KIHP (AM)
KIHP is a Catholic radio station licensed to Mesa, Arizona, serving the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is owned by IHR Educational Broadcasting.
History
The station signed on in 1946 as KTYL on 1490 kHz, owned by the Harkins Theater group. It was the second station in Mesa, signing on 3 days after KARV (1400 AM). Both stations ran 250 watts full-time with non-directional antennas — the maximum power allowed for Class IV (now Class C) stations at the time. Two years later, KTYL bought and shut down KARV; its frequency was reactivated in Phoenix in 1950 as KONI (now KSUN).
Harkins also put Arizona's first FM station (KTYL-FM 104.7, now KZZP) on the air in 1950; this was followed by Phoenix's second TV station (KTYL-TV channel 12, now KPNX) on the air. As with the AM station, both stations were originally located in (and are still licensed to) Mesa.
KTYL moved to 1310 in the early '50s, and eventually increased its power to 5000 watts days and 500 watts nights. It became KBUZ, a beautiful music station, in 1956, with the slogan 'Drive with care, and KBUZ, everywhere'. At that time, it moved to Thomas Mall on the east side of Phoenix. The format was simulcast on 104.7 FM, by now KBUZ-FM.
Podcasts:
