Crawford Broadcasting

Crawford Broadcasting is a family-owned media company based in Denver, Colorado.^[1] Crawford Broadcasting primarily owns radio stations with Christian, Talk radio and Urban formats.

History

The broadcast company was founded in 1959 by evangelist Dr. Percy B. Crawford. In 1949 Crawford produced his first Christian television broadcast, which aired on the fledgling ABC Television Network.

In 1958, Crawford put together a business plan for the acquisition of seven radio stations. By 1960 seven stations were acquired. These radio stations were in Miami, Florida (WMFP)¹; Buffalo, New York (WDCX); Des Moines, Iowa (KDMI)²; Portland, Oregon (KPDQ)³; Chicago, Illinois (WJIZ); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (WDAC) and Detroit, Michigan (WMUZ) were either purchased or had construction permits issued by the FCC. That same year, 1960, Dr. Crawford died and family business was transferred to the leadership of his wife, Ruth Crawford Porter and his son Donald B. Crawford. Between 1968 and 1979 the company expanded by acquiring stations in Birmingham, Alabama (WDJC-FM); Dallas, Texas (KAAM, operated under call letters KPBC at AM1040 but later moved to AM770); and Oklahoma (since divested). In 1980, Crawford Broadcasting purchased a radio station in Los Angeles (KBRT) to further expand its portfolio, and the company launched a further expansion of its station base in 1991.