KLIV

Coordinates: 37°21′12″N 121°52′52″W / 37.35333°N 121.88111°W / 37.35333; -121.88111
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KLIV
Repeater of KVVN, Santa Clara
Broadcast areaSanta Clara Valley
Frequency1590 kHz
BrandingKVVN AM 1430
Programming
Language(s)Vietnamese
FormatVietnamese
Ownership
Owner
  • Phuong Pham
  • (Pham Radio Communication LLC)
KVTO, KVVN
History
First air date
September 1946; 77 years ago (1946-09) (as KSJO)
Former call signs
KSJO (1946–1960)
Technical information
Facility ID19531
ClassB
Power5,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
37°21′12″N 121°52′52″W / 37.35333°N 121.88111°W / 37.35333; -121.88111
Links
Websitekvvn.net

KLIV (1590 AM) is a broadcast radio station in the United States. Licensed to San Jose, California, KLIV serves San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley with a Vietnamese format simulcasting KVVN. It is one of the last independently owned stations in the Bay Area.

KLIV began broadcasting in 1946 as KSJO before becoming KLIV in 1960. The station had a top-40 format in the 1960s and changed to big band in 1981. From 1991 to 2016, KLIV had a news format before changing to classic country. In 2019, KLIV was shut down after the transmitter site was sold. The station resumed broadcasting in 2020 and was sold to Pham Radio Communication, ending over 50 years of ownership by Empire Broadcasting.

KLIV had been the flagship station for San Jose State University sports from 1991 to 2019, in addition to broadcasting Santa Clara University men's basketball games during the 2010s. KLIV was the flagship station for the San Jose Clash (later Earthquakes) from 1996 to 2016.

History[edit]

Early years (1946–1991)[edit]

KLIV signed on in September 1946 as a 1,000-watt daytime-only station named KSJO that shared facilities at Story Road and Lucretia Avenue in central San Jose, where the station remains to this day, with an FM station of the same name. KSJO AM began nighttime broadcast at 500 watts in 1947.[1]

In June 1960, the original owners of KSJO sold the station to Cal-Radio Inc., which renamed the station KLIV and boosted its signal to 5,000 watts in 1961.[2][3] KLIV began its Top 40 format in 1962, three years before KFRC in San Francisco.[4]

KLIV personality Brian Lord discovered the single "Psychotic Reaction" by local psychedelic rock band the Count Five, a song that later made the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[5]

On July 1, 1967, KLIV was bought for around $974,000 by Empire Broadcasting, led by former Rochester, New York radio executives Robert S. Kieve and James Trayhern and a group of Rochester investors.[1][6]

KLIV's primary genre shifted with emerging musical trends in the 1970s. KLIV changed its musical genre to hard rock in 1970 before changing to adult contemporary in 1972.[7][4][8] In March 1979, KLIV became the first San Jose station that specialized in disco.[7] As disco became less popular later in the year, KLIV changed to an album-oriented rock format dubbed "Rock 16" on October 25, 1979.[4][1]

On May 7, 1981, KLIV switched to the syndicated "Music of Your Life" format that played big band and pop standards from the 1950s and earlier.[9][10]

News era (1991–2016)[edit]

KLIV's final logo as a news station; variants of this logo have been used since the early 2000s.

KLIV converted to an all-news format in April 1991.[11] In its new format, KLIV simulcast CNN Headline News (now HLN) and the 5 p.m. newscast from San Jose television station KNTV, in addition to local news and traffic reports each hour.[1][12] By 1995, KLIV began simulcasting the 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. KNTV newscasts as well.[6][13] In contrast to San Francisco's KCBS, traffic reports on KLIV focused on the South Bay.[14]

However, KLIV struggled in the ratings. In the fall 1997 ratings period, KLIV was the lowest-rated English-language station in San Jose, overshadowed by KGO and KSFO, competing San Francisco-based stations that carried talk shows in addition to news coverage.[6] Kieve acknowledged in 2016 that as KLIV never made a profit as a news station and was subsidized by co-owned FM country station KRTY.[15]

By the late 1990s, as the Telecommunications Act of 1996 paved the way for the increased consolidation of radio station ownership, KLIV and the Empire Broadcasting family of stations were among the final locally owned stations in the Bay Area.[16][17]

