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KFIL (AM)

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KFIL
Broadcast areaFillmore County, Minnesota
Frequency1060 kHz
Branding103.1 KFIL
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatClassic country
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KFIL-FM, KDOC-FM, KDCZ, KFNL-FM, KOLM, KROC, KROC-FM, KWWK, KYBA
History
First air date
June 1966 (1966-06)
Call sign meaning
Fillmore County
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID34429
ClassD
Power1,000 watts day
Transmitter coordinates
43°40′49″N 92°08′31″W / 43.68028°N 92.14194°W / 43.68028; -92.14194
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitekfilradio.com

KFIL (1060 kHz) is an American commercial AM radio station licensed to serve Preston, Minnesota. The station is licensed to broadcast only during daylight hours. Established in 1966 by O.B. Borgen, KFIL is currently owned by Townsquare Media and the broadcast license is held by Townsquare License, LLC.

Programming

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KFIL broadcasts a country music format in conjunction with its sister station, KFIL-FM (103.1). The station is a "daytimer", licensed to broadcast from local sunrise to local sunset, to avoid interfering with clear-channel stations KYW in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and XECPAE in Mexico City. Under a "pre-sunrise authority" granted by the FCC in 2007, the station begins its broadcast day at 6:00 a.m. year-round. KFIL serves Fillmore County and the greater Rochester, Minnesota, area.[2][3]

As a full service station, non-music programming includes CNN Radio, agriculture news, market reports, and specialized weather reports.[4] KFIL is an affiliate of the Linder Farm Network.[5] KFIL also broadcasts a tradio program called "Swap Shop" and a community calendar bulletin each weekday.

Weekend programming includes five hours of local church services and other Christian programming on Sunday mornings.[4] Sports programming on KFIL includes local high school football, high school basketball, high school baseball, and high school softball during the season, KFIL Sports Round-up with sports director Devon Krueger each weekday, and Coaches Corner on Saturday mornings from August through April.[6]

History

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Borgen era

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This station received its original construction permit on May 21, 1966. It began regular broadcast operations in June 1966, with 500 watts of power.[7] The station was assigned the call sign "KFIL" by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).[8] The station was originally licensed to serve the community of Preston, Minnesota.[7]

The station was originally owned and operated by KFIL, Inc., with Obed Samuel "O.B." Borgen as president of the corporation.[7][9] In October 1991, ownership of KFIL, Inc., was transferred to sons Michael S. Borgen and Jeffrey T. Borgen.[9][10] The station stayed in the Borgen family's control for more than 37 years.[11] Obed Borgen died in July 1999.[9]

Cumulus era

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In December 2003, Michael S. Borgen and Jeffrey T. Borgen sold KFIL, Inc., to Cumulus Media through its Cumulus Broadcasting, LLC, subsidiary.[11][3] The published combined sale price of KFIL, KFIL-FM, and KVGO (through KVGO, Inc.)[3] was $3,000,000.[12] The deal gained FCC approval on February 5, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on March 30, 2004. The broadcast license for KFIL was formally transferred from KFIL, Inc., to Cumulus Licensing, LLC, on December 31, 2004.[13]

Longtime KFIL/KFIL-FM air personality Mike Sveen retired from broadcasting in 2007. The former announcer, sports reporter, and Preston, Minnesota, city council member had worked at KFIL/KFIL-FM for more than 25 years.[14]

Townsquare era

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On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including KFIL, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global were both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management.[15][16] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[17] Townsquare had planned on selling the station to Bluff Country Community Radio LLC in April of 2024, for $100,000, however withdrew the application to transfer the station. KFIL would've become non-commercial.[18] Townsquare had already closed KFIL's studios in Preston. KFIL-FM was not part of the sale.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KFIL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Winter 2011 Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Cumulus to buy 15 radio stations". Associated Press. December 2, 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Program Schedule". KFIL Radio. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  5. ^ "Where to Hear the Linder Farm Network". Linder Farm Network. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  6. ^ "Sports Schedule". KFIL Radio. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "The Facilities of Broadcasting". 1968 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1968. p. B-89. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  8. ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "Funeral Notices". St. Paul Pioneer Press. July 29, 1999. Retrieved January 16, 2011. In 1966 he established KFIL in Preston, MN. [...] Survived by his sons, Greg Borgen, Dellwood, MN, Mike and Jeff Borgen, both of Rochester, MN;
  10. ^ "Application Search Details (BTC-19910916EA)". FCC Media Bureau. October 24, 1991. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BTC-20031211ACA)". FCC Media Bureau. March 30, 2004. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  12. ^ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. BIA Financial Networks. December 14, 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  13. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-20041210AAJ)". FCC Media Bureau. December 31, 2004. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  14. ^ Bentson, Bill (July 28, 2007). "Mike Sveen retires from KFIL". Preston Republican-Leader. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  15. ^ "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  16. ^ "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  17. ^ "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  18. ^ Jon Ellis (May 19, 2024). "Update: Sale of Southern Minnesota AM Station Withdrawn". Northpine.com.
  19. ^ Andy Brownell (February 16, 2024). "SE MN Broadcast Center Sold - Commitment to Community Remains". KFILRadio.com.
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