to KTAN in 1959. John B. Walton, Jr. bought KTAN in 1967 and rechristened it KIKX, promptly donating his former daytimer KFIF at 1580 kHz to the University of Arizona (now KUAZ.

1974 kidnapping promotion

A 1974 promotion gone wrong would ultimately be the catalyst for the station's demise. The promotion announced the kidnapping of one of the station's DJs, Arthur Gropen, who at that time had taken over KIKX's morning show. Regular newscasts beginning on Saturday, January 19, 1974, reported his kidnapping.[1] Concerned listeners contacted the Tucson Police Department, which was initially told by station staff that the DJ had indeed been kidnapped. While station staff became concerned, the program director allowed the promotion to continue, while the general manager did not know about the complaints until he returned to work after a weekend. After the Federal Communications Commission announced an investigation on January 22, the station canceled the promotion, broadcasting apologies from the general manager and from station owner Walton.[1]

That year, the station had filed for its license renewal, and a hearing was held in 1976. Various allegations came up against the station, with technical violations, equal opportunity employment compliance (the Black Media Coalition of Tucson filed an informal objection), and poor logging of commercials arising as concerns. The Gropen kidnapping hoax, however, dominated the hearing. In October 1976, administrative law judge Thomas B. Kirkpatrick ruled that the renewal of KIKX's license would not serve the public interest,[1] stating that KIKX's "arrogant disregard for the public cannot be too strongly condemned".[2] The station remained on air as Walton appealed to the FCC; it also transitioned to a country format on September 17, 1977.[3]</ref>


In 1980, the FCC by a majority vote denied Walton's appeal, stating that Walton had demonstrated a lack of control over his station; two commissioners, Anne P. Jones and James H. Quello, dissented.[1] KIKX was now one of a handful of stations whose licenses had been revoked for a hoax.[1] The case continued in the courts, where a divided federal appeals court upheld the revocation of the station's license.[4] Despite initially stating its intentions to take the case to the Supreme Court,[5]

At midnight on July 24, 1982, KIKX went off the air. The Last Cowboy Song was the final song played over KIKX.[6][7]

Reuse of the 580 kHz frequency

The 580 kHz frequency occupied by KIKX remained unused for five years. In 1986, a proposal to revive the frequency on a new license, made by Elliott-Phelps Broadcasting Corporation, was granted over an objection, claiming the applicant had incorrectly stated the defunct radio station's transmitter facilities were available when they had been sold to a real estate developer.[8] This station was built in 1987 with callsign KJMM; it is now KSAZ, which in 1991 was approved to move from the KIKX site to Marana.[9]


References

  1. ^ a b c d e "A History and Analysis of the Federal Communications Commission's Response to Radio Broadcast Hoaxes". The Federal Communications Law Journal. 2000.
  2. ^ "Contest Costs KIKX License" (PDF). Radio and Records. 8 October 1976. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Radio KIKX Switches to Country Music Format" (PDF). Cash Box. 24 September 1977. p. 46. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Washington Watch" (PDF). Broadcasting. 28 June 1982. p. 57. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Walton Will Ask Supreme Court to Save KIKX" (PDF). Radio & Records. 25 June 1982. p. 4. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. ^ News reports of KIKX's closure
  7. ^ "Country Closeup" (PDF). Radio & Records. 3 September 1982. p. 28. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Washington Roundup" (PDF). Billboard. 21 June 1986. p. 17. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  9. ^ "FCCdata: KSAZ Marana". Retrieved 3 July 2017.

See also

  • KSAZ, KIKX's eventual replacement at 580 kHz, which signed on in 1987 as KJMM, using the old KIKX facilities
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