KFOW (1170 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Waseca, Minnesota and serving South Central Minnesota. The station is owned by the Linder Radio Group and broadcasts a sports radio format. The radio studios and offices are on Cedardale Drive in Owatonna, Minnesota.

KFOW
Broadcast areaSouth Central Minnesota
Frequency1170 kHz
BrandingThe Fan Owatonna
Programming
FormatSports
AffiliationsKFXN-FM
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Wild
Ownership
Owner
KRUE, KOWZ
History
First air date
December 22, 1971; 52 years ago (1971-12-22) (as KOWO)
Former call signs
KOWO (1971–2003)
KOWZ (2003–2012)
KRUE (2012–2015)
KOWZ (2015–2020)
Call sign meaning
Faribault, and OWatonna
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID70931
ClassD
Power2,500 watts day
1,000 watts critical hours
5 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
44°02′45″N 93°23′08″W / 44.04583°N 93.38556°W / 44.04583; -93.38556
Translator(s)106.3 K292GU (Waseca)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitethefanowatonna.com

By day, KFOW is powered at 2,500 watts non-directional. Because 1170 AM is a clear channel frequency reserved for Class A stations KOTV in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia, KFOW must reduce power at night to only five watts to avoid interference. During critical hours, the station is powered at 1,000 watts.[2] Programming is also heard on 250 watt FM translator K292GU at 106.3 MHz.[3]

Former Talk Programming

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Until May 1, 2023 KFOW largely broadcast nationally syndicated conservative talk shows. Weekdays began with Hugh Hewitt, followed by Brian Kilmeade, Ben Shapiro, Dave Ramsey, Dan Bongino, "Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb" and "Red Eye Radio." Local news and agriculture reports were featured during the day with local high school sports on some evenings.

On weekends, the schedule featured shows on money, health, real estate, home repair, the military, guns, barbecuing, wine, farming, the outdoors, pets, travel and old time radio shows, as well as repeats of weekday shows and NASCAR racing. Most hours began with national news from Fox News Radio.

History

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On December 22, 1971; 52 years ago (1971-12-22), the station signed on the air as KOWO. Originally it was a daytimer, powered at 1,000 watts and required to go off the air at night. In later years, it increased its power and added limited nighttime service.

On October 7, 2020, KFOW dropped its classic hits format and began stunting with "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" by Rolf Harris, a common practice on stations owned by Linder when switching formats.[4][5] On October 12, KFOW debuted a new talk radio format. As part of the flip, the station affiliated with Fox News Radio.[6][7]

On May 1, 2023 KFOW changed their format from talk to sports, branded as "The Fan Owatonna".[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KFOW". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/KFOW
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/K292GU
  4. ^ KFOW Ties Its Train Down Sport Radioinsight - October 8, 2020
  5. ^ Keith, Thelen (October 7, 2020). "KFOW Waseca. (When the Kangaroo Song starts, a new format can't be far behind...)". Twitter. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "News Talk 1170 KFOW - Waseca, Owatonna, Faribault, Blooming Prairie". newstalk1170.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  7. ^ "Owatonna Station Drops Classic Hits for Conservative Talk – Upper Midwest Broadcasting". Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  8. ^ KFOW Joins Minnesota's Fan Network Radioinsight - May 3, 2023
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