What if I told you that a simple set of call letters, KDEN, holds a surprising amount of Denver radio history? This isn’t just about one station. It is about the evolution of sound in the Mile High City. Let’s delve into the story of KDEN-AM.
KDEN-AM’s story isn’t straightforward. It is full of twists and turns. Its identity has shifted over the decades. The call letters KDEN first appeared on 1340 kHz in 1956. Before that, the station was KMYR.
Frederick W. Meyer, a wholesale grocer, launched KMYR in 1940. Meyer cleverly used his name for the call sign. KMYR originally broadcast with 250 watts.
In 1956, the station changed hands. The new owners changed the call letters to KDEN.
For a time in the 1970s and 80s, KDEN took a newsy turn. It adopted an all-news radio format. Initially, KDEN used NBC Radio’s “News and Information Service”. After NBC discontinued the service, KDEN continued as an NBC News affiliate. Local anchors delivered the news.
Then came another shift. In December 1993, 1340 AM became KKYD “Radio AAHS”. It was Denver’s outlet for a children’s radio network. However, Radio AAHS faced tough competition from Disney.
After Radio AAHS ended, KKYD needed new programming. For a short time, it broadcast electronic dance music. This “Beat Radio” aired 12 hours a night.
In late October 1998, another change occurred. KKYD switched to a Catholic radio format. This lasted until Colorado Public Radio acquired the station.
Colorado Public Radio announced its purchase in 2001. They planned to convert the station to non-commercial status. CPR acquired the intellectual property of classical station KVOD AM 1280. KVOD was switching formats.
In March 2001, CPR moved KVOD’s classical music to 90.1 FM. KCFR’s news and talk programming moved to 1340 AM. In 2008, KCFR returned to 90.1 FM. KVOD moved to the newly acquired 88.1 FM frequency. CPR wanted to focus on FM broadcasting. They continued to operate 1340 as a simulcast of KCFR until a buyer was found.
October 31, 2011, marked the launch of “OpenAir” on 1340 AM. Billed as “New Music from Colorado Public Radio,” it focused on independent artists. The station adopted new KVOQ call letters.
On July 24, 2015, Colorado Public Radio announced a trade. They swapped KVOQ to Cedar Cove Broadcasting for KRKY-FM. On July 27, 2015, KVOQ became an all-sports station. It was branded as “Mile High Sports.”
On August 28, 2015, the station adopted its current call sign KDCO. In 2016, Cedar Cove Broadcasting traded KDCO to Kona Coast Radio.
Finally, in 2020, KDCO was sold to El Sembrador Ministries. It became a Spanish-language Catholic radio station.
The KDEN call letters might be gone from this particular spot on the dial. However, its legacy lives on in the broader story of Denver radio. The current KDEN-TV is a Telemundo station. It serves the Denver area. It first signed on the air on March 31, 1997. It stands as a testament to the ever-changing world of broadcasting in the Mile High City.