The station first signed on in 1947 as KIBE, owned and operated by Millard Kibbe. It was a daytime only station operating with 250 watts and simulcast the classical music programming of KDFC-FM. On March 1, 1984, the call signs changed to KDFC. In the summer of 1997, PAR Holdings bought three stations, including KDFC. On August 29, 1997, KDFC became KBPA and changed its format to a talk radio format with the syndicated Personal Achievement Radio network, which specialized in self-help and inspirational programming. Jay Peterson was Operations Manager KBPA added Sports Byline USA to its lineup in 1998. On February 15, 1999 the station became KBZS and changed its format to business news and financial advice. KBZS began broadcasting the Metropolitan Opera in December 1999 after KDFC dropped the show for not being able to carry it on tape delay. KBZS also began broadcasting San Jose State men's basketball in the 1999–2000 season. Purchased by Salem Communications, KBZS became KSFB on July 24, 2001 and changed from business talk to Christian talk. In 2003, KSFB began broadcasting Santa Clara University men's basketball and select San Jose Giantsminor league baseball games in 2003. On July 1, 2004, the station became KNTS and changed to a news/talk format four days later carrying the Salem Radio Network lineup, including Dennis Prager and Michael Medved. In 2005, KNTS became the flagship station for San Jose State football and basketball; the football games returned to KLIV in 2006, but KNTS continued carrying basketball games until the 2007–08 season. Also in 2005, the FCC granted KNTS a construction permit to increase its power to 50 kW day and night and use a transmitter in Hayward. On July 1, 2008, 1220 AM picked up its present call letters KDOW, resuming its previous business news and financial advice format. At the request of KDOW's license holder Salem Communications, the FCC cancelled the 2005 construction permit in November 2008, restoring KDOW's operating power to 5 kW day and 145 W night.
The station features a variety of business and financial talk shows, including the nationally syndicated Phil's Gang and Market Wrap with Moe Ansari, brokered shows including Online Trading Academy's Power Trading Radio, and some locally produced shows. Weekends feature nationally syndicated shows, a legal talk show hosted by Thomas Girardi and political show with Rebecca Costa. The station aired a real estate talk show entitled Real Estate Deal Talk from 2016 to 2017, hosted by Abhi Golhar.
Sports
Since 2003 when it was KSFB, KDOW has broadcast Santa Clara University men's basketball games. Beginning in 2013, KDOW began carrying fewer Santa Clara games as San Jose's KLIV picked up more Santa Clara games. On May 15, 2015, KDOW announced that it took over the radio broadcast rights to the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. On September 11, 2015, San Jose Sharks minor league affiliate San Jose Barracuda announced that they had signed a radio deal with KDOW 1220 AM to broadcast their games.
