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History

Before KCLU signed on air, radio audiences in the Ventura/Santa Barbara areas had limited choices for local and national broadcast news, and virtually no in-depth radio coverage of important community issues. However, on October 20, 1994, that all changed. As a result of the foresight and vision of California Lutheran University’s Board of Regents and the support of its faculty and administration, KCLU was born and was quickly embraced by the community.

Former Californian Lutheran University President Luther Luedtke (R) and the "poet laureate of radio," Norman Corwin, at KCLU's sign on in October 20, 1994.

Since it signed on, KCLU has grown from a few thousand listeners per week to one of the region's most-listened-to stations with an audience of about 120,000 weekly listeners*. From signing off at midnight in the early years, to broadcasting 24 hours a day from Westlake to San Luis Obispo (and worldwide at KCLU.org), the station is on the move. KCLU listeners have made this dynamic growth possible with their dedicated listening and active financial support.

Committed to providing the coastal tri-counties with in-depth journalism, the station has earned a topflight reputation for its local reporting.  In addition, KCLU has been recognized for its news coverage with over 300 peer awards from regional and national professional organizations including the Southern California Radio and Television News Association, the Associated Press Television Radio Association, the Los Angeles Press Club, the Radio Television Digital News Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.

*Estimate based on three-market combined audience, per Nielsen Audio data licensed through Radio Research Consortium.  Copyright Nielsen Audio, 2019.