KNSI

KNSI
Broadcast area
Central Minnesota
Frequency1450 kHz
BrandingNewsTalk 1450 KNSI
Programming
FormatTalk radio
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
June 4, 1938 (1938-06-04)
Former call signs
  • KFAM (1938–1975)
  • KCLD (1975–1981, 1988–1990)
  • KNSI (1981–1988)
Call sign meaning
Know News, Sports and Information
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
37002
ClassC
Power1,000 watts (unlimited)
Translator99.3 K257GK (St. Cloud)
Repeater98.9 KZPK-HD2 (Paynesville)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websiteknsiradio.com

KNSI (1450 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. It is owned by Leighton Media, which also owns KCLD-FM, KZPK and KCML. KNSI is also carried on HD Radio, via KZPK-HD2.

History

The station was first licensed on December 20, 1937, and went on the air on June 4, 1938, as KFAM on 1420 kHz for a two-day preview. Regular programming began on June 6. The call letters recalled an earlier St. Cloud station, WFAM, owned by the Times Publishing Company and the St. Cloud Daily Times, which had been first licensed in June 1922 and deleted in the summer of 1928; the new KFAM was also owned by the Times. In 1941, under the provisions of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement, KFAM moved to its current frequency of 1450 kHz.

In September 1948, KFAM was joined by a sister station, KFAM-FM 104.7. The two stations were later sold to Alver Leighton in September 1975 and changed their call letters to KCLD and KCLD-FM.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KNSI". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Construction Permit Granted For St. Cloud's Radio Station, KFAM to Operate Next Spring". The St. Cloud Daily Times and The Daily Journal-Press. St. Cloud, Minnesota. June 3, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Central Minnesota to Give Welcome to KFAM, in Two Day Preview Program Here". The St. Cloud Daily Times and The Daily Journal-Press. St. Cloud, Minnesota. December 21, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "200,000 Listeners Welcome KFAM to Radio Channels". The St. Cloud Daily Times and The Daily Journal-Press. St. Cloud, Minnesota. June 4, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "KFAM advertisement". The St. Cloud Daily Times and The Daily Journal-Press. St. Cloud, Minnesota. June 3, 1938. p. 13. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "New Stations", Radio Service Bulletin, July 1, 1922, page 3.
  7. ↑ "Strike out all particulars of the following named stations", Radio Service Bulletin, July 31, 1928, page 18.
  8. ↑ "KCLD (KNSI) history cards" (PDF). Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ "KFAM-FM On Air". The St. Cloud Daily Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. September 14, 1948. p. 13. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Monn, Bill (September 15, 1975). "License transfer effective today: KFAM to become KCLD". The St. Cloud Daily Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. p. 13. Retrieved October 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

Official website

45°32′21″N 94°10′5″W / 45.53917°N 94.16806°W / 45.53917; -94.16806