# KOIL > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/KOIL > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/KOIL.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KOIL > Source revision: 1354192086 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Radio station in Omaha, Nebraska}} {{for|the Bellevue, Nebraska radio station that held the call sign KOIL at 1180 AM from 1993 to 2003 and from 2009 to 2012|KZOT}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox radio station | country = US | name = KOIL | logo = KOIL2026logo.png | logo_size = 200px | city = [Omaha, Nebraska](/source/Omaha%2C_Nebraska) | area = [Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area](/source/Omaha-Council_Bluffs_metropolitan_area) | branding = ''News Talk 1290 KOIL'' | airdate = {{Start date and age|July 10, 1925}} (original license)
{{Start date and age|1976|12|16}} (Interim Operation)
January 13, 1983 (relicensed) | frequency = 1290 [kHz](/source/kilohertz) | format = [Talk](/source/Talk_radio) | power = 5,000 [watt](/source/watt)s | class = B | facility_id = 542 | callsign_meaning = '''K-OIL''' (original owner was the Mona Oil Company of Council Bluffs, Iowa.) | former_callsigns = KOIL (1925–1993)
KKAR (1993–2012) | affiliations = [Fox News Talk](/source/Fox_News_Talk)
[Compass Media Networks](/source/Compass_Media_Networks)
[Premiere Networks](/source/Premiere_Networks)
[Salem Radio Network](/source/Salem_Radio_Network)
[Westwood One](/source/Westwood_One)
[Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network](/source/List_of_Kansas_City_Chiefs_broadcasters)
[Omaha Lancers](/source/Omaha_Lancers) [Hockey](/source/Junior_ice_hockey) | network = [ABC News Radio](/source/ABC_News_Radio) | owner = Usher Media Group | licensee = Usher Media of Omaha, LLC | sister_stations = [KOZN](/source/KOZN), [KZOT](/source/KZOT), [KQKQ-FM](/source/KQKQ-FM), [KOPW](/source/KOPW) | webcast = [https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KOIL Listen live] | website = [https://newstalk1290koil.com newstalk1290koil.com] | licensing_authority = [FCC](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) }} '''KOIL''' (1290 [kHz](/source/Hertz)) is a [commercial](/source/commercial_radio) [AM](/source/AM_broadcasting) [radio station](/source/radio_station), [licensed](/source/City_of_license) to [Omaha, Nebraska](/source/Omaha%2C_Nebraska). It airs a [talk radio](/source/talk_radio) [format](/source/radio_format) and is owned by Usher Media Group. It's studios are on Dodge Street at 50th Avenue in [Midtown Omaha](/source/Midtown_Omaha). KOIL is a [Class B](/source/list_of_broadcast_station_classes) station powered at 5,000 [watt](/source/watt)s. At night, it uses a [directional antenna](/source/directional_antenna) with a three-[tower array](/source/tower_array) to protect other stations on [1290 AM](/source/1290_AM). The [transmitter](/source/transmitter) site is off Harrison Street, near Big Papillion Creek in [Bellevue, Nebraska](/source/Bellevue%2C_Nebraska).[https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=koil&x=0&y=0&sr=Y&s=C Radio-Locator.com/KOIL] ==Programming== KOIL's schedule is mostly [nationally syndicated](/source/Radio_syndication) talk shows. Weekdays begin with two news magazines, ''[America in the Morning](/source/America_in_the_Morning) with John Trout'' and ''[This Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal](/source/This_Morning%2C_America's_First_News_with_Gordon_Deal)''. The rest of the weekday schedule includes ''[Brian Kilmeade and Friends](/source/Brian_Kilmeade), [The Sean Hannity Show](/source/The_Sean_Hannity_Show), [The Mark Levin Show](/source/The_Mark_Levin_Show), [The Chris Plante Show](/source/Chris_Plante), Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis'' and ''America at Night with Rich Valdés''. Weekends feature shows on money, health, the law, technology, guns and home repair. Syndicated weekend programs include ''[The Kim Komando Show](/source/The_Kim_Komando_Show), [Bill Handel on The Law](/source/Bill_Handel)'' and ''[At Home with Gary Sullivan](/source/At_Home_with_Gary_Sullivan)''. KOIL airs live sports including [Kansas City Chiefs](/source/Kansas_City_Chiefs) [football](/source/NFL) and [Omaha Lancers](/source/Omaha_Lancers) [junior ice hockey](/source/junior_ice_hockey).