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| KTAR (AM) | |
|---|---|
| Name | KTAR |
| City | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Area | Phoenix metropolitan area |
| Branding | News 92.3 KTAR FM / 620 AM |
| Frequency | 620 kHz |
| Format | News/talk |
| Network | ESPN Radio (past), Audacy, Inc. (parent company) |
| Owner | Bonneville International |
| Airdate | 1922 (as KFAD) |
| Callsign meaning | derived from Arizona Republic predecessor |
KTAR (AM) is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Phoenix, Arizona serving the Phoenix metropolitan area with a news/talk format. Owned by Bonneville International, the station traces its origins to early broadcast experiments in the 1920s and has been influential in Arizona broadcasting, local politics, and regional sports coverage. KTAR has undergone format shifts, network affiliations, and technical modifications, remaining a flagship outlet for news and sports in the Southwestern United States.
KTAR's lineage begins with experimental broadcasts in 1922 as KFAD, reflecting activity in early radio broadcasting hubs such as Los Angeles and San Francisco technicians who migrated to Phoenix, Arizona. The station later adopted the KTAR call letters and established ties with the Arizona Republican newspaper, paralleling ownership models like those of the Chicago Tribune and New York Times in early 20th-century media consolidation. During the Golden Age of Radio, KTAR affiliated with networks similar to the National Broadcasting Company and Columbia Broadcasting System, carrying dramas, comedies, and serials that mirrored programming on outlets such as WGN (AM) and KDKA.
Post-World War II expansion saw KTAR increase power and influence amid competition from stations like KOY (AM) and KPHO-TV. Corporate shifts included periods under media conglomerates comparable to Gannett Company and later ownership transitions involving Bonneville International, aligning KTAR with other legacy properties. In the late 20th century, KTAR pivoted toward news and talk formats contemporaneous with outlets such as KFI and WABC (AM), adapting to audience fragmentation caused by cable networks like CNN and syndication from producers such as Premiere Networks.
Regulatory and technological developments influenced KTAR's trajectory: allocations by the Federal Communications Commission and changes in AM band practices paralleled reforms affecting stations like WOR and WLW. The station's role in political coverage increased during statewide contests involving figures like Barry Goldwater and Sandra Day O'Connor-era judicial appointments, positioning KTAR as a forum for debates and campaigns similar to forums hosted on KQED and WBUR.
KTAR's lineup features a mix of local and syndicated shows, comparable to programming strategies at WBBM (AM) and WNYC (AM). Morning drive programming emphasizes news, traffic, and weather with anchors and producers drawing on wire services such as Associated Press while featuring commentators who have appeared on platforms like NPR and Fox News Radio. Midday and afternoon blocks include call-in talk segments, interviews with figures akin to Jan Brewer and Doug Ducey in Arizona politics, and analysis of topics intersecting with entities like Maricopa County institutions.
Syndicated content historically has come from networks comparable to Westwood One and Cumulus Media Networks, while local show hosts have maintained partnerships with regional outlets such as The Arizona Republic and Arizona State University media programs. Specialty weekend programming reflects interests in outdoors and lifestyle themes promoted by conferences like Outdoor Retailer and events hosted at venues such as Phoenix Convention Center.
KTAR has functioned as a primary sports broadcaster in the region, covering franchises akin to the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Arizona Coyotes through play-by-play rights, pregame analysis, and postgame shows. The station has collaborated with rights holders and league offices from the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and National Hockey League to deliver live coverage and commentary. Coverage strategies mirrored those employed by sports radio leaders such as WFAN and 670 The Score, integrating sideline reports, coach interviews, and beat reporting from journalists associated with outlets like ESPN and The Athletic.
KTAR's sports programming also included college athletics, partnering with institutions like Arizona State University and broadcasting collegiate football and basketball games, similar to arrangements seen with University of Arizona coverage on competing stations. Special event coverage has encompassed postseason play, drafts, and ceremonies connected to organizations such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Playoff.
Over decades KTAR has hosted anchors, talk show hosts, and pundits who became notable figures in Arizona media ecosystems, paralleling personalities from stations like KFWB and WBZ (AM). Hosts have conducted interviews with political leaders including former governors and members of the United States Congress, and regularly featured commentators from think tanks and universities such as Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Syndicated hosts who have appeared on KTAR-like lineups include nationally known broadcasters from networks like Fox News Radio and SiriusXM.
Local news teams work alongside reporters covering beat beats at institutions including Maricopa County Sheriff's Office beats and municipal governments such as City of Phoenix councils, producing investigative segments analogous to work by ProPublica collaborators.
KTAR operates on the 620 kHz frequency with power levels and antenna patterns regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Technical upgrades over time paralleled advances at facilities like KSL (AM) and included transmitter modernizations, directional array installations, and FM simulcasts to reach audiences across the Valley of the Sun. The station's signal contours interact with geographic features of Arizona such as the Sonoran Desert and urban canyons in downtown Phoenix, requiring engineering coordination similar to projects managed by NAB (National Association of Broadcasters engineers. KTAR also adapted to digital platforms, streaming content compatible with apps produced by companies like Apple Inc. and Spotify.
KTAR has engaged in community outreach through partnerships with local nonprofits and institutions such as St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, United Way of Phoenix, and academic collaborations with Arizona State University. Public service campaigns mirrored initiatives undertaken by broadcasters recognized by awards from organizations like the Radio Television Digital News Association and the National Association of Broadcasters, earning regional journalism awards comparable to those presented by the Arizona Press Club. The station's charitable drives and emergency broadcasting during events like major monsoon storms and statewide crises have positioned it alongside legacy public safety broadcasters such as WINS (AM) in civic responsiveness.
Category:Radio stations in Phoenix, Arizona