1948-
KOMO, the AM station, went on the air in 1925 as KTCL. That station owner, Birt Fisher [not related to the “Fisher’s Blend” Fishers, except in partnership of the new radio station], was coming to the end of his lease on KTCL. Toward the end of the lease period, Fisher changed the KTCL call letters to KOMO and then moved those over to his new station, which had previously been — KGFA. KGFA’s facilities were sold to Vincent Kraft, who had operated KJR. Kraft changed put his new station on the air as K X A.
Located now on Harbor Island, the home of Fisher’s Blend Flour Mill, and positioned at 980 kilocycles, KOMO went on the air on New Years Eve, December 31, 1926. KOMO became an NBC affiliate in 1927. The frequency shifted to 1080 kc., within a year, and back again to 980 kc. and it wasn’t long before the station moved to studios in downtown Seattle.
In March 1928, KOMO’s AM frequency shifted, by assignation from the FCC, from 980 to 970 kilocycles, and in November to 920 kilocycles. In March 1929, KOMO moved again, not from their downtown studios, but on the radio dial, from 970 kc., to 950 kilocycles.
Finally, in May 1944, KOMO was assigned to it’s present dial position AM 1000 [kilocycles].
January 1947 – The Federal Communications Commission OKs operation of 2 new FM stations. One to be operated by a company called Western Waves and the other by Fisher’s Blend Station Inc., which operates KOMO-AM.
Western Waves, also purchased KEVR-AM 1090 the same year. The AM & NEW FM, owned by Western Waves, headed by Dorothy S. Bullitt, became KING AM & FM. After nearly 50 years under Bullitt operation, the stations were split and sold off by the Bullitt daughters [they had inherited the properties upon the death of Dorothy Bullitt]. The TV station was sold to the Providence Jounal in 1991, AM 1090 went to Infinity Broadcasting in 1994, the FM was donated to a nonprofit organization formed by the Seattle Opera, the Seattle Symphony, and the Corporate Council for the Arts and is operated by Fisher Broadcasting from the Fisher complex which houses KVI, KOMO AM & TV and other radio/TV properties.
In 1948, luxurious studios and a state of the art broadcast facility for KOMO were built at 4th & Denny in Seattle. KOMO-FM 98.9, began broadcasting for periods of 8 to 10 hours daily, in the latter part of 1948. The FM KOMO duplicated the AM programming 100% as the broadcast hours expanded from 10 each day in 1949 to a full 18 hours [6am to Midnight], later that year. KOMO FM went silent in 1953. The frequency lit up years later [May 1958] as KMCS.
From Harbor Island, the Cobb Building, the Skinner Building, to 4th & Denny and across a good portion of the radio dial, KOMO radio has remained part of the Fisher’s Blend family. Recent rumblings have made it evident that this long association may come to an end, as KOMO and other local Fisher properties could be sold off.