{{cite web |url=http://www.newstalk1290koil.com/ProgramSchedule.aspx |title=The Mighty 1290 KOIL |website=www.newstalk1290koil.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404000652/http://www.newstalk1290koil.com/ProgramSchedule.aspx |archive-date=2016-04-04}} Most hours begin with an update from [ABC News Radio](/source/ABC_News_Radio). ==History== [[File: KOIL advertisement (1944).jpg|thumb|1944 station advertisement.[https://archive.org/details/broadcasting27unse/page/n1541/mode/1up "KOIL" (advertisement)], ''Broadcasting'', November 13, 1944, page 6.]] ===Establishment=== KOIL was initially licensed to the Monarch Manufacturing Company of [Council Bluffs, Iowa](/source/Council_Bluffs%2C_Iowa) on 1080 kHz.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763060&seq=149 "New stations"], ''Radio Service Bulletin'', August 1, 1925, page 3. Its owner was an oil company, hence the "OIL" in the call letters. It was one of the earliest stations in the Omaha area, and [signed on the air](/source/Sign-on) on July 10, 1925. KOIL was one of the stations that participated in the first [CBS network radio](/source/CBS_Radio_Network) broadcast on September 18, 1927.{{cite news |work=Radio Online |title=CBS Radio News Celebrates 75th Anniversary |date=September 17, 2002}} On November 11, 1928, with the implementation of the [Federal Radio Commission](/source/Federal_Radio_Commission)'s [General Order 40](/source/General_Order_40), it was assigned to 1260 kHz. Its [affiliation](/source/Network_affiliate) switched to the [NBC Blue Network](/source/NBC_Blue_Network) on December 1, 1931.{{cite news|title=KOIL Joins NBC|url=https://archive.org/details/broadcasting13unse/page/n100/mode/1up|access-date=23 July 2025|agency=Broadcasting|date=November 15, 1931|page=15}} KOIL carried its schedule of dramas, comedies, news and sports during the "[Golden Age of Radio](/source/Golden_Age_of_Radio)". The station moved to Omaha in 1937, and was assigned to 1290 kHz in March 1941, under the provisions of the [North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement](/source/North_American_Regional_Broadcasting_Agreement). KOIL was purchased by salesman and promoter Don Burden in 1953. As network programming moved from radio to television, the station adopted a [Top 40](/source/Top_40) format. It was a popular station for Omaha's teens and young adults. It became part of Burden's [Star Stations](/source/Star_Stations). ===License cancelation=== The [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) (FCC) began an investigation into allegations involving Burden and his stations. They included reports of bribes Burden made to officials in charge of renewing the licenses of his stations, supervision of on-air contests, and lack of candor with the FCC.{{cite web|url=https://nebradio.tripod.com/koil.html|title=The Mighty 1290 KOIL Tribute|accessdate=October 31, 2022}} Star Stations was forced to surrender its radio licenses, and KOIL was ordered to go [off the air](/source/dark_(broadcasting)) as of 12:01 a.m. September 2, 1976.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-09-13-BC.pdf#page=66 "Burden facilities are much in demand"], ''Broadcasting'', September 13, 1976, page 66. The last two songs played by [DJ](/source/disc_jockey) Gene Shaw were [Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)](/source/Neither_One_of_Us_(Wants_to_Be_the_First_to_Say_Goodbye)) by [Gladys Knight & The Pips](/source/Gladys_Knight_%26_The_Pips). This was followed by the very last song, [Simon & Garfunkel](/source/Simon_%26_Garfunkel)'s "[The Sound of Silence](/source/The_Sound_of_Silence)." The engineer on duty who turned off the transmitter after 51 years was Don Eliason. On [Tom Becka](/source/Tom_Becka)'s last segment, he also played the song as he [signed off](/source/sign-off). ===Interim operation=== After KOIL's license was canceled, there were multiple applications filed to continue operations, either temporarily under an Interim Operation authorization, or as a relicensed station. On November 24, the FCC awarded an Interim Operation authorization to Beneficial Broadcasting Inc.