KIRV
KIRV (1510 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Christian radio format. It is licensed to Fresno, California, United States, and serves the Fresno area during daytime hours. The station is owned by Centro Cristiano Viva Abundante, Inc.[1]
| City | Fresno, California | 
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Fresno | 
| Frequency | 1510 kHz | 
| Branding | Radio Vida Abundante | 
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Spanish | 
| Format | Christian radio | 
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Centro Cristiano Viva Abundante, Inc. | 
| KJDJ, KDBV | |
| History | |
| First air date | August 1962 | 
| Call sign meaning | Original owner Irving E. Penberthy | 
| Technical information | |
| Licensing authority | FCC | 
| Facility ID | 48513 | 
| Class | D | 
| Power | 10,000 watts day | 
| Transmitter coordinates | 36°42′42″N 119°49′59″W | 
| Links | |
| Public license information  | Profile LMS | 
| Website | radiovidaabundante | 
KIRV must sign off the air at sunset, a requirement originally instituted to protect the signal of KGA in Spokane, Washington, the former Class A clear channel station on 1510 kHz.
History
    

The Federal Communications Commission authorized the granting of a construction permit for a new radio station on 1510 kHz in Fresno to Irving E. Penberthy on October 31, 1961.[2] Penberthy was a Baptist minister, but while plans were initially announced for the station to specialize in religious programs,[3] this was changed before broadcasting began.[4]
At the end of 1965, Penberthy reached a deal to sell KIRV to general manager Robert Eurich.[5] Eurich owned the station until New Life Enterprises acquired it in 1974.[2] One of the partners in New Life was Jim Patterson, who later became mayor of Fresno between 1993 and 2001.[6] Patterson was a second-generation broadcaster; he had previously been employed at KBIF, which was owned by his father Norwood until he lost ownership of it in a tax case. Norwood was also involved with Visalia's KICU-TV.[7] Patterson, who was joined by Dan Jantz and Dennis Klassen in the partnership, frequently aired his conservative political views on KIRV programs.[8] The station lost $400 in its first full year as a Christian outlet but made $44,000 of revenue by 1980.[7]
The 500-watt station upgraded to its present 10,000 watts after the construction of two new towers in the antenna array was approved in 1979.[9]
Though not active in management in the later years,[7] Patterson continued to own KIRV until 1999, when it was sold to Gore-Overgaard Broadcasting. Gore-Overgaard sold KIRV to current owner Centro Cristiano Vida Abundante in December 2012 for $600,000.[10]
References
    
- "KIRV Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- FCC History Cards for KIRV
- "Minister Will Open Radio Station". The Fresno Bee. December 31, 1961. p. 19-F. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- "New Station Will Feature Concert Selections, News". The Fresno Bee. July 26, 1962. p. 6-D. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- "Radio Station KIRV Is Sold For $145,000". The Fresno Bee. December 21, 1965. p. 14-A. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- Boren, Jim (April 25, 1995). "Mayor finds his job puts him on the freebee-receiving end". The Fresno Bee. p. B1. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- Hoagland, Doug; Dudley Ellis, Anne (January 5, 1997). "Jim Patterson: I Am the Mayor: Leader of city's new era faces challenges, doubts". The Fresno Bee. pp. A1, A12, A13, A14. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- Hoagland, Doug (May 3, 1986). "Valley airwaves alive as listeners tune into Jesus". The Fresno Bee. pp. A10, A11. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- "Supervisors OK growth in county's 'antenna city'". The Fresno Bee. December 18, 1979. p. C7. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- "Fresno AM headed to noncom". Radio and Television Business Report. December 19, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
External links
    
- KIRV in the FCC AM station database
- KIRV on Radio-Locator
- KIRV in Nielsen Audio's AM station database