WKBM
Broadcast area | Chicago market |
---|---|
Frequency | 930 kHz |
Branding | Relevant Radio |
Programming | |
Format | Catholic radio |
Affiliations | Relevant Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
WNTD, WWCA | |
History | |
First air date | May 1986[1] |
Former call signs | WBYG (1986–1988)[2] WAUR (1988–2014)[2] |
Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 48240 |
Class | B |
Power | 2,500 watts day 4,200 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°36′26″N 88°27′11″W / 41.60722°N 88.45306°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | relevantradio.com |
WKBM (930 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Catholic format.[4] Licensed to Sandwich, Illinois, United States, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is owned by Relevant Radio.[5] The station is one of three owned-and-operated Relevant Radio affiliates in the Chicago area.
History
Full service era
The station began broadcasting in May 1986, and originally held the callsign WBYG.[2][1] The station was originally owned by Larry Nelson.[6][7] On April 11, 1988, the station's callsign was changed to WAUR.[2] From the late 1980s until 1990 aired a full service format with country music and news, information, and talk programming.[8][9][10] In 1990 the country music was replaced with Oldies, with the station airing full-service format with a strong emphasis on local issues.[11][6][1] It continued to air this format until its sale to the Children's Broadcasting Corporation in 1997.[12][13]
Children's Broadcasting Corporation
In January 1997, the station was purchased by Children's Broadcasting Corporation for $3.9 million, and it became the Chicago affiliate of the "Radio AAHS" network, airing children's programming.[14][13][15] After Radio AAHS discontinued operations in January 1998, Children's Broadcasting Corporation, began leasing time on its stations until it could find buyers.[16] In February 1998, WAUR, along with the other nine CBC stations, became an outlet for "Beat Radio", which broadcast electronic dance music 12 hours a day.[17][16][18]
Catholic Radio Network
In late 1998, the station was sold to Catholic Radