KOA 850 is in the midst of celebrating its 100th anniversary. And that celebration has helped give Program Director Dave Tepper an appreciation of the station’s rich history.
Hitting the air on December 15th, 1924, the iHeartMedia Denver news/talk/sports station has been a fixture in the market for decades.
Meanwhile, Tepper recently hit his own anniversary with the brand, marking three years leading KOA 850. And while three years is a long time, in the grand scheme of things, it’s a mere blink of an eye almost.
And that point isn’t lost on Dave Tepper.
“It’s funny — at some of the other stations I’ve worked at, which were a lot younger, three years felt like a long time,” said Tepper. “But here, it feels like I’m just getting my foot in the door compared to the experience around me. It’s a humbling place to be. It’s also an incredibly fun challenge that I’m enjoying taking on. We’ve had some really positive things come out of the first three years here, though there’s still plenty of work to do.”
Tepper has worked at stations like ESPN 97.5 in Houston, 1620 The Zone/1290 KOIL in Omaha, and Altitude Sports Radio in Denver. But KOA 850 is a different animal than those stations.
The station features a unique format, with a news-focused show in the morning, conservative talk programs hosted by Mandy Connell and Ross Kaminsky from 9 AM-3 PM, before featuring eight hours of sports talk on the heritage brand.
Hitting the 100th anniversary was definitely a milestone worth celebrating. And for Tepper, looking at what the station had done in the past not only inspired him toward what the 100th celebration should look like, but also gave him a greater appreciation for just how meaningful the brand has been — and still is — to Colorado listeners.
“The heritage of it really speaks for itself. I’ve learned so much about that over the past few months, as we’ve really delved into the history of the station,” he shared. “We even went to the local library and dug up old newspaper articles about the station celebrating its 10th, 20th, 30th, and 50th anniversaries. It’s been incredible to see the various things this station has done and covered.”
If you look at the background of Dave Tepper, you’ll largely see building brands from the ground up. That is obviously the opposite of a heritage brand like KOA 850. And having that new challenge was something he welcomed.
“Instead of starting from scratch, you have the benefit of looking back. And that’s what makes heritage stations so interesting,” said Tepper. “When you’re designing a station from the ground up, you’ve got this open canvas: What’s the vision? Can I get a team to buy in? Can we shape this vision together? That usually starts with the leadership team, and you move forward without much of a historical playbook to reference.
“But with stations like KOA, there’s a rich history to draw from. We can look back and say, ‘Hey, this idea worked before. Can we bring it back in a more modern way?’ Some of those ideas helped tell the most successful stories in the station’s history. So we’re asking: can we revisit those paths while staying present in today’s radio and audio landscape? A new station gives you a wide-open slate to try things. But with a heritage station, you’ve got background — and I’m humbled by that. I’m honored to look back and say, ‘Let’s see if any of this is worth bringing forward.’ And we’ve started doing just that.”
Obviously, in its 100-year history, KOA 850 has made its mark on the AM band. The station features 50,000 watts of power on its Class A signal. But the future of AM radio remains murky, at best. While lawmakers insist their serious about passing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act into law, the bill has yet to be signed after several years since its introduction.
But Dave Tepper believes the future of the brand is its long-lasting commitment to excellence, which will be conveyed no matter the distribution platform.
“The frequency we’re on — we’re always aware of that. But it’s the product we focus on. If you’re good at what you do, you’ll have a platform to do it on, and that’s what we focus on,” he admitted. “I see our industry changing all the time. There have always been challenges, and it’s no different now. The entertainment industry is shifting — TV, film, radio. To me, that’s motivating. It reminds us to do what we should always be doing: being the very best product we can be every single day. Generate as much revenue as we can every day. Deliver as much compelling content as we can every day. Stack up enough wins with your listeners and with your revenue to prove that people will come find you, even on the AM dial.
“But if the industry decides that’s no longer a place to be, we’re going to be good enough to be found somewhere else, because the product is that good,” added Tepper. “If you put together the best product you can, you’re going to have a platform. The frequency we’re on isn’t something people in my position—or my staff—have much control over. What we can do is be the best station we can be, and try to make sure those conversations don’t come our way at all.”
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
