KLIN had its antecedents in Fremont, Nebraska, where an AM station on 1400 kHz was originally authorized in 1940, with the call letters KORN.[4] The station was sold to Inland Broadcasting in 1947. In connection with the acquisition, the FCC authorized Inland to relocate the station to Lincoln and change the call sign to KOLN. It also obtained a construction permit to build a new station on 1340 kHz at Fremont, to become KORN.[5]
KOLN first signed on the air on August 11, 1947. It was a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS). The station broadcast on 1400 kHz with 250 watts of power. Its studios were in the New Federal Securities Building in Lincoln.[6]
TV and FM stations
In February 1953, station owner Cornhusker Radio and Television Corporation established KOLN's companion television station KOLN-TV. Broadcasting pioneer John Fetzer purchased the AM and TV stations in August 1953.[7] Fetzer sold KOLN radio in 1955, in order to devote all his energies to TV.[8] KOLN radio changed its call sign to KLIN on June 1, 1955, and the station moved to offices and studios in the Sharp Building in downtown Lincoln.[4]
The Fletcher-Mitchell Corporation acquired KLIN in December 1956. It was a Nebraska corporation owned by Jonathan M. Fletcher and James I. Mitchell. In May 1963, Mitchell acquired 100% ownership. That year, KLIN relocated to 13th and L Streets.[4] In April 1965, KLIN was sold to Shurtleff-Schorr Broadcasting Corp., a Nebraska corporation owned by Donald O. Shurtleff and Paul C. Schorr. That summer, a minority interest in the company was acquired by station manager Jack L. Callaway.[4]
In the fall of 1971, KLIN, Inc., a Nebraska corporation owned by Norton Warner, acquired the station licenses. KLIN-AM-FM moved into the present offices and studios at Broadcast House in the fall of 1976.[4]
In August 2007, Triad sold the stations to NRG Media.[11] The company is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was founded in 2005.
FM translators
On May 3, 2012, KLIN began simulcasting on FM translator K233AN 94.5 FM.[12] The simulcast lasted until August 26, 2014, when K233AN switched to a simulcast of KBBK's HD2 subchannel, "RED 94.5". KLIN now simulcasts in high definition on KBBK's HD3 subchannel.
In late 2017, KLIN was authorized to construct an FM translator to rebroadcast its signal on 99.3 MHz. The Commission granted the license for K257GN on July 30, 2021.[13]
^"Grant Proposed for Independence"(PDF). Broadcasting. Washington DC: Broadcasting Publications Inc. February 3, 1947. p. 40. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^"KOLN Makes Debut"(PDF). Broadcasting. August 11, 1947. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
^"Four Station Sales Up for FCC Approval"(PDF). Broadcasting / Telecasting. Washington DC: Broadcasting Publications Inc. April 4, 1955. p. 76. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
