Radio in the Mile High City is a bit of a chameleon. If you grew up here, or even if you’ve just lived here a decade, you know the dial doesn't stay the same for long. Denver 760 AM radio is the perfect example of this constant evolution. Honestly, it’s had more identities than a deep-cover spy.
Currently, if you tune your dial to 760 kHz, you’re hitting KDFD, better known to locals as Freedom 93.7. Yeah, it’s an AM station that brands itself by its FM translator frequency. That’s just how the industry works now—people want that FM clarity even if the "blowtorch" signal is coming from the AM side.
Right now, it's a powerhouse for conservative talk. You’ve got the heavy hitters like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Clay Travis. But it wasn't always this way. Far from it. This frequency has a wild history of flipping formats faster than a pancake on a Sunday morning.
The Identity Crisis of Denver 760 AM Radio
You can't talk about this station without looking at its past lives. It’s like a graveyard of dead radio experiments. Back in the day, it was KTLK. People remember that as the "Real Talk" era. Then it took a hard left turn. Literally.
For a long time, it was KKZN, the home of progressive talk. It was the Denver affiliate for Air America. If you wanted to hear David Sirota or Rachel Maddow before she was a TV superstar, 760 AM was your spot. It was a rare bird in a city where most talk radio leans pretty far to the right.
But then the money dried up. Air America went bankrupt. The station tried to stay afloat with local progressive hosts, but iHeartMedia (then Clear Channel) eventually pulled the plug. It was a massive shift for the Denver media landscape. One day you’re hearing about social justice, and the next, they’re playing sports.
From Progressive Talk to "Orange and Blue"
After the progressive era died, the station became Denver Sports 760. They went all-in on the Broncos. They even branded it as "Orange and Blue Radio." For a minute, it felt like the most Denver thing ever. Every hour was dedicated to the gridiron.
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It didn't last.
Why? Because competing with 104.3 The Fan and their own sister station, KOA, was a brutal uphill battle. KOA is the king of Denver sports, and 760 AM just couldn't carve out a big enough slice of that pie. In 2019, the suits at iHeartMedia decided to blow it up again. They shifted the sports talk over to KOA and turned 760 AM into what it is today: Freedom 93.7.
Who is on the Air Right Now?
If you're looking for the current lineup on Denver 760 AM radio, it’s basically a "who's who" of national syndication. They don't do much local stuff anymore, which is a bummer for those of us who miss local personalities, but the national numbers are hard to argue with.
- Gordon Deal: He kicks things off early with "This Morning." It’s basically the news for people who are already on their second cup of coffee at 5:00 AM.
- Glenn Beck: He’s been a staple here for a while. Love him or hate him, he’s a massive draw for the station's 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM slot.
- Clay Travis & Buck Sexton: They took over the legendary Rush Limbaugh slot. It was a huge shoes-to-fill moment, and they’ve mostly kept the audience glued to the frequency through the midday.
- Sean Hannity: The afternoon powerhouse. He’s been a fixture on Denver radio for decades, moving between 630 KHOW and 760 AM over the years.
- Jesse Kelly: He brings a younger, more "anti-establishment" vibe to the evening commute.
- Dave Ramsey: If you’re trying to get out of debt and stop buying things you don't need with money you don't have, he’s on at night.
The station also runs Fox News Radio updates at the top of every hour. It’s a tight, professional ship. No dead air. No surprises.
The Technical Side (The "Blowtorch" Signal)
Here’s something most people don't realize. 760 AM is a 50,000-watt station during the day. That is the maximum power the FCC allows. On a clear day, you can hear this station halfway across the state.
But there’s a catch.
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At night, they have to drop their power way down to 1,000 watts. They also have to use a directional antenna that points away from Detroit. Why? Because WJR in Detroit is a "clear-channel" station on 760 AM. Back in the early days of radio, the government gave certain stations "exclusive" rights to a frequency at night so people in rural areas could hear something.
So, if you’re driving through the Rockies at 10:00 PM and the signal starts fading or you hear a guy talking about Michigan traffic, that’s why. It’s a relic of 1920s law still affecting your 2026 commute.
Is AM Radio Dying in Denver?
Kinda. But also, no.
You’ve probably heard that car manufacturers are trying to phase out AM radio. It’s a whole thing. Electric vehicles (EVs) create electromagnetic interference that makes AM sound like a bag of angry bees.
This is why the 93.7 FM translator is so important for Denver 760 AM radio. By simulcasting on the FM dial, iHeartMedia ensures they don't lose the suburban listeners who are driving Teslas or just hate the static of the AM band.
Despite the tech hurdles, talk radio is still a massive business in Colorado. People here spend a lot of time in their cars. Whether you’re stuck on I-25 or creeping through the Eisenhower Tunnel, you need something to listen to that isn't just the same ten pop songs on repeat.
What You Should Know Before Tuning In
If you’re new to the station, don't expect a lot of local Denver traffic or weather. For that, you’re better off with 850 KOA. 760 AM is focused on the national stage—politics, the economy, and global news.
It’s a "talk of the nation" vibe.
Also, keep in mind that the weekends are different. You’ll find more lifestyle programming, "Gun Talk" with Tom Gresham, and sometimes brokered shows where local businesses buy time to talk about real estate or health supplements. It’s a bit of a mixed bag once Saturday hits.
How to Get the Best Signal
If you're struggling to hear the station, you have a few options that work better than a coat hanger on your antenna:
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- Use the iHeartRadio App: This is honestly the way most people listen now. It’s a clean digital stream with no static.
- Switch to 93.7 FM: If you're in the immediate Denver metro area, the FM signal is much crisper.
- Smart Speakers: Just tell your device to "Play Freedom 93.7 on iHeartRadio." It works every time.
The reality of Denver 760 AM radio is that it’s a survivor. It has survived the death of Air America, the rise of podcasting, and the chaos of the sports-talk wars. It’ll probably change names again in five years—that’s just the nature of the beast. But for now, it’s the primary destination for conservative talk in the Rockies.
To get the most out of your listening experience, download the iHeartRadio app to bypass the nighttime signal drops. If you are a fan of local sports, make sure to check their sister station KOA 850 AM, as 760 has almost entirely moved away from the "Orange and Blue" sports format. Check the weekday schedule online before tuning in, as syndicated time slots can shift slightly during election cycles or major news events.