KKLS (AM)

KKLS (920 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Rapid City, South Dakota. The station is owned by HomeSlice Media Group.[1] It was a Top 40 station during the 1970s.

KKLS
CityRapid City, South Dakota
Broadcast areaRapid City, South Dakota
Frequency920 kHz
BrandingThe Cowboy
Programming
FormatClassic country
Ownership
OwnerHomeSlice Media Group, LLC
KBHB, KFXS, KKMK, KOUT, KRCS
History
First air date
June 7, 1959
Technical information
Facility ID61320
ClassD
Power5,000 watts (day)
111 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
44°3′43″N 103°10′32″W
Translator(s)104.7 K284BA (Rapid City)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitethecowboyradio.com

The station was assigned the KKLS call letters by the Federal Communications Commission.[2]

KKLS also previously broadcast on translator K248BT, on 97.5 FM.

On September 10, 2010, KKLS dropped the True Oldies Channel, and began using the moniker "97.5 - The Hills", playing a mix of songs from the 1970s to the 2000s. While the FM frequency was now given the focus, the AM parent carried the same broadcast.

As of January 1, 2015, KKLS changed their format to classic hits, branded as "Smash Hits KKLS", switching translators to K284BA 104.7 FM Rapid City.[3]

As of March 1, 2018, KKLS changed their format to News/Talk, branded as "News. Talk. Radio".[4]

On January 13, 2020, KKLS dropped its news/talk format and began stunting towards a new format to launch on January 21, 2020, the stunting consisting of a loop of "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, and cryptic liners consisting of recitations of country music song lyrics, implying the new format will likely be classic country as a flanker for KOUT and KBHB.[5]

On January 21, 2020, KKLS ended stunting and launched a classic country format, branded as "The Cowboy".[6]

Ownership

In May 1999, Triad Broadcasting reached a deal to acquire this station from Brothers Jim and Tom Instad as part of a twelve-station deal valued at a reported $37.8 million.[7]

In July 2006, Schurz Communications Inc. reached an agreement to buy this station from Triad Broadcasting Co. as part of a six-station deal valued at a reported $19 million.[8]

Schurz Communications created the Black Hills broadcast division, New Rushmore Radio, now known as Rushmore Media Company. KKLS was sold to the Homeslice Media Group in July 2014, a divestiture required due to Schurz's acquisition of KOTA-TV. The transaction, which included sister station KBHB and translator K284BA, was consummated on June 30, 2014 at a price of $650,000.

References
  1. "Winter 2008 Station Information Profile". Arbitron.
  2. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database.
  3. Rapid City Gets Smashed
  4. "Thursday, March 1st, KKLS Radio officially becomes, "KKLS NEWS CORP 920 and 104-7."". HomeSlice Group. 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  5. KKLS Heads Down an Old Dirt Road Radioinsight - January 13, 2020
  6. KKLS Introduces The Cowboy to Rapid City Radioinsight - January 21, 2020
  7. Holmes, Alisa (1999-05-24). "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19.
  8. "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. 2006-07-24.


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