As CNN Headline News shifted its evening programming away from general news reporting to personality-driven talk shows,[18] KLIV introduced its own local lineup of evening programming in February 2007, including a monthly call-in show with the mayor of San Jose, a talk show hosted by the CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group called The CEO Show, and speeches from the San Jose Rotary Club and the Commonwealth Club of California.[19] Beginning on April 2, 2007, KLIV reduced the CNN Headline News simulcast to overnights and weekends. Between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., KLIV began hours with news briefs from CNN Radio featured more locally produced news and content each hour.[20]

Effective April 1, 2012, KLIV became an affiliate of NBC News Radio, after CNN Radio shut down.[21] KLIV became an affiliate of the Santa Clara Broncos radio network in the 2012–13 season.[22]

As a tribute to its top-40 format from the 1960s, KLIV launched an Overnight Oldies program in February 2015 playing hits from the 1950s through 1970s, beginning at midnight until 5 a.m. on weekday mornings, and 6 a.m. weekends.[23][24]

Switch to Classic country (2016–2019)[edit]

KLIV's logo during the classic country format

On April 11, 2016, the station announced it would abandon its all-news format and switch to a classic country format, dubbed "Country Gold". In an on-air commentary discussing the change, company president Bob Kieve blamed declining advertising revenue (primarily due an older-skewing listener base) and the increasing costs of running a news station. He bought out most of his news staff.[15][25] The switch to the classic country format happened at 10 p.m. on June 10, 2016.[26] The music played was usually from the years 1988 to 2002.[25] KLIV continued to carry South Bay traffic and weather reports after the format change.[27] Initially, KLIV simulcast the morning show of sister FM station KRTY, which plays newer country music, before launching its own morning show in May 2017.[28][29]

In March 2017, KLIV lost the rights to San Jose Earthquakes games to KTCT, a Cumulus Media-owned station in San Francisco.[30] The Bay Area Radio Museum honored KLIV with its Legendary Station Award in the same month.[31] Later in 2017, KLIV began broadcasting CIF Central Coast Section high school football and basketball games.[32][33][34]

Shutdown and sale (2019–present)[edit]

KLIV MW Antenna Array in 2011

KLIV went silent on January 28, 2019 following the sale of the station's studio and transmitter site on Story Road in San Jose's Little Saigon neighborhood, as well as additional financial losses and low ratings with the "Country Gold" classic country format. At 11:59pm that night, after a final sign off, KLIV's transmitter was shut off for the final time. Kieve indicated an intention for Empire Broadcasting to eventually donate the license to the city of San Jose, with the intent of using the station to broadcast city council meetings, committee meetings and other civic events.[35]

On April 3, 2019, the FCC granted KLIV a Special Temporary Authority (STA). After Empire filed an extension request "for continuing financial reasons," the FCC extended the STA in September 2019.[36] After being granted a six-month Special Temporary Authority on January 21, 2020, KLIV resumed broadcasting from a temporary 500-watt antenna, two days in advance of a one-year period the FCC allows stations to be silent before losing their licenses.[37][38] The Mercury News reported that the revived KLIV played a commercial-free mix of "oldies and country classics."[38]

Empire sold KLIV to Pham Radio Communications for $100,000 in March 2020. Pham owns Asian ethnic stations in the Bay Area, Vietnamese KVVN in Santa Clara and Chinese KVTO in Berkeley.[39] Due to financial reasons, KLIV again went silent on July 15, 2020, with the broadcast license set to expire automatically if the station does not resume operations within a year.[40] The sale was consummated on September 21, 2020. KLIV resumed broadcasting on July 11, 2021 with a Vietnamese format.[41][42]

Former programming[edit]

Public affairs and talk shows[edit]

During the late 2000s through its 2019 shutdown, KLIV broadcast San Jose Rotary Club meetings and Commonwealth Club of California talks.[43][44]

Weekend syndicated programs on KLIV prior to the 2016 switch from news to classic country included Into Tomorrow, The Clark Howard Show, Popular Science Radio, and The Ray Lucia Show.[45]

