KRDU


KRDU is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Dinuba, California, and serving the Fresno-Visalia radio market. It airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. KRDU is regarded as America's first commercial Christian radio station. The studios and offices are located on Shaw Avenue in North Fresno.
KRDU broadcasts at 5,000 watts by day and is a rare AM station that increases its power at night to 6,200 watts. It uses a directional antenna at all times. The transmitter towers are off Road 136 in Cutler, California. As of 2019, KRDU is the radio home of the Fresno Grizzlies, a Pacific Coast League Triple A minor league baseball team connected with the Washington Nationals.

History

KRDU signed on the air on December 26, 1948, at 1130 kilocycles. It was owned by the Radio Dinuba Company with studios on L Street. The call sign represents Radio DinUba. At first it was a daytimer, required to go off the air at night and powered at only 250 watts. In 1949, it moved to 1240 kHz with 250 watts full-time.
In 1961, it moved back to 1130 kHz with full-time authorization, powered at 1,000 watts around the clock. In 1975, it added an FM station, KLTA.
In the 1990s, the power was increased to its current 5,000 watts days and 6,200 watts nights. In 1999, KRDU was acquired by AMFM, Inc. AMFM was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, which later changed its name to iHeartMedia.