KIUP 930 AM is Durango’s oldest continuously operating radio station and one of the earliest broadcasting outlets established in southwestern Colorado. It began serving the San Juan Basin in 1935 and later developed into a regional news and sports service for the Four Corners.
A difficult beginning
The effort to create KIUP began when Durango businessman John Turner considered whether a local station could succeed during the Great Depression. Ten area businessmen raised approximately $5,000 to support the project. The original construction permit was issued in the name of LeRoy Haley, an electrician and foreman at the Tacoma Power Plant.
Haley died in an accident before the station opened, delaying the project while the license paperwork remained missing. KIUP ultimately began regular broadcasting on December 10, 1935.
The Voice of the San Juan Basin
KIUP’s original studio and transmitter facility stood at 2800 Main Avenue in Durango. In 1936, the 100-watt station used the slogan “The Voice of the San Juan Basin.” Its schedule mixed local news, farm reports, request programs, religious features, popular music and community information. The station later moved to a facility south of Durango, where more than 3,000 people reportedly attended its grand opening.
KIUP in the Four Corners
KIUP eventually moved to 930 kHz and increased its daytime power to 5,000 watts. Under Four Corners Broadcasting, the station developed a sports-oriented service combining ESPN programming with local news, local sports, public-affairs features and live event coverage. The company has promoted KIUP as Durango’s oldest and most powerful AM station.
Sources
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KIUP-AM History
KIUP added to federal station list
Federal records added KIUP to the station list, establishing Durango's first local broadcast facility.
KIUP begins broadcasting in Durango
KIUP began broadcasting. Local historical research says ten Durango businessmen raised approximately $5,000 to establish the station. The original permit was issued in the name of electrician LeRoy Haley, who died in an accident before the station opened; the missing license reportedly delayed the launch. KIUP ultimately began broadcasting while operating under its construction permit.
KIUP’s original Durango facility
KIUP operated from its original stucco building at 2800 Main Avenue with only 100 watts. Its 1936 slogan was “The Voice of the San Juan Basin.”
KIUP’s documented 1936 program schedule
KIUP's schedule ran from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Programs included The Children's Bible Hour, Hawaiian music, Garden of Melody, News of the Hour, Farm Flashes, a request program, a WPA program, Sons of the Pioneers, Slices of Life and hillbilly music.
KIUP broadcasts Kiva Theater talent competition
KIUP broadcast the Kiva Theater's local “Talent Revue and Gong Night” competition live. Surviving photographs identify musician Homer Kirk as one of the finalists and preserve an image of a KIUP condenser microphone designed by D. V. Tostenson.
Southern Colorado stations remain active in federal lists
Federal station lists continued to show KVOR in Colorado Springs, KGHF in Pueblo, KGIW in Alamosa, KIUP in Durango, KOKO in La Junta and KIDW in Lamar. The surviving lists are important evidence that several small-market facilities remained active even when later retrospective histories are incomplete.
KIUP listed under San Juan Broadcasting
KIUP was listed at 1370 kHz with 100 watts under San Juan Broadcasting Co.
NARBA moving day reshapes Southern Colorado radio
The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement triggered a continent-wide “moving day” for AM radio. Frequencies from 1200 through 1450 kHz generally shifted upward 30 kHz. In Southern Colorado this moved KVOR from 1270 to 1300, KGHF from 1320 to 1350, KOKO and KIUP from 1370 to 1400, and KGIW/KIDW from 1420 to 1450. The new assignments became the basis for several familiar long-term frequencies.
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