KIRO (AM)

KIRO (AM) is a commercial news/talk radio station licensed to Seattle, Washington, and serving the Puget Sound region. Broadcasting on 710 kHz with a powerful 50,000-watt clear-channel signal by day, it is owned by Bonneville International, a subsidiary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The station, known as "KIRO Newsradio," has been a dominant source of news and talk radio in the Pacific Northwest for decades, with a history dating to 1927.

History

The station first signed on the air on September 24, 1927, as **KPCB**, originally licensed to Tacoma and owned by the Puget Sound College of Business. In 1935, the station was purchased by the Queen City Broadcasting Company, which changed the call letters to **KIRO** and moved its city of license to Seattle. Under the ownership of Morton J. May and later the Bonneville International corporation, the station grew in prominence, becoming an affiliate of the CBS Radio Network and establishing a reputation for comprehensive local news coverage. A significant milestone occurred in 1953 when KIRO increased its daytime power to 50,000 watts from a new transmitter site in Vashon, greatly expanding its reach across Washington and into British Columbia. The station was sold to Bonneville International in 1974, solidifying its long-term ownership structure. Throughout the late 20th century, KIRO evolved from a full-service middle of the road format to a dedicated news/talk station, a transition completed by the early 1990s.

Programming

KIRO (AM) operates a news/talk format branded as "KIRO Newsradio," featuring extensive local news coverage, traffic and weather reports, and talk programming. The station produces several popular local talk shows focusing on Seattle politics, community issues, and Pacific Northwest lifestyle topics. It also carries nationally syndicated talk programs from hosts such as Dave Ramsey and Dana Loesch, alongside select programming from the CBS News Radio network. A hallmark of its schedule is live play-by-play sports broadcasting; for many years, KIRO was the flagship station for Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball games and Seattle Seahawks National Football League games, though those broadcast rights have since moved to other stations. The station's digital presence is strong through its website, MyNorthwest.com, which provides written articles, podcasts, and on-demand audio.

Technical details

KIRO transmits from a transmitter site on Maury Island, using a directional antenna system to protect other stations on 710 kHz, particularly KSPN in Los Angeles. By day, it operates with the maximum power of 50,000 watts, allowing its signal to cover most of Washington, parts of Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia. Due to Federal Communications Commission regulations governing AM broadcasting at night, KIRO reduces its power to 1,000 watts and uses a directional pattern to minimize interference to other stations, which limits its nighttime coverage primarily to the Seattle metropolitan area. The station is licensed as a Class B facility on a clear channel frequency, sharing 710 kHz with KSPN.

Notable on-air staff

Over its long history, KIRO has been home to many notable broadcasters and journalists. Legendary news anchor Charles Royer, who later became Mayor of Seattle, worked at the station early in his career. Longtime talk show host Dori Monson was a prominent and controversial figure on the station for decades until his passing in 2022. Other significant personalities have included news reporter Ursula Reutin, sports director Mike Gastineau, and talk host Dave Ross, who also contributes commentary to the CBS Radio Network. The station's news team has received numerous awards from organizations like the Associated Press and the Radio Television Digital News Association for its reporting.

Category:Radio stations in Seattle Category:News/talk radio stations in Washington (state) Category:Bonneville International Category:Radio stations established in 1927 Category:1927 establishments in Washington (state)