KKLA-FM (99.5

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...

, "99.5 KKLA") is a

commercial Commercial may refer to: * a dose of advertising conveyed through media (such as - for example - radio or television) ** Radio advertisement ** Television advertisement * (adjective for:) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and s ...

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

licensed A license (or licence) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another party (licensee) as an element of an agreeme ...

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

and serving the

Greater Los Angeles Greater Los Angeles is the second-largest metropolitan region in the United States with a population of 18.5 million in 2021, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino Coun ...

area. The station is owned by the

Salem Media Group Salem Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SALM; formerly Salem Communications Corporation) is an American radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher formerly based in Camarillo, California (moved most operations to Ir ...

and broadcasts a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

talk and teaching format. The KKLA-FM studios are located in

Glendale Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means ''valley of fertile, low-lying arable land''. It may refer to: Places Australia * Glendale, New South Wales ** Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre *Glendale, Queensland, ...

and the transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.

History

The 99.5 FM frequency in Los Angeles has been home to two stations operating under separate licenses, both broadcasting a

Christian radio Christian radio is a Christian media radio format that focus on programming with a Christian message. Many such broadcasters play contemporary Christian music, though many programs include sermons, radio dramas, as well as news and talk progra ...

format.

KHOF (1956–1985)

Originally owned by Pastor Ray Schoch's Faith Center Church in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...

, the station signed on November 13, 1956, with the

call letters In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally assigne ...

KHOF. During the 1960s and 1970s, programming consisted of various syndicated ministries and programming produced by Faith Center. In 1975,

Gene Scott William Eugene Scott (August 14, 1929 – February 21, 2005) was an American minister and teacher who served for almost 50 years as a pastor and broadcaster in Los Angeles, California. He pastored the Faith Center and Wescott Christian Center ...

took over Faith Center and moved properties including KHOF to strictly in-house programming. Some stations were sold. By 1980, Scott's

sermon A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. El ...

s aired around-the-clock. The

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...

canceled KHOF's license in September 1982, citing improper conduct on the part of Faith Center, including misappropriation of fundraising proceeds.

KKLA-FM (1985–present)

KKLA-FM operates on a license separate from that of the former KHOF, first issued in October 1985 to

Salem Communications Salem Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SALM; formerly Salem Communications Corporation) is an American radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher formerly based in Camarillo, California (moved most operations to Ir ...

subsidiary New Inspiration Broadcasting with the call sign KKLA. At that time, the station launched with a

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music, also known as CCM, Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and s ...

(CCM) format part of the day and Christian talk and teaching the rest of the day. By 1987, the majority of KKLA's programming consisted of the latter. The station eliminated Christian music by 1990; this void was filled by

KFSG KFSG (1690 kHz) is an AM radio station broadcasting a Brokered programming format featuring Spanish Religious and Multilingual shows. KFSG is licensed to Roseville, California and serves the Sacramento metropolitan area. The station is owned ...

(96.3 FM) which began airing a CCM format for most of its broadcast day. In 1995, the station's call letters changed to KKLA-FM. This was done to accommodate sister station

KLFE KLFE (1590 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Catholic radio format in Seattle, Washington. The station is owned by Salem Communications and airs programming from Relevant Radio, a national Catholic network based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. ...

(1240 AM) in

San Bernardino San Bernardino (; Spanish language, Spanish for Bernardino of Siena, "Saint Bernardino") is a city and county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a ...

, which changed its callsign to KKLA and

simulcast Simulcast (a portmanteau of simultaneous broadcast) is the broadcasting of programmes/programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultane ...

KKLA-FM until 1999. During part of the day Monday through Saturday, KKLA-FM broadcasts local Christian call-in talk shows that discuss a mix of religious and conservative political issues. At all other times and all day Sunday, the station airs

ministries Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

and teaching programs from speakers such as

J. Vernon McGee John Vernon McGee (June 17, 1904 – December 1, 1988) was an American ordained Presbyterian minister, pastor, Bible teacher, theologian, and radio minister. Biography Childhood, education, and early ministry McGee was born in Hillsboro, Tex ...

John F. MacArthur John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (born June 19, 1939) is an American Protestant pastor and author known for his internationally syndicated Christian teaching radio and television program ''Grace to You''. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Chu ...

, and

Hank Hanegraaff Hendrik "Hank" Hanegraaff (born 1950), also known as the "Bible Answer Man", is an American Christian author and radio talk-show host. Formerly an evangelical Protestant, he joined the Eastern Orthodox Church in 2017. He is an outspoken figure wi ...

. KKLA-FM claims to be the most-listened-to Christian talk radio station in the United States.

Awards

KKLA-FM was honored by the

National Association of Broadcasters The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is a trade association and lobby group representing the interests of commercial and non-commercial over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States. The NAB represents more than ...

as its Religious/Gospel station of the year in 1995.

References

External links

FCC History Cards for KKLA
* * {{coord, 34.224, N, 118.063, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title KLA Christian radio stations in California Talk radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1985 1985 establishments in California Salem Media Group properties