Since its modest beginning 20 years ago in a small North Hollywood studio, KKLA-FM (99.5) has grown to become the nation's largest Christian teaching and talk radio station.
Now based in a spacious Glendale office, the 50,000-watt station that calls itself the "Spirit of Los Angeles" offers around-the-clock broadcasting that emphasizes conservative evangelical values. And while growing in religious influence, KKLA also has done so well financially that the station is now worth at least $250 million, according to the Southern California Broadcasters Assn.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday January 04, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 103 words Type of Material: Correction
Radio station -- An article in the Dec. 27 California section about the Christian-focused station KKLA-FM (99.5) described it as a 50,000-watt station. KKLA is licensed for as much as 50,000 watts but broadcasts at 10,500 watts. The article also said the station's previous call letters were KHOE; they were KHOF. In addition, the article gave the surname of Yorba Linda real estate brokers George and Lisa Haines as Raines. Also, the article failed to note that Los Angeles trial lawyer Carol Vallely, a listener who uses her maiden name professionally, is the wife of the Rev. Clay Schmit, who was also quoted.
Throughout the last year, more than 12,000 listeners attended various 20th anniversary events and lectures featuring popular celebrity program hosts, including Chuck Swindoll, former president of the Dallas Theological Seminary, of "Insight for Life"; child psychologist James Dobson of Focus on the Family; and Frank Pastore, a former Cincinnati Reds pitcher who leads a popular afternoon show.
"We feel like we can really make a difference in people's lives," said Terry Fahy, vice president and general manager of KKLA and its four sister stations. "We believe it inspires people to live better lives. We are constantly exhorting people to reach out more to their fellow men, be more giving to the poor."
Pastore's three-hour, live, drive-time talk show is produced locally. Most of the other programs are produced elsewhere by ministries and firms that buy their time on KKLA. More than two dozen regularly scheduled programs include Bible studies, sermons by theologians and segments dealing with health, finance and the law.
Their common thread is that they all are from a conservative Christian perspective. "Our goal is to have a consistent program voice as much as possible," said Fahy, who has been with KKLA since its start two decades ago.
The station is the flagship of Camarillo-based Salem Communications, owners of 105 radio stations throughout the country, Fahy said.
Salem Communications acquired the 99.5-FM signal, then KHOE, after its previous owner, the Rev. Gene Scott, lost a seven-year court battle with the Federal Communications Commission, which did not renew his license because he refused to reveal financial records after the agency alleged that designated contributions were not spent as intended.
