KOOL-FM

Infobox Radio Station


name = KOOL-FM
airdate = 1956
frequency = 94.5 (MHz) HD_Radio
city = Phoenix, Arizona
area = Phoenix, Arizona
format = Oldies
branding = Kool 94.5
owner = CBS Radio
erp = 95,600 watts
haat = 504 meters
class = C
facility_id = 13506
callsign_meaning = COOL Note; taken from TV station now KSAZ-TV (also see KOLD-TV)
webcast = [http://player.play.it/player/player.html?id=145&onestat=kool Listen Live]
website = [http://www.koolradio.com/ www.koolradio.com]

KOOL-FM is a commercial Classic Hits music radio station in Phoenix, Arizona, broadcasting on 94.5 FM. The station is owned by CBS Radio. The station features the hits of the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The focus is 1964 to 1979.

History

KOOL-FM has been programming Oldies music since the 1970s. Originally, the station played a mix of music from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. By about 1983, KOOL was playing a small amount of 1980's music as well. Still, they focused on the music of the late 1960s. The station was co-owned with AM 960 KOOL. That station played strictly the music of 1955-1969 with an emphasis on the pre 1964 oldies. The stations were both owned by Adams Communications along with Channel 10 KOOL-TV (now KSAZ-TV), which was the CBS affiliate. KOOL-TV Channel 10 was sold to Gulf Broadcasting and renamed KTSP in 1982 and later sold to Taft and then Great American Broadcasting. New World bought the station in 1993 and renamed it KSAZ and evicted CBS for Fox in 1994. That station was eventually sold to Fox.

Adams kept KOOL 960 and KOOL-FM. The oldies format remained unchanged throughout the 1980s. In the early 1990s KOOL 960 began simulcasting KOOL-FM. At that point the music from the late 1970s and early 1980s was eliminated almost completely. The bulk of the music played was from 1964 to 1969 with a couple songs per hour from the early 1970s and several pre 1964 oldies per hour. The station became more focused at that point. Colfaz Broadcasting acquired the stations in 1994.

In 1996, Chancellor acquired KOOL and KOOL-FM. At that time they acquired several other stations in the market, bringing them to over their ownership limit of 8. They opted to sell KOOL and KOOL-FM. KOOL 960 was sold to Salem Mediain 1997 and was renamed KPXQ. That station became a Christian Talk station. In 2002, that station became NewsTalk 960 KKNT focusing on conservative talk radio.

KOOL-FM went to Infinity/CBS Radio. The music continued to be pretty much the same until about 1999. At that point more late 1970s songs were added while cutting back the pre 1964 oldies slightly. In 2001, some early 1980s music was added and the pre 1964 oldies were cut to about 2 per hour. By 2003, the pre 1964 oldies were eliminated almost completely with a handful of exceptions. More 1980's titles were also added at that point. Today the station, like most semi-former oldies outlets, has become more of a classic hits format rather than a true oldies format.

Airstaff

# Tom Peake, John Michaels, Maria Knight - Monday-Friday - 5:00 AM-9:00 AM
# Steve Goddard - Monday-Friday - 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
# Camelback Jack - Monday-Friday - 3:00 PM-8:00 PM
# Tom Kent - Monday-Friday - 8:00 PM-1:00 AM
# Lee Bortel - Monday-Friday - 1:00 AM-5:00 AM

External links

* [http://www.koolradio.com KOOL-FM's website]
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References