KJKJ
Encyclopedia
KJKJ is an American
radio station
serving Grand Forks, North Dakota
. It first began broadcasting in 1985. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications
and the station's broadcast license
is held by Citicasters Licenses, L.P.
music radio format
. Weekday personalities on KJKJ include the "BigDogz" morning show, Brian Lee Rivers on mid-days, Jon Roberts on afternoons, Mark Kidder on nights, and Thomas Ray on overnights. Weekend personalities include Tony O'Brien and Paul Kelly.
and variety morning show pranksters, The BigDogz (sometimes spelled Dawgz), is one of the first of their type, commonly compared to the syndicated morning show Bob and Tom and Tom Barnard
's show on KQRS-FM. The BigDogz is hosted by Bill Tanner and Pat Mars, and has been on the air since 1995. The BigDogz are known mainly for satire of local and national events; mixed with a variety of characters. The BigDogz talk weekly to comedian Bob Zany
and host him annually for a series of comedy shows typically held at Muddy Rivers Ballroom.
(AOR), a predecessor to today's classic rock
format, similar to that of the well-known KQRS-FM in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. During the early 1990s, Rock 108 tweaked to classic rock
, the descendant of the AOR format. In 1995, The BigDogz debuted as their satirical news
morning show, sometimes being compared to the syndicated Bob and Tom, and has been the top-rated morning show for many years. Clear Channel Communications
bought out several radio stations including KJ108 in 2000, and KJ108's format evolved into a mainstream rock
format, and later to active rock
with classic rock still being played.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
serving Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
. It first began broadcasting in 1985. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
and the station's broadcast license
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
is held by Citicasters Licenses, L.P.
Programming
KJKJ broadcasting an active rockActive rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
music radio format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
. Weekday personalities on KJKJ include the "BigDogz" morning show, Brian Lee Rivers on mid-days, Jon Roberts on afternoons, Mark Kidder on nights, and Thomas Ray on overnights. Weekend personalities include Tony O'Brien and Paul Kelly.
The BigDogz
The station's coarse comedy satirical newsNews satire
thumb|right|220px|[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]] is a news satire program.News satire, also called fake news , is a type of parody presented in a format typical of mainstream journalism, and called a satire because of its content...
and variety morning show pranksters, The BigDogz (sometimes spelled Dawgz), is one of the first of their type, commonly compared to the syndicated morning show Bob and Tom and Tom Barnard
Tom Barnard
Thomas 'Tom' Barnard is an American talk radio host and former voice-over talent. He is currently the host of The KQ92 Morning Show broadcast in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.-Personal:...
's show on KQRS-FM. The BigDogz is hosted by Bill Tanner and Pat Mars, and has been on the air since 1995. The BigDogz are known mainly for satire of local and national events; mixed with a variety of characters. The BigDogz talk weekly to comedian Bob Zany
Bob Zany
Bob Zany is an American stand-up comedian. He is known for performing with his trademark cigar on stage. According to an article found on his web page, he "stuff[s] a cigar into a plastic bag with a couple of Bob Zany original postcards and charge[s] five bucks for the package...
and host him annually for a series of comedy shows typically held at Muddy Rivers Ballroom.
History
KJKJ first signed on in 1985 as "Rock 108" with an album-oriented rockAlbum-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
(AOR), a predecessor to today's classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
format, similar to that of the well-known KQRS-FM in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. During the early 1990s, Rock 108 tweaked to classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, the descendant of the AOR format. In 1995, The BigDogz debuted as their satirical news
News satire
thumb|right|220px|[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]] is a news satire program.News satire, also called fake news , is a type of parody presented in a format typical of mainstream journalism, and called a satire because of its content...
morning show, sometimes being compared to the syndicated Bob and Tom, and has been the top-rated morning show for many years. Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
bought out several radio stations including KJ108 in 2000, and KJ108's format evolved into a mainstream rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
format, and later to active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
with classic rock still being played.