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KFIL-FM
Broadcast areaFillmore County, Minnesota
Frequency103.1 MHz
Branding103.1 KFIL
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatClassic country
AffiliationsLinder Farm Network
Minnesota Twins
Ownership
Owner
KFIL, KDOC-FM, KDCZ, KFNL-FM, KOLM, KROC, KROC-FM, KWWK, KYBA
History
First air date
April 1971
Call sign meaning
Fillmore County
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID34428
ClassC3
ERP3,500 watts
HAAT159.1 meters (522 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
43°43′59″N 92°05′08″W / 43.73306°N 92.08556°W / 43.73306; -92.08556
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitekfilradio.com

KFIL-FM (103.1 MHz) is an American commercial radio station licensed to serve Chatfield, Minnesota. The station, established in 1970 by O.B. Borgen, is currently owned by Townsquare Media and the broadcast license is held by Townsquare License, LLC.

Programming

KFIL-FM broadcasts a country music format. During daylight hours, this broadcast is in conjunction with its sister station, KFIL (1060 AM). The station serves Fillmore County and the greater Rochester, Minnesota, area.[2][3]

As a full service station, non-music programming includes CNN Radio, agriculture news, market reports, and specialized weather reports.[4] KFIL-FM is an affiliate of the Linder Farm Network.[5] KFIL-FM also broadcasts a tradio program called "Swap Shop" and a community calendar bulletin each weekday.

Weekend programming includes five hours of local church services and other Christian programming on Sunday mornings and two hours of oldies music on Sunday nights.[4] Sports programming on KFIL-FM includes local high school football, high school basketball, high school baseball, and high school softball games during the season, KFIL Sports Round-up with Devon Krueger each weekday, plus Coaches Corner on Saturday mornings from August through April.[6]

History

Borgen era

This station received its original construction permit on September 1, 1970. It began regular broadcast operations in April 1971, with 3,000 watts of power with an antenna 270 feet (82 m) in height above average terrain.[7] The station was assigned the call sign "KFIL-FM" by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).[8] The station, like its AM sister station, was originally licensed to serve the community of Preston, Minnesota.[7]

The station was originally owned and operated by KFIL, Inc., with Obed Samuel "O.B." Borgen as president of the corporation.[7] In October 1991, ownership of KFIL, Inc., was transferred to sons Michael S. Borgen and Jeffrey T. Borgen.[9][10] The station stayed in the Borgen family's control for more than 30 years.[11] Obed Borgen died in July 1999.[9]

Cumulus era

In December 2003, Michael S. Borgen and Jeffrey T. Borgen sold KFIL, Inc., to Cumulus Media through its Cumulus Broadcasting, LLC, subsidiary.[11][3] The published combined sale price of KFIL, KFIL-FM, and KVGO (through KVGO, Inc.)[3] was $3,000,000.[12] The deal gained FCC approval on February 5, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on March 30, 2004. The broadcast license for KFIL-FM was formally transferred from KFIL, Inc., to Cumulus Licensing, LLC, on December 31, 2004.[13]

Longtime KFIL/KFIL-FM air personality Mike Sveen retired from broadcasting in 2007. The former announcer, sports reporter, and Preston, Minnesota, city council member had worked at KFIL/KFIL-FM for more than 25 years.[14]

In September 2007, Cumulus applied to the FCC to change KFIL-FM's city of license from Preston, Minnesota, to nearby Chatfield, Minnesota. The FCC approved the change on January 8, 2008.[15]

Townsquare era

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including KFIL-FM, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global were both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management.[16][17] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[18] In early 2024, Townsquare closed KFIL's Preston studios and the station's control point switched to the Rochester-based studios. Townsquare had intended to sell the station's AM sister (KFIL), but the deal was withdrawn. KFIL-FM was not included in the sale.[19][20]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KFIL-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Winter 2011 Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Cumulus to buy 15 radio stations". Associated Press. December 2, 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Program Schedule". KFIL Radio. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  5. ^ "Where to Hear the Linder Farm Network". Linder Farm Network. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  6. ^ "Sports Schedule". KFIL Radio. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1978 (PDF). Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1978. p. C-117.
  8. ^ "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Funeral Notices". St. Paul Pioneer Press. July 29, 1999. Retrieved January 16, 2011. In 1966 he established KFIL in Preston, MN. [...] Survived by his sons, Greg Borgen, Dellwood, MN, Mike and Jeff Borgen, both of Rochester, MN;
  10. ^ "Application Search Details (BTC-19910916EA)". FCC Media Bureau. October 24, 1991. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Application Search Details (BTC-20031211ACA)". FCC Media Bureau. March 30, 2004. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  12. ^ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. BIA Financial Networks. December 14, 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  13. ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-20041210AAJ)". FCC Media Bureau. December 31, 2004. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  14. ^ Bentson, Bill (July 28, 2007). "Mike Sveen retires from KFIL". Preston Republican-Leader. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  15. ^ "Application Search Details (BPH-20070911ACO)". FCC Media Bureau. January 8, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  16. ^ "Official: Cumulus Buys Dial Global, Spins Some Stations To Townsquare; Peak Stations Sold To Townsquare, Fresno Spun To Cumulus". All Access. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  17. ^ "Cumulus Makes Dial Global And Townsquare Deals Official". RadioInsight. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  18. ^ "Cumulus-Townsquare-Peak Deal Closes". All Access. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  19. ^ Andy Brownell (February 16, 2024). "SE MN Broadcast Center Sold - Commitment to Community Remains". KFILRadio.com.
  20. ^ Jon Ellis (May 19, 2024). "Update: Sale of Southern Minnesota AM Station Withdrawn". Northpine.com.
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