KLIZ (1380

kHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), often described as being equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose formal expression in terms of SI base uni ...

, "The Fan") is an AM radio station broadcasting a

sports radio Sports radio (or sports talk radio) is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sport, sporting events. A widespread programming genre that has a narrow audience appeal, sports radio is characterized by an often-low comed ...

format. Licensed to serve

Brainerd, Minnesota Brainerd ( ) is a city and the county seat of Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 14,395 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Brainerd straddles the Mississippi River several miles upstream from its confluen ...

, United States, it serves the

Brainerd Lakes area Brainerd ( ) is a city and the county seat of Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 14,395 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Brainerd straddles the Mississippi River several miles upstream from its confluen ...

. It first began broadcasting in

1946 1946 (Roman numerals, MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1946th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 946th year of the 2nd millennium, the 46th year of the 20th centur ...

. The station is owned by

Hubbard Broadcasting Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. is an American television and radio broadcasting corporation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded by Stanley E. Hubbard. The corporation has broadcast outlets scattered across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri ...

. KLIZ's programming is primarily supplied by the Fan Radio Network, based out of

KFXN-FM KFXN-FM (100.3 Hertz, MHz) is a commercial radio station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, broadcasting a sports talk radio format, format. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, and serves the Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Twin Cities market. KF ...

in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

History

KLIZ signed on August 6, 1946, on 1400 AM under the ownership of Brainerd Broadcasting Company. It joined the

Mutual Broadcasting System The Mutual Broadcasting System (commonly referred to simply as Mutual; sometimes referred to as MBS, Mutual Radio or the Mutual Radio Network) was an American commercial radio network in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the Golden Age of Radio, ...

on December 15, 1946. The station moved to 1380 AM in 1956. By 1971, KLIZ was airing middle of the road and

country music Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...

, and was affiliated with the

NBC Radio Network The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (also known as the NBC Red Network from 1927 to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in continuous operation from 1926 through 1999. Along with the NBC Blue Network, it wa ...

. In 1973, the station went to a full-time country music format. It moved to a middle of the road format in 1982. Sequel Communications bought KLIZ and its FM sister station, KLIZ-FM (107.5), in 1985. CD Broadcasting bought the stations in 1987 and changed KLIZ to a contemporary country format. In 1988, news and talk programming were added, along with affiliations with the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

NBC Talknet NBC Talknet was a nighttime programming block on the NBC Radio Network from the 1980s to the 1990s. It comprised several advice-oriented call-in talk shows, the most notable personalities being Bruce Williams and Sally Jessy Raphael. At a ...

, and the Minnesota News Network. CD Broadcasting exchanged the KLIZ stations to Sioux Valley Broadcasting for KJJQ and KKQQ in

Volga, South Dakota Volga ( ) is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,113 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, and was estimated to be 2,340 in 2023. History Volga was founded by the ...

, in 1989. Sports programming was added to KLIZ's format in 1992. The KLIZ stations, along with KLLR and KLLZ in

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) *Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California * ...

, were acquired by Ingstad Broadcasting in a 1994 swap that saw Sioux Valley acquire North Dakota radio stations KDDR and KOVC AM- FM from Ingstad. Country music was dropped in December 1995 in favor of programming from

One on One Sports SportsMap was a sports radio network that was distributed by Gow Media. The SportsMap Radio Network supplied its network affiliates with a 24-hour schedule of sports programming, including call-in shows and sports updates. Over its history, thro ...

. In 1996, Jim Ingstad Broadcasting sold nine of its northern Minnesota stations, including KLIZ, to the Provident Investment Council; the station's license was transferred to Kommerstad Communications. That May, KLIZ dropped sports for a simulcast of the news/talk programming of sister station KVBR (1340 AM); in November, KLIZ switched to an

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

format provided by

Westwood One Westwood One, Inc. is an American radio network owned by Cumulus Media. The company syndicates talk, music, and sports programming. The company takes its name from an earlier network also named Westwood One, a company founded in 1976. The co ...

. In January 1998, KLIZ returned to a talk radio format; by 2000, the station had affiliations with the

USA Radio Network USA Radio Network is an American mass media company, specializing in 24/7 news coverage, long-form talk radio shows, produced and distributed with a generally conservative focus. USA Radio Network produces and distributes 24-hour news, talk, inf ...

and Westwood One. Omni Broadcasting agreed to acquire the Kommerstad stations in 2003; the purchase had been planned since 2002. Shortly after Omni's BL Broadcasting subsidiary took over in 2004, BL swapped the formats of KLIZ and KVBR; KLIZ became sports radio station "The Fan", with programming being provided by the Fan Radio Network (then based out of KFAN in Minneapolis–St. Paul) and

Sporting News Radio SportsMap was a sports radio network that was distributed by Gow Media. The SportsMap Radio Network supplied its network affiliates with a 24-hour schedule of sports programming, including call-in shows and sports updates. Over its history, thro ...

. Hubbard Broadcasting announced on November 13, 2014, that it would purchase the Omni Broadcasting stations, including KLIZ; the $8 million sale was completed on February 27, 2015.

References

External links

* * * ( Guide to reading History Cards) {{Hubbard Broadcasting Inc. Hubbard Broadcasting Radio stations in Minnesota Sports radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1946 1946 establishments in Minnesota