KIGS

KIGS (620 AM) is a sports radio station licensed to Hanford, California, USA, and serving the Visalia-Tulare area. The station is currently owned by Pereira Communications.

KIGS went on the air in 1947 under the ownership of the local newspaper owners.^{[citation needed]} Over the years it has changed ownership having been owned by Lee Smith^{[citation needed]} and later, Bob Liggett,^{[citation needed]}, before being sold to vocalist Ray Perry (née Pereira)^[1] and his wife, Mary, of whom Journey lead singer Steve Perry is their son.^[1] The Pereiras established the station in 1947. Of Portuguese descent, the Pereiras first carried Portuguese-language programming in 1952. later to expand to a mostly-Portuguese format (with some Spanish language programming) in 1989.^[2]

The first Portuguese-language programming was in 1952, later in 1989 to expand to a mostly-Portuguese format (with some Spanish language programming) in 1989.^[2]

KIGS's studios, located on Route 198 east of Hanford, was the basis for the cover of Journey's 1986 album, Raised on Radio.^[2]

On July 27, 2012, the license for the station was transferred from Maria Pereira,^[1] who died on February 11, 2012 (given in FCC documents as Maria O. Pereira)^[3] to John Pereira, the Special Administrator of Maria Pereira's estate.^[4] On July 31, the station temporarily left the air, pending completion of Maria Pereira's estate administration, and the beneficiary's plans for the station.^[3] In February 2013, ownership was transferred to their children, Albert Pereira and Odilia Silva.

On May 23, 2013 KIGS returned to the air with sports, with programming from Fox Sports Radio,^[5] before changing its affiliation to NBC Sports Radio soon after.

References

External links

• Query the FCC's AM station database for KIGS
• Radio-Locator Information on KIGS
• Query Nielsen Audio's AM station database for KIGS