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KGA

KGA (1510 AM) is a commercial radio station in Spokane, Washington. Owned by Stephens Media Group, it broadcasts a sports radio format. KGA's studios and offices are on East 57th Avenue. Most of the programming comes from Fox Sports Radio. The station carries broadcasts of the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team and the Spokane Chiefs junior ice hockey team. Going on the air in 1927, it was one of the earliest radio stations in Washington.

By day, KGA is powered at 50,000 watts non-directional, the maximum for commercial AM stations. But to reduce interference to other stations on 1510 AM, during critical hours the power is lowered to 45,000 watts. And at night, power is greatly reduced to 540 watts. The transmitter site is on East Stutler Road near U.S. Route 195 in Spangle, Washington. Programming is also heard on 99-watt FM translator K278CY at 103.5 MHz in Spokane.

KGA signed on the air on February 4, 1927; 98 years ago (February 4, 1927). Its original owner was Louis Wasmer. KGA's first studios were in the old Radio Center Building across the street from the Davenport Hotel. Its transmitter was on the northside of Spokane where the Lidgerwood Elementary School is now located.

In the 1930s, KGA was powered at 5,000 watts, broadcasting at 1470 kilocycles. It moved to 1510 after the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) took effect in 1941. KGA was an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network, airing its dramas, comedies, variety shows, news and sports during the "Golden Age of Radio." That network later became ABC Radio. As network programming moved from radio to television in the 1950s and 60s, KGA switched to a full service, middle of the road (MOR) format, airing popular adult music, news and sports.

KGA played Top 40 hits from January 1968 until June 1969, featuring disc jockeys Shane Showtime (Gibson) and Joe Fialla. It was more successful as a country music outlet from 1969 until 1994. But by the 1990s, most people listening to country music were switching to the FM band.

KGA flipped to a news/talk format in 1994. It relied mostly on nationally syndicated talk shows from commentators such as Bill O'Reilly, Laura Ingraham and Michael Savage, along with several local programs. Former Los Angeles police detective and author Mark Fuhrman, who lives in nearby Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, hosted a local morning show on weekdays until his program was discontinued in November 2007. In April 2008, KGA's news/talk format moved to sister station 790 KJRB, with KJRB's sports format switched to KGA.

KGA has had several owners (including Gonzaga University in its early history), has changed frequency several times, and has had its studio and transmitter site relocated over the years. But it has retained the same three-letter call sign from its founding. No other station in Spokane has kept its call letters over so many decades.

KGA was a 50,000-watt clear-channel Class A station for most of its life, and could be heard after sunset around the Pacific Northwest, plus part of Western Canada. On July 15, 2008, KGA reduced its nighttime power from 50,000 watts to 15,000 watts, surrendered its status as a Class A, downgrading to Class B, and changed its directional antenna system.[citation needed]. Class A stations have the widest coverage areas and best protection from interference from other stations.

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