KARN (AM)

For the actor and former Family Feud host, see Richard Karn. For the electrical and computer engineer, see Phil Karn.
KARN
City Little Rock, Arkansas
Broadcast area Little Rock metropolitan area
Branding The Sports Animal 920
Frequency 920 kHz
First air date 1928 (as KARK)
Format Sports
Power 5,000 watts
Class B
Facility ID 60703
Transmitter coordinates 34°46′21.1″N 92°14′44.6″W / 34.772528°N 92.245722°W / 34.772528; -92.245722
Callsign meaning Multiple meanings include:
ARkaNsas (state)
Arkansas Radio Network[1]
variable of KARK (original calls)
Former callsigns KARK (1928-?)
Affiliations CBS Sports Radio
Arkansas Radio Network
Owner Cumulus Media
(Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stations KAAY, KARN-FM, KIPR/KPZK-AM, KLAL, KURB
Webcast Listen Live
Website sportsanimal920.com

KARN is a commercial sports and talk radio station at 920 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas, owned and operated by Cumulus Media. Originally known as KARK-AM and later locally owned by Ted Snider, the station has long been the flagship station of the Arkansas Radio Network.[1] The station's studios are located in West Little Rock, and the transmitter tower is located in North Little Rock.

KARN AM 920 was formerly a news and talk station, that now airs on 102.9 FM with nationally syndicated programming with a conservative political tone like the Rush Limbaugh show and the Sean Hannity show. Local talk shows are also notably conservative in tone, with afternoon host Dave Elswick the most well known voice. Generations of Arkansas broadcasters have worked at KARN, including sportscaster Jim Elder, talk show hosts Pat Lynch, Ray Lincoln, Bob Harrison, Taylor Carr and Sharon Lee, farm broadcasters Bob Buice, Lowell Ruffcorn, John Philpot, Stewart Doan, Janet Adkison and Keith Merckx (who also spent time as a news reporter and anchor) and newscasters Don Corbett, Vern Beachy, Scott Crowder, Michael Hibblen, Scott Charton, Rita Richardson, Ron Breeding, Don Griffin, Barry Green, David Wallace, Ken Miller, Paula Cooper, Terry Easley, Jayson Rogers, Grant Merrill, Alan Caudle, Patrick Grant, "Ugly" Ed Johnson and Jack Heinritz.

As a news and talk station, KARN's Program Directors have included Rick McGee, Dennis Turner, Chuck Martin, Dennis Kelly, Dale Forbis, Bob Shomper, Greg Foster, Neal Gladner, Bud Ford and Dave Elswick.

KARN is licensed by the FCC to broadcast a digital HD signal.[2]

History

For a number of years, KARN 920 AM simulcast on two low power FM signals, including KVLO 102.5 FM licensed to Cabot, Arkansas, and KPZK 101.7 FM licensed to Humnoke, Arkansas. While both stations attracted substantial listener numbers, neither signal covered the Little Rock market well. In the summer of 2004, the decision was made to simulcast KARN full-time on the 102.9 FM frequency, which had previously been a country station, but could not compete with heritage station KSSN.

In 2007, upon merger of nearly a couple dozen ABC Radio stations, Citadel Broadcasting relinquished 11 of its radio stations, including KARN-FM, to The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC. However, the trust decided it would not simulcast KARN-AM, which had remained with Citadel, on KARN-FM; Citadel then transferred KOKY to the trust instead, and re-acquired KARN-FM. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[3]

Programming

Notable weekday programming on KARN (under their previous talk format) included the Delta Farm Show and Farm Focus hosted by Gary DiGiuseppe, First News with Bob Steel, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Mike Huckabee, Dave Elswick, Sportsrap (from ARN), Sean Hannity, and Coast to Coast AM on overnights.

The station is an affiliate of the Dallas Cowboys radio network.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Nelson, Bob (2008-05-31). "Call Letter Origins". The Broadcast Archive. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
  2. ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/sta_det.pl?Facility_id=60703 FCC station search details for KARN
  3. ↑ "Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting". Atlanta Business Journal. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys on Radio". DallasCowboys.com.
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