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About
Us
The History of KERI
KERI Radio went on air on
May 17, 1950 originally an outlet of
Maple Leaf Broadcasting Company with the call letters KWSO. It was owned by
E.J. Peters, and managed by Bob Bann. When the station first started
broadcasting, it operated on the frequency of 1050 kc, with a power of 250
watts. The station signed on at 6:15am and signed off at 6:00pm.
KWSO is now KERI 1180 AM which can be heard 24 hours a day, and boasts an
operating power of 50,000 watts. In the beginning the format was
predominantly religious programs and classical music.
Then in 1974 Don Bevilacqua purchased the station with its original 250 watt
daytime coverage on AM 1050khz. Two years later the power was increased to
5000 watts. The FCC rules changed allowing for a different frequency on the
dial to be chosen. This is when the station moved to AM1180. The power was
also increased to 10,000w day and 1000w night. Soon after the station
applied for 50,000w daytime coverage. 1000w night. Then a dual city license
was established including Greenacres and Wasco. The power at night was also
increased to 10,000 watts
On September 27, 2004 KERI 1180 was purchased by Rogers
Brandon, President of American General Media. AGM owns six other radio
stations in Bakersfield and has several other stations in California,
Colorado and New Mexico. The new ownership has made a commitment to continue
to provide Kern County with excellent Christian programming on KERI and will
continue to grow the station. 
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