KIRO Newsradio Celebrates Big 5-0
• Bonneville’s KIRO (Newsradio 97.3)/Seattle is thrilled to mark the 50th anniversary of its “Newsradio” format with a special broadcast on Monday, featuring the return of several prominent alumni. This landmark celebration highlights the station’s rich history and enduring impact on the western Washington community.
KIRO-AM, founded in 1927, transformed the Seattle airwaves on July 15, 1974, by adopting the groundbreaking news radio format and becoming “KIRO Newsradio.” As one of the first commercial stations in the U.S. to focus solely on news and talk programming, KIRO quickly became a resounding success. By 1985, KIRO Newsradio was the top-rated station in the Seattle market and one of the ten most highly rated stations nationwide. In 2008, the station transitioned from 710 AM to 97.3 FM, continuing its legacy of innovation.
To celebrate this broadcasting milestone, KIRO Newsradio will host a special edition of Seattle’s Morning Newstoday, featuring a special guest appearance by Bill Yeend, the station’s first morning news anchor from 1974. Joining him will be other prominent alumni who have made significant contributions to KIRO and the Seattle broadcasting scene.
Dave Ross, a fixture at KIRO since 1978, and Ursula Reutin, who has been with the station since 1988, will host the special broadcast and share the mic with their returning colleagues, offering listeners a nostalgic journey through KIRO’s storied past. The alumni news anchors will each be invited to deliver an up-to-date newscast featuring KIRO Newsradio’s current generation of reporters. Special editions of Seattle’s Morning News and The Gee and Ursula Show will air from 6-10am today on KIRO 97.3 FM.
