KTAN

History

This station originally went on the air on July 30, 1957 as a daytime only station with a power of 1,000 watts,using the call letters KHFH (Historic Fort Huachuca). This station was the first radio station in Sierra Vista, AZ. and the third radio station in Cochise County Az. The first KSUN in Bisbee, (now defunct) went on the air in 1933 and the second KAWT, now KDAP in Douglas in 1947. All three stations were owned by Carleton Morris and KHFH was the most powerful of the three. The studio was located at the intersection of Carmichael Avenue and DePalma St.(now 700 Carmichael Ave.) and the transmitter was located in an undeveloped area on the Southeast part of town. That area is now 2300 Busby Drive. In August 1958 the license holder requested permission from the FCC to operate at night for one night only in order to broadcast election results. The FCC denied the request. The station was finally granted nighttime operations on September 5, 1962 with a power of 500 watts with a directional pattern. At the same time that nighttime operations began, the studios were relocated to the transmitter site.

KHFH was the only radio station in a small town adjacent to a military base, they used to broadcast a variety of programming to suit everyone's preferences. They broadcast a "middle of the road" format the morning, country/western in the afternoon, top 40/rock and roll at night and classical on Sunday evenings. Due to a significant number of German speaking people in the area, they would also broadcast 1 hour a week of programming in German both music and talk. Even the commercials were in the German language. In addition to the variety of musical formats, they also broadcast the local high school football, basketball and baseball games, both home and away along with local news several time a day.

The call letters were changed to KTAN in September 1973 when a sister station was added, KTAN-FM (100.9). The FM station then broadcast a top 40/rock and roll format while the AM station broadcast a "middle of the road" format. The country/western and classical formats were dropped, but they did keep the local news and local high school sports broadcasts. KTAN changed to a country/western format from 1979 to 1998. From 1998 to 1999 they broadcast a contemporary Christian format. In 1999 KTAN switched to a news/talk format, that became popular with AM stations in the 1990s. They aired the popular conservative talk shows plus some local talk shows. In July 2015 they switched their programing to classic country/western. This was done because of declining advertising revenues. Local advertisers were becoming leery of having their business name associated with controversial topics and programs.

History of Owners

1957 to 1965 Carleton W. Morris

1965 to 1977 Huachuca Broadcasting (Kenneth Ferguson)

1977 to 1980 Behan Broadcasting (Dennis Behan)

1980 to 1990 Richter Broadcasting

1990 to 1995 CSG Broadcasting

1995 to 2000 DB Broadcasting

2000 to 2003 Commonwealth Broadcasting

2003 to present Cherry Creek Radio

History of Call Letters

From 1947 through 1958 the call letters KTAN were used by a 250 watt daytime only station in Sherman TX. The station is now KJIM, 1500 kHz.

From 1959 through 1969 the call letters KTAN were used by a 5,000 watt daytime and 500 watt nighttime AM station in Tucson, Arizona. That station is now KSAZ 580kHZ.

From September 1973 to the present, the call letters KTAN are being used by a 1,500 watt daytime and a 500 watt nighttime station 1420 kHz, in Sierra Vista, Arizona.