KCOL AM 600

A commercial AM news and talk station licensed to Wellington, Colorado, serving the Fort Collins-Greeley radio market. The station signed on January 12, 1959, as KZIX, initially operating as a 1,000-watt daytimer on the 600 kHz frequency, required by regulation to cease transmission at sunset to protect co-channel stations. Poudre Valley Broadcasting acquired the station in August 1965, and in the 1970s it transitioned to a country music format before later adding syndicated talk programming at night via NBC Talknet. Power was subsequently increased to 5,000 watts daytime with 500 watts of nighttime service. In 1998, Clear Channel Communications, the predecessor to current owner iHeartMedia, acquired the station for $6.1 million along with local alternative rock outlet KTCL. The station's format shifted away from country, and on November 5, 1999, the call letters were changed to KCOL. Studios and offices are located in Loveland, with the transmitter situated in Fort Collins. Weekday programming opens with a locally produced morning news and information block hosted by Jimmy Lakey. The remainder of the weekday schedule consists of nationally syndicated talk programs. Weekend programming covers health, personal finance, religion, home repair, and technology topics, with some paid brokered content. National news updates from Fox News Radio air at the top of most hours.