Cumulus Media has ended a century of broadcast history in the Bay Area. The company surrendered the 560 AM San Francisco license to the FCC.
What We Know: The decision officially closes the chapter on a signal that traced its roots to 1925. The station shifted frequencies several times before landing at 560 AM in 1929. It adopted the KSFO call letters in 1935 and carried them until 2024, when Cumulus Media moved the KSFO brand and programming to 810 AM. That happened after the end of both 810 KGO and 810 The Spread. The 560 signal then became KZAC and simulcasted the new KSFO briefly. However, it went silent in March 2025. Although Cumulus later told the FCC it was negotiating a sale, no transaction materialized before the company surrendered the license.
What’s at Stake: The move permanently ends one of Northern California’s longest-running radio licenses. Over nearly 100 years, the station evolved from middle-of-the-road programming to Adult Standards, Oldies, and eventually Talk. After KSFO and KGO came under common ownership, the station became synonymous with Conservative Talk for decades.
What Remains Unclear: Cumulus hasn’t publicly explained why negotiations to sell the station failed. It’s also unknown whether any prospective buyers expressed serious interest before the license was surrendered or whether economic conditions ultimately made a sale impractical.
What It Means: The surrender reflects the difficult economics facing many standalone AM signals. While the KSFO brand continues on 810 AM, the retirement of the historic 560 license underscores how operators increasingly prioritize stronger signals and sustainable business models over preserving legacy facilities.
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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.