Broadcast area | Fresno |
---|---|
Frequency | 1510 kHz |
Branding | Radio Vida Abundante |
Programming | |
Format | Spanish Christian radio |
Ownership | |
Owner | Centro Cristiano Viva Abundante, Inc. |
KJDJ | |
History | |
First air date | August 1962 |
Call sign meaning | Original owner Irving E. Penberthy |
Technical information [1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 48513 |
Class | D |
Power | 10,000 watts days only |
Transmitter coordinates | 36°42′42″N 119°49′59″W / 36.71167°N 119.83306°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website |
radiovidaabundante |
KIRV (1510 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language Christian radio format. It is licensed to Fresno, California and is owned by Centro Cristiano Viva Abundante, Inc. [2]
By day, KIRV is powered at 10,000 watts. It uses a directional antenna with a two- tower array. But 1510 AM is a clear channel frequency, so the station must sign off the air at sunset. This requirement was originally instituted to protect the signal of KGA in Spokane, Washington, a former Class A clear channel station on 1510 kHz.
The Federal Communications Commission authorized the granting of a construction permit for a new radio station on 1510 kHz in Fresno to Irving E. Penberthy on October 31, 1961. [3] Penberthy was a Baptist minister and plans were initially announced for the station to specialize in Christian radio programs. [4] This was changed before broadcasting began. [5] The station officially signed on the air in August 1962 .
At the end of 1965, Penberthy reached a deal to sell KIRV to general manager Robert Eurich. [6] Eurich owned the station until New Life Enterprises acquired it in 1974. [3] One of the partners in New Life was Jim Patterson, who later became mayor of Fresno between 1993 and 2001. [7] Patterson was a second-generation broadcaster; he had previously been employed at KBIF, which was owned by his father Norwood until he lost ownership of it in a tax case. Norwood was also involved with Visalia's KICU-TV. [8] Patterson, who was joined by Dan Jantz and Dennis Klassen in the partnership, frequently aired his conservative political views on KIRV programs. [9] The station lost $400 in its first full year as a Christian outlet but made $44,000 of revenue by 1980. [8]
The 500-watt station upgraded to its present 10,000 watts after the construction of two new towers in the antenna array was approved in 1979. [10]
Though not active in management in the later years, [8] Patterson continued to own KIRV until 1999, when it was sold to Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting. Gore-Overgaard sold KIRV to current owner Centro Cristiano Vida Abundante in December 2012 for $600,000. [11]