As a full service station, non-music programming includes CNN Radio, agriculture news, market reports, and specialized weather reports.[4] KFIL-FM is an affiliate of the Linder Farm Network.[5] KFIL-FM also broadcasts a tradio program called "Swap Shop" and a community calendar bulletin each weekday.
Weekend programming includes five hours of local church services and other Christian programming on Sunday mornings and two hours of oldies music on Sunday nights.[4] Sports programming on KFIL-FM includes local high school football, high school basketball, high school baseball, and high school softball games during the season, KFIL Sports Round-up with Devon Krueger each weekday, plus Coaches Corner on Saturday mornings from August through April.[6]
The station was originally owned and operated by KFIL, Inc., with Obed Samuel "O.B." Borgen as president of the corporation.[7] In October 1991, ownership of KFIL, Inc., was transferred to sons Michael S. Borgen and Jeffrey T. Borgen.[9][10] The station stayed in the Borgen family's control for more than 30 years.[11] Obed Borgen died in July 1999.[9]
Cumulus era
In December 2003, Michael S. Borgen and Jeffrey T. Borgen sold KFIL, Inc., to Cumulus Media through its Cumulus Broadcasting, LLC, subsidiary.[11][3] The published combined sale price of KFIL, KFIL-FM, and KVGO (through KVGO, Inc.)[3] was $3,000,000.[12] The deal gained FCC approval on February 5, 2004, and the transaction was consummated on March 30, 2004. The broadcast license for KFIL-FM was formally transferred from KFIL, Inc., to Cumulus Licensing, LLC, on December 31, 2004.[13]
Longtime KFIL/KFIL-FM air personality Mike Sveen retired from broadcasting in 2007. The former announcer, sports reporter, and Preston, Minnesota, city council member had worked at KFIL/KFIL-FM for more than 25 years.[14]
In September 2007, Cumulus applied to the FCC to change KFIL-FM's city of license from Preston, Minnesota, to nearby Chatfield, Minnesota. The FCC approved the change on January 8, 2008.[15]
Townsquare era
On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would acquire 53 Cumulus stations, including KFIL-FM, for $238 million. The deal was part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global; Townsquare and Dial Global were both controlled by Oaktree Capital Management.[16][17] The sale to Townsquare was completed on November 14, 2013.[18]
In early 2024, Townsquare closed KFIL's Preston studios and the station's control point switched to the Rochester-based studios. Townsquare had intended to sell the station's AM sister (KFIL), but the deal was withdrawn. KFIL-FM was not included in the sale.[19][20]
^ abc"Directory of Radio Stations in the United States and Canada". Broadcasting Yearbook 1978(PDF). Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1978. p. C-117.
^"Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
^ ab"Funeral Notices". St. Paul Pioneer Press. July 29, 1999. Retrieved January 16, 2011. In 1966 he established KFIL in Preston, MN. [...] Survived by his sons, Greg Borgen, Dellwood, MN, Mike and Jeff Borgen, both of Rochester, MN;
