page_title: KLIV
section_title: Switch to Classic country (2016–2019)
hierarchical_section_title: KLIV / History / Switch to Classic country (2016–2019)
caption_attribution_description: English: Logo for San Jose, California radio station KLIV revealed in June 2016 when the station changed from news to classic country.
context_page_description: KLIV is a broadcast radio station in the United States. Licensed to San Jose, California, KLIV serves San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley. Owned by Empire Broadcasting since 1967, KLIV is one of the last independently owned stations in the Bay Area.
  KLIV began broadcasting in 1946 as KSJO before becoming KLIV in 1960. The station had a top-40 format in the 1960s and changed to big band in 1981. From 1991 to 2016, KLIV had a news format before changing to classic country. In 2019, KLIV was shut down after the transmitter site was sold. The station resumed broadcasting in 2020 and was sold to Pham Radio Communications after over 50 years of ownership by Empire Broadcasting.
  KLIV had been the flagship station for San Jose State University sports from 1991 to 2019, in addition to broadcasting Santa Clara University men's basketball games during the 2010s. KLIV was the flagship station for the San Jose Clash from 1996 to 2016.
context_section_description: On April 11, 2016, It was announced that the station would abandon its all-news format and switch to a classic country format, dubbed "Country Gold". In an on-air commentary discussing the change, company president Bob Kieve blamed declining advertising revenue (primarily due an older-skewing listener base) and the increasing costs of running a news station. He bought out most of his news staff. The switch to the classic country format happened at 10 p.m. on June 10, 2016. KLIV continued to carry South Bay traffic and weather reports after the format change. Initially, KLIV simulcast the morning show of sister FM station KRTY, which plays newer country music, before launching its own morning show in May 2017.
  In March 2017, KLIV lost the rights to San Jose Earthquakes games to KTCT, a Cumulus Media-owned station in San Francisco. The Bay Area Radio Museum honored KLIV with its Legendary Station Award in the same month. Later in 2017, KLIV began broadcasting CIF Central Coast Section high school football and basketball games.
caption: KLIV's logo during the classic country format
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