KKLI-FM

FCC revives Fountain 106.3 FM allotment

The path to Fountain's first local FM nearly ended before a station was built. The FCC had terminated a proceeding to assign Channel 292A (106.3 MHz) after original petitioner Kurt M. Grow failed to demonstrate initial and continuing interest. Newly formed Fountain Broadcasting Company petitioned for reconsideration. The FCC reversed its earlier action and made the 106.3 allotment effective February 1, 1982. The facility eventually signed on as KKQX in 1987 and became KKLI in 1988.

Dan Cowen listed as KKLI program and music director

1991 — The Broadcasting Yearbook listed Dan Cowen as Program and Music Director at KKLI-FM, K-Lite 106.3 in Colorado Springs.

1993–2002: KKLI moves from International Boulevard to Academy Circle, Corporate Drive and South Circle

1993–2002 — KKLI's studio history traces several of the major ownership and cluster changes that reshaped Colorado Springs radio during the 1990s.

1994 Colorado Springs radio revenue reaches estimated $13.3 million

Duncan estimated Colorado Springs radio revenue at $13.3 million. Estimated station billings included KKCS at $3.2 million, KKFM $2.1 million, KSPZ $1.5 million, KKLI $1.2 million, KKMG $1.1 million, KVUU $1.0 million and KILO $975,000. Duncan estimated 50.4% of market revenue was controlled by duopolies.

February 1998 Colorado Springs ratings snapshot

A February Billboard market table shows KKMG at 10.0 in the latest listed 12+ book, followed by KKCS AM-FM at 8.8, KKFM 8.6, KILO 7.9, KCCY 7.4, KVOR 6.0, KVUU 5.0 and KSPZ/KKLI 4.5. These figures are a specific published ratings snapshot, not permanent rankings.

Sharon Green steps down from KKLI music and midday roles

In its June 5, 1998 issue, Radio & Records reported that KKLI/Colorado Springs music director and midday personality Sharon Green was stepping down from those roles. The item said program director Steve Larson was adding music director duties and Bo Roberts was taking over middays.

DOJ sues Citadel, Triathlon and Capstar over Colorado Springs JSA

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Citadel Communications, Triathlon Broadcasting and Capstar Broadcasting over the companies' joint sales arrangement. Citadel was setting prices and selling advertising for its own KKFM, KKMG and KKLI as well as Triathlon-owned KVUU, KSPZ, KVOR and KTWK. DOJ alleged the arrangement represented approximately 58 percent of Colorado Springs radio advertising revenue and reduced price competition and advertiser choice.

Citadel and Capstar settle Colorado Springs antitrust case

Citadel and Capstar agreed to terminate the Citadel/Triathlon joint sales agreement. Citadel was to own KKFM, KKMG, KSPZ, KVOR and KTWK, while Capstar would own KKLI and KVUU. DOJ estimated the post-transaction groups at approximately 40 percent and 16 percent of Colorado Springs radio advertising revenue, respectively. The federal court entered final judgment August 24.

Citadel and Capstar exchange Colorado Springs stations

FCC transfer filings moved KSPZ, KTWK and KVOR from the Capstar/Triathlon trust to Citadel, while KKLI moved from Citadel to Triathlon/Capstar. Contemporary transaction tables describe the exchange as KKLI plus $10 million for KTWK, KVOR, KSPZ and related assets. The private exchange preceded the federal antitrust settlement later that spring.

Summer 1999 Colorado Springs ratings snapshot

1999: Station swap splits the 2864 S. Circle cluster

1999 — A federal antitrust settlement ended the joint sales arrangement between Citadel and Triathlon/Capstar in Colorado Springs and reshaped the stations operating around the 2864 S. Circle cluster.

1999: Renae Roberts joins KKLI-FM

1999 — In 1999 Roberts joined Captain Dan and Paul Richards full-time on the KKLI-FM 106.3 morning show.

2004: Bob Richards takes over Clear Channel Colorado Springs operations

October 2004 — Longtime KBPI/Denver Program Director Bob Richards is named Operations Manager of Clear Channel's Colorado Springs cluster, overseeing KCCY, KIBT, KKLI and KVUU. He succeeds Don Schaffer.

2006: Bob Richards becomes Clear Channel Colorado Springs Market Manager

April 1, 2006 — Bob Richards becomes Market Manager of Clear Channel/Colorado Springs, replacing retiring Bob Gourley. Later career biographies describe Richards as VP/Market Manager over eight stations between Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

Chris Pickett rises to Clear Channel Colorado Springs Operations Manager

By 2007, Chris Pickett had expanded beyond his KVUU/My 99.9 and KKLI/K-Lite programming duties to serve as Operations Manager for Clear Channel's Colorado Springs operation. Contemporary industry material identifies him as Operations Manager of KVUU/KKLI; the 2008–2009 M Street Radio Book continued to list Pickett as KVUU Program Director.

2011: Glynn Alan takes over Clear Channel Colorado Springs

March 2011 — Clear Channel names Glynn Alan Market Manager for its Colorado Springs stations. Alan comes from KOSI/Denver, where he had been General Sales Manager, and previously worked in sports sales for Clear Channel Denver.

Chris Pickett remains Clear Channel Colorado Springs Operations Manager

In January 2011, the Colorado Springs Gazette quoted Chris Pickett as Operations Manager for Clear Channel's Colorado Springs radio stations while discussing the market's fall Arbitron ratings, directly confirming that Pickett remained with the Colorado Springs cluster well beyond 2007.

Chris Pickett transfers from Colorado Springs to Clear Channel Tucson

In 2011, Chris Pickett left Clear Channel Colorado Springs when the company transferred him to Tucson as Operations Manager of its seven-station cluster. Contemporary Tucson reporting explicitly states that Pickett had held the same Operations Manager position for Clear Channel's Colorado Springs cluster before the move.

2014: K-Lite 106.3 becomes Sunny 106.3

November 2014 — iHeartMedia rebrands longtime Colorado Springs adult-contemporary station KKLI/K-Lite 106.3 as Sunny 106.3. The station immediately begins its annual Christmas-music presentation before returning to adult contemporary after Christmas.

2017: Captain Dan Jackson leaves Sunny 106.3

May 2017 — Captain Dan Jackson leaves iHeartMedia's Sunny 106.3/KKLI after a decades-long run in Colorado Springs radio. Jackson had been paired with Paul Richards for years and later with Tammy Oakland; Jackson and Oakland won a Best of the Springs silver medal shortly before his departure.

Aaron Kinnischtzke joins iHeartMedia’s Colorado Springs cluster

Aaron Kinnischtzke joined iHeartMedia’s Colorado Springs cluster in 2021 as a promotions coordinator. His cluster work supported KIBT-FM, KCCY-FM, KKLI-FM, KBPL-FM.

2022: iHeartMedia Colorado Springs moves to Mark Dabling Boulevard

2022 — iHeartMedia’s Colorado Springs radio operation moved from its longtime studios at 2864 S. Circle Drive to 5725 Mark Dabling Blvd., Suite 120.

2024: Tammy Oakland leaves Colorado Springs for KOSI/Denver

December 2024 — After a long Colorado Springs radio career, Tammy Oakland joined KOSI 101.1 in Denver as midday host. She came from KKLI/Sunny 106.3, where she had been APD/midday talent.

Aaron Kinnischtzke exits iHeartMedia in Colorado Springs

In April 2026, iHeartMedia Colorado Springs Marketing and Promotions Director Aaron Kinnischtzke announced his exit from the company. His cluster work had supported KIBT-FM, KCCY-FM, KKLI-FM, KBPL-FM.