Sports[edit]

Since its format change in 1991, KLIV has broadcast local high school, college, and professional sports. From 1991 to 2019, KLIV was the flagship station for San Jose State University football and men's basketball.[46] KLIV lost the rights to San Jose State sports in 2005 to Palo Alto's KNTS.[47] In 2006, KLIV resumed broadcasting San Jose State football games.[48] Men's basketball games returned in December 2008.[49] In 2009, KLIV began broadcasting a weekly talk show with the San Jose State football head coach during football seasons.[50][51][52]

Having carried 26 of 33 games in the 2016–17 season, KLIV also was the primary radio station for Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball.[53]

In 1996, KLIV began broadcasting games of the San Jose Clash (later Earthquakes) of the newly formed Major League Soccer.[54] KLIV also broadcast select San Jose Lasers basketball games.[6]

During the late 2010s, KLIV also broadcast local high school football and basketball games.[55][56]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "KLIV Radio 1590, San Jose: The Top 40 Years". Bay Area Radio Museum. 3 August 2014. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  2. ^ "Routine Roundup" (PDF), Broadcasting, vol. 59, no. 1, p. 80, July 4, 1960, retrieved July 10, 2019 – via American Radio History
  3. ^ "Mutual's shy just one in top 50 U.S. markets" (PDF), Broadcasting, vol. 61, no. 5, p. 42, July 31, 1961, retrieved July 10, 2019 – via American Radio History
  4. ^ a b c Bustillos, Chuck (February 27, 1980). "KLIV: FM sound on AM dial". The Spartan Daily. San Jose State University. p. 4.
  5. ^ Palopoli, Steve (August 21, 2003). "Count on It". Metro Silicon Valley. Archived from the original on January 6, 2004. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d Kava, Brad (February 20, 1998). "South Bay market ripe for regional news talk". San Jose Mercury News. p. Eye 22. Retrieved April 6, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  7. ^ a b Darling, Cary (March 10, 1979). "KLIV in San Jose ties top 40, disco". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 10. p. 20. Retrieved August 4, 2019 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "KLIV 1590 Music LivRary Survey (March 15, 1972)". 14 August 2014.
  9. ^ Barrett, Dick (December 28, 1981). "Let's get New Year's Eve back - on real-time radio". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  10. ^ Wells, Paul (May 8, 1982). "The Song & The Psyche". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 18. p. 27. Retrieved July 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Weimers, Leigh (March 22, 1991). "All the news that's fit to hear". San Jose Mercury News. p. 1C. Retrieved May 30, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  12. ^ Weimers, Leigh (July 24, 1991). "Media feeling urge to merge". San Jose Mercury News. p. 1E. Retrieved April 6, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  13. ^ Weimers, Leigh (April 19, 1995). "Ah, the sun, the sand, the...snow". San Jose Mercury News. p. 1C. Retrieved April 6, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  14. ^ Richards, Gary (October 8, 2012). "Roadshow: I-580 carpool lane will be under construction this year". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "KLIV To Change Format After 30 Years of Local News". KLIV. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  16. ^ Pulcrano, Dan (June 4, 1998). "The Big Radio Play". Metro Silicon Valley. Archived from the original on May 5, 1999. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  17. ^ Kava, Brad (April 1, 2002). "Radio mogul's payday". San Jose Mercury News. p. A1. Archived from the original on June 12, 2002. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  18. ^ Cohen, Noam (December 4, 2006). "With Brash Hosts, Headline News Finds More Viewers in Prime Time". New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  19. ^ Kava, Brad (February 13, 2007). "KKUP's fundraiser to showcase live music". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  20. ^ "Kliv Online - San Jose's News Station". www.kliv.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  21. ^ Lieberman, Rich (March 9, 2012). "San Jose's KLIV to become affiliate of new NBC Radio News April 1; Friday short". Rich Lieberman 415 Media. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  22. ^ "SCU Men's Basketball Adds KLIV 1590 AM to Bronco Radio Network; Joins Long-Time Partner KDOW 1220 AM". Santa Clara Broncos. December 12, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  23. ^ "Kliv Am 1590 - Overnight Oldies on Kliv". www.kliv.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  24. ^ Pizarro, Sal (February 9, 2015). "KLIV playing classic hits again for night owls". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  25. ^ a b Newman, Bruce (11 April 2016). "San Jose's KLIV drops news and goes country". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  26. ^ KLIV (June 9, 2016). "Friday is KLIV's last day as a news station..." Facebook. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  27. ^ Richards, Gary (June 10, 2016). "Roadshow: With KLIV gone country, where can I get traffic reports?". Mercury News. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  28. ^ @1590KLIV (November 2, 2016). "Play secret sound for $800 Wednesday morning 6a to 9a with Gary & Julie on KLIV/@KRTY" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "Country Gold 1590 KLIV on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.[user-generated source]