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-12-13-BC.pdf#page=76 "Other Actions"], ''Broadcasting'', December 13, 1976, page 80. Beneficial, headed by Nathan Novak, was the sole applicant to apply for only Interim Operation, and also pledged to donate all profits to charity. On December 16, 1976, the station, still KOIL, resumed broadcasting."KOIL Back On the Air 'For Good'", by Doug Smith, ''Omaha Herald'', December 16, 1976, page 1. ===Relicensing=== While the Interim Operation of the station was ongoing, the FCC held competitive hearings among the applicants for a permanent relicencing of the station. A May 1981 ruling favored Nebraska-Iowa Broadcasting, but a January 1982 review changed the decision to Omaha Broadcasting."Omaha Broadcasting gets KOIL License", ''Lincoln (Nebraska) Star'', January 12, 1982, page 5. Following a merger of the applicants, the new license was ultimately granted to NewKOIL, Inc., which took over operations on January 13, 1983."KOIL Radio Permanent License Won by NewKOIL, Inc." by Steve Millburg, ''Omaha World-Tribune'', January 13, 1983, page 41. Although technically this was a new station, its continued operation as KOIL on 1290 kHz meant that it was considered to be the same station as the original KOIL established in 1925. In February 1988, KOIL was sold to Valley Radio, Inc.. By this point, KOIL aired an [oldies](/source/oldies) format. In December 1990, KOIL dropped local programming and began airing the "Pure Gold" oldies format from [Satellite Music Networks](/source/Satellite_Music_Networks). By May 1993, KOIL was simulcasting FM sister station [KXKT](/source/KXKT), was the Omaha-Council Bluffs affiliate for the [Kansas City Royals](/source/Kansas_City_Royals) Radio Network, and aired an evening [sports talk](/source/sports_talk) show. The station would go off the air for several months due to a lightning strike that caused a fire.Jeff Bahr, "KOIL Still Off the Air," ''The Omaha World-Herald'', May 29, 1993. In August, after Valley Broadcasting sold the station to Aegeus, Inc. (which was owned in part by John Mitchell, president and principal owner of Mitchell Broadcasting, the owner of KKAR and [KQKQ](/source/KQKQ-FM)), the station returned to the air, with KOIL moving to [1180 AM](/source/KZOT) (and flipping to an [adult standards](/source/adult_standards) format), while 1290 AM became KKAR, and adopted a [news/talk](/source/news%2Ftalk) format."KOIL May Leave Mighty 1290," ''The Omaha World-Herald'', May 21, 1993.Jeff Bahr, "'Duopoly' Will Move KKAR," ''The Omaha World-Herald'', August 7, 1993.Jeff Bahr, "KOIL Format Still a Mystery," ''The Omaha World-Herald'', August 28, 1993.Jeff Bahr, "KOIL to Air 'Great Songs'," ''The Omaha World-Herald'', September 8, 1993. In April 2003, KKAR moved to 1020 AM, replacing KKSC (now [KMMQ](/source/KMMQ)).{{cite news |work=Radio Online |title=Radio News Search |date=April 29, 2003}} The call sign resumed broadcasting on 1180 kHz in January 2009. On June 4, 2012, KOIL was returned to 1290 AM and rebranded as "The Mighty 1290" KOIL.{{cite web|url= https://newstalk1290koil.com|title=News Talk 1290 KOIL|accessdate=October 31, 2022}} On May 8th, 2026, NRG Media transferred its Omaha cluster to Usher Media for $2.15 Million. ==Past personalities== Announcers who once worked for KOIL include Roger W. Morgan, [Gene Okerlund](/source/Gene_Okerlund), Gary Michael Ross, Dr. [Don Rose](/source/Don_Rose),{{cite news |work=Radio Online |title=Legendary Morning Air Personality Dr. Don Rose Dies |date=March 30, 2005}} Dick Sainte, and former ''[Shindig!](/source/Shindig!)'' host [Jimmy O'Neill](/source/Jimmy_O'Neill_(DJ)). Other personalities to spend time at KOIL include [The Real Don Steele](/source/Don_Steele), [Gary Owens](/source/Gary_Owens), Kris Erik Stevens, Lyle Dean, Frank "Coffeehead" Allen, Joe Light, Dave Wingert, Sandy Jackson, and [Tom Becka](/source/Tom_Becka). ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website|https://newstalk1290koil.com}} {{AM station data|542|KOIL}} *[http://nebradio.tripod.com/koil.html "The Mighty 1290" KOIL tribute page] {{Omaha Radio}} {{News/Talk Radio Stations in Nebraska}}{{coord|41|11|20|N|96|00|22.1|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC|display=title}} OIL Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States Category:Radio stations established in 1925 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [KOIL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KOIL) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KOIL?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.