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KERI

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KERI
Broadcast areaKern County, California
Frequency1410kHz
BrandingFaith & Family 1410 AM
Programming
FormatBrokeredReligion
Ownership
Owner
  • Robert and Luann Wilkins
  • (Bob Wilkins Radio Network Broadcasting, Inc.)
History
First air date
May 3, 1950
Former call signs
KWSO (1950–2003)
Call signmeaning
"Kern County inspirational programming"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID6640
ClassB
Power1,000watts
Transmitter coordinates
35°21′07″N118°57′29″W/ 35.35194°N 118.95806°W/35.35194; -118.95806
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
WebsiteWilkinsRadio.com/KERI

KERI(1410kHz"Faith & Family 1410 AM" ) is a commercialAMradio stationinBakersfield, California.The station is owned by Robert and Luann Wilkins, through licensee Bob Wilkins Radio Network Broadcasting, Inc.[2]It airs areligiousradio format.Most hours arebrokered programming,where national and local religious leaders pay for a segment of time, for preaching or instruction, and where they may appeal to listeners for donations. Hosts includeCharles Stanley,Jim Daly,John MacArthur,David JeremiahandJay Sekulow.

KERI is powered at 1,000watts,day and night, using anon-directional antenna.Itstransmitteris located on Kimber Avenue in Bakersfield, off Route 58 - Exit 115.[3]KERI's studios and offices are on Easton Drive in Bakersfield.[4]

History

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On May 17, 1950, the station firstsign-onsigned on asKWSO,a 250-wattdaytimerat 1050 kHz, owned by Maple Leaf Broadcasting.[5]It waslicensedtoWasco, California,about 25 miles northwest of Bakersfield. By the 1960s, the station had assorted programs includingmiddle of the roadandclassical music,farm and news reports and religious programs. The station's signal was limited to the area around Wasco, and was reflected in the KWSOcall letters.

In the early 1980s, theFederal Communications Commissionallowed KWSO to move to 1180 kHz, coupled with a boost in power to 10,000 watts by day and nighttime authorization, running with 1,000 watts after sunset, using adirectional antenna.[6]With this new power, the station could be heard around the larger Bakersfieldradio market.It switched to a full-time religious format, changing itscall signtoKERI,which stands for "Kern County inspirational programming". (The 1050 frequency is now occupied byKJPGin nearbyFrazier Park, California,airing aCatholicradio format.)

In the early 2000s, the station got another power boost, this time powered at its current 50,000 watts by day and 10,000 watts at night. Its city of license was changed to two communities, Wasco and Greenacres. In 2004, the station was bought by American General Media, which owns five other stations in the Bakersfield market.[7]

On January 1, 2009, a frequency swap withtalk radiosister stationKERN 1410 AM was made. The talk format on KERN was moved to the more powerful 1180 frequency, while the religious format on KERI switched to AM 1410. (For the history of the 1410 frequency, seeKERN.) After the switch was made, KERI 1410 was sold to the Watkins Radio Network, which owns about 30 other religious stations around the U.S.

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References

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  1. ^"Facility Technical Data for KERI".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^"KERI Facility Record".United StatesFederal Communications Commission,audio division.
  3. ^Radio-Locator KERI
  4. ^YellowPages.com/KERI
  5. ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1951 page 97
  6. ^Broadcasting Yearbook 1984 page B-40
  7. ^Broadcasting Yearbook 2009 page D-110
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