KKLA-FM (99.5

MHz 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 u ...

, "99.5 KKLA") is a

commercial Commercial may refer to: * (adjective for) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and services ** (adjective for) trade, the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information or money * a dose of advertising ...

radio station Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based rad ...

licensed to

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and serving the

Greater Los Angeles Greater Los Angeles is the most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. state of California, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino County and Riverside County in the eas ...

area. The station is owned by the

Salem Media Group Salem Media Group, Inc. (formerly Salem Communications Corporation) is an American radio broadcaster, internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher based in Irving, Texas, targeting audiences interested in Christian values and wh ...

and broadcasts a

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

talk and teaching format. The KKLA-FM studios are located in Glendale and the transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.

History

The 99.5 FM frequency in Los Angeles has been home to two stations operating under separate licenses, both broadcasting a

Christian radio Christian radio refers to Christian media radio formats that focus on Christian religious broadcasting or various forms of Christian music. Many such formats and programs include contemporary Christian music, gospel music, sermons, radio dramas, ...

format.

KHOF (1956–1985)

Originally owned by Pastor Ray Schoch's Faith Center Church in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, Glendale ha ...

, the station signed on November 13, 1956, with the

call letters In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a Identifier, unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be fo ...

KHOF. During the 1960s and 1970s, programming consisted of various syndicated ministries and programming produced by Faith Center. In 1975,

Gene Scott William Eugene Scott (August 14, 1929 – February 21, 2005) was an American minister and teacher who served for almost 50 years as a pastor and broadcaster in Los Angeles, California. He pastored the Faith Center and Wescott Christian Center ...

took over Faith Center and moved properties including KHOF to strictly in-house programming. Some stations were sold. By 1980, Scott's

sermon A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present context ...

s aired around-the-clock. The

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...

canceled KHOF's license in September 1982, citing improper conduct on the part of Faith Center, including misappropriation of fundraising proceeds.

KKLA-FM (1985–present)

KKLA-FM operates on a license separate from that of the former KHOF, first issued in October 1985 to

Salem Communications Salem Media Group, Inc. (formerly Salem Communications Corporation) is an American radio broadcaster, internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher based in Irving, Texas, targeting audiences interested in Christian values and wha ...

subsidiary New Inspiration Broadcasting with the call sign KKLA. At that time, the station launched a

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...

(CCM) format for part of the day and Christian talk and teaching for the rest of the day. By 1987, the majority of KKLA's programming consisted of the latter. The station eliminated Christian music by 1990; this void was filled by

KFSG KFSG (1690 Hertz, kHz) is an AM broadcasting, AM radio station broadcasting a Brokered programming format featuring Spanish Religious and Multilingual shows. KFSG is licensed to Roseville, California and serves the Sacramento metropolitan area ...

(96.3 FM) which began airing a CCM format for most of its broadcast day. In 1995, the station's call letters changed to KKLA-FM. This was done to accommodate sister station KLFE (1240 AM) in

San Bernardino San Bernardino ( ) is a city in and the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the List of ...

, which changed its callsign to KKLA and

simulcast Simulcast (a portmanteau of "simultaneous broadcast") is the broadcasting of programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultaneously) ...

KKLA-FM until 1999. During part of the day Monday through Saturday, KKLA-FM broadcasts local Christian call-in talk shows that discuss a mix of religious and conservative political issues. At all other times and all day Sunday, the station airs

ministries Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

and teaching programs from speakers such as J. Vernon McGee,

John F. MacArthur John Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (born June 19, 1939) is an American pastor and author who hosts the national Christian radio and television program ''Grace to You''. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in ...

, and Hank Hanegraaff. KKLA-FM claims to be the most-listened-to-Christian talk radio station in the United States.

Awards

KKLA-FM was honored by the

National Association of Broadcasters The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is a Industry trade group, trade association and lobbying, lobby group representing the interests of commercial and non-commercial over-the-air radio and television broadcasting, broadcasters in th ...

as its Religious/Gospel station of the year in 1995.

References

External links

FCC History Cards for KKLA
* * {{coord, 34.224, N, 118.063, W, type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC, display=title KLA Christian radio stations in California Radio stations established in 1985 1985 establishments in California Salem Media Group radio stations