KFNQ

KFNQ is a sports radio station based in Seattle, Washington, broadcasting at 1090 kHz. The station is owned by CBS Radio and carries the entire CBS Sports Radio schedule. The station's transmitter is located on Vashon Island and operates from studios in Seattle near Lake Union. KFNQ is a Class B station operating on the clear-channel frequency of 1090 AM.

KFNQ also airs on the HD3 sub-channel of KJAQ 96.5 FM.

History

What is now known as KFNQ began as KVL, then KEVR in 1927. The station is considered the third oldest radio station in Seattle, the first being KJR, which began broadcasting in 1922, and the second being KOMO, which began in 1926.

KING

In 1947, broadcasting pioneer Dorothy Bullitt bought KEVR and almost immediately asked for permission to change the calls to KING (for King County, Washington). After Bullitt bought the calls from a merchant ship, the FCC granted the request a few months later.

Under the Bullitts' watch, the once-small station became a powerhouse in Seattle. KING was known as the "Mighty 10-90," and featured legendary radio personalities such as Frosty Fowler, Ray Court, Mark Wayne, Buzz Lawrence, and late night talk with Irving Clark's "Clark on King." The station was an NBC Radio network affiliate which had many monitor features and local news, often using KING-TV anchors. The format of music was MOR, but also mixed in with jazz, bossa nova and some swing. When compared to KJR, KING had a light-hearted and upbeat direction, an opposition to KJR's hip direction, as well as not being as staid as KIRO (AM). The late '60s personalities defected to KIRO and other markets. Bob and Jim, a duo team was brought in from KREM in Spokane, but by then, personality Larry Nelson on KOMO (AM), and KIRO's news was beginning to gain traction in the market. Later in its life, KING focused on left-leaning political talk during the final years.