  30. ^ "San Jose Earthquakes Change Flagships, Move To KTCT (KNBR 1050)/San Francisco". All Access Music Group. March 3, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  31. ^ "San Jose's KLIV Honored As 2017 Legendary Station". Bay Area Radio Museum. March 16, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  32. ^ @1590KLIV (November 15, 2017). "🏈High School Football Friday night on KLIV @CIFCCS playoffs on the radio at 6:30pm....#ValleyChristian VS…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Media Kit" (PDF). Empire Broadcasting. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  34. ^ @1590KLIV (October 8, 2018). "Fri night Hometown radio KLIV- 📻broadcasts 🏈#CCS High School Football🏈 Fri Oct 12 #Serra VS #ValleyChristian 6:30p…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  35. ^ Pizzaro, Sal (January 26, 2019). "San Jose's KLIV going silent after 73 years — for now". The Mercury News. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  36. ^ McCauley, Victoria (September 25, 2019). "In re: KLIV(AM), San Jose, CA, facility ID No. 19531, Silent since January 28, 2019, Request for Extension of Special Temporary Authority to Remain Silent". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  37. ^ "Special Temporary Authority". Federal Communications Commission. January 21, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  38. ^ a b Pizarro, Sal (February 12, 2020). "EBay Foundation boosts San Jose college fund program". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  39. ^ "Deal Digest: Clarity Grows In Lexington & Pham Radio Expands In Bay Area". Inside Radio. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  40. ^ McCauley, Victoria (July 28, 2020). "Request for Special Temporary Authority to Remain Silent". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  41. ^ "Consummation Notice". Federal Communications Commission. September 21, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  42. ^ "San Jose / Santa Cruz Radio Stations". Radio Station World. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  43. ^ "Radio Schedule". Commonwealth Club of California. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  44. ^ Meacham, Jody (April 11, 2016). "KLIV drops its 30-year-old local news format for country music". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  45. ^ "Check out KLIV's Special Programs!". Facebook. October 19, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  46. ^ "Good news, bad news in SJS radio switch", San Jose Mercury News, p. 2C, April 30, 1991, retrieved April 6, 2020 – via NewsBank
  47. ^ "KNTS (1220 AM) to provide full-season radio coverage of football and men's basketball". San Jose State Athletics. August 3, 2005. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  48. ^ "Football opens season at Washington". San Jose State Athletics. August 27, 2006. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  49. ^ "Men's Hoops Takes Win Streak To Saint Mary's Tournament". San Jose State Athletics. December 21, 2008. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  50. ^ "The Dick Tomey Radio Show At Original Joe's". SJSUSpartans.com. San Jose State University. August 28, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  51. ^ "Brent Brennan Show On KLIV Radio Moves To Hukilau Restaurant". SJSUSpartans.com. San Jose State University. August 21, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  52. ^ "The Ron Caragher Show". KLIV. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  53. ^ "2016-17 Santa Clara Men's Basketball Schedule".
  54. ^ "Ramey, Shrader to be voices of Clash". San Jose Mercury News. March 8, 1996. p. 2D. Retrieved April 6, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  55. ^ @IndianaAL (November 16, 2017). "High School Football.... CCS Playoffs!" (Tweet). Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Twitter.
  56. ^ @SIscores (January 6, 2018). "Listen live to @StIgnatius vs. @AMHSAthletics Boys Varsity Basketball on @1590KLIV's @WCALSports Game of the Week..." (Tweet). Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Twitter.

External links[edit]