KERN

KERN (1180 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a News/talk format. Licensed to Wasco-Greenacres, California, USA, the station serves the Bakersfield, California, area. The station is currently owned by American General Media.

History

KERN signed on the air at the 1410AM frequency in 1922. Programming consisted of Top40 music from the 1950's until the late 1970's. In the early 70's the station was a popular choice for Top40 music in Bakersfield. It was also among the first stations to carry "American Top 40 with Casey Kasem." It switched to talk in the late 70's when FM became the standard band for music.

KERN most recently broadcast a Christian music format as KERI The Christian Station. On December 29, 2008, KERN, which had been broadcasting on 1410 AM, started simulcasting on 1180 AM to get listeners used to the new frequency as part of an announced frequency swap with KERI. The KERN call sign was officially moved from 1410 AM, where they had been since 1932, to 1180 on December 30, 2008 and the KERI call sign was moved to 1410 AM. On January 1, 2009, the Christian music format was reunited with the KERI call sign on 1410 AM.

The station is owned by American General Media and among its sister stations are soft adult contemporary KGFM adult hits KKXX-FM, sports radio KGEO, christian talk station KERI, top 40 station KISV, and Regional Mexican station KEBT.

KERN is the flagship station of the Bakersfield College Renegades.

Programming

KERN is affiliated with ABC Radio, from which it airs Paul Harvey, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin, as well as Talk Radio Network, from which it airs Michael Savage, Jerry Doyle and numerous weekend hosts. Local hosts heard on the station include Inga Barks and Scott Cox. KERN also airs Earl Pitts Uhmerikun during its morning show.