KCFR 90.1 is CPR News, the flagship of Colorado Public Radio. It signed on November 4, 1970, as KCFR, “Colorado Free Radio,” owned by the University of Denver, and it was a charter member of NPR. DU ran it until 1983. In 1984 a community board took it over. (Before that, KCFR had started airing All Things Considered in 1973 and Morning Edition in 1979.) In 1991 KCFR merged with KPRN in Grand Junction, and that merger is usually given as the start of Colorado Public Radio.
In 2000 CPR bought the assets of commercial classical station KVOD, and in March 2001 the call letters swapped: KVOD classical went to 90.1 FM and KCFR news moved to 1340 AM. On July 9, 2008, CPR moved news and talk back to 90.1 as KCFR-FM, and KVOD classical moved to a newly bought signal on 88.1.
Station information
- Frequency: 90.1 MHz.
- City of license: Denver.
- Signed on: November 4, 1970.
- Branding: CPR News.
- Call history: KCFR (1970–2001), KVOD (2001–2008), KCFR-FM (2008–present).
- Owner: Colorado Public Radio (University of Denver, 1970–1983).
- FCC facility ID: 53777.
Related
References
- KCFR-FM, Wikipedia.
- Colorado Public Radio, Wikipedia (1973 and 1979 NPR shows, 1991 KPRN merger).
STATION FILE
FROM THE TIMELINE
Moments in KCFR-FM History
KCFR “Colorado Free Radio” signs on at the University of Denver
November 4, 1970 — The University of Denver signed on KCFR 90.1, “Colorado Free Radio,” a charter member of NPR. It grew into Colorado Public Radio.
KCFR leaves the University of Denver for community ownership
1984 — After 13 years under the University of Denver, KCFR passed to a community board. Wikipedia's KCFR-FM article says that board set up Colorado Public Radio. Its Colorado Public Radio article says CPR was formed in 1991, when KCFR merged with KPRN in Grand Junction.
KCFR and Grand Junction’s KPRN merge into Colorado Public Radio
1991 — Denver's KCFR merged with Grand Junction's public station KPRN to form Colorado Public Radio, which went on to add stations and translators across the state.
Boulder’s old KBOL 1490 becomes CPR’s KCFC
2001 — The Boulder frequency that was KBOL from 1947 to 1994, and progressive-talk KWAB “Radio for Change” from 1999, became KCFC, carrying Colorado Public Radio news.
CPR moves news back to 90.1; KVOD classical goes to 88.1
July 9, 2008 — Colorado Public Radio moved its news and talk programming to 90.1 FM as KCFR-FM, and the KVOD classical service that had been on 90.1 since 2001 moved to a newly bought signal on 88.1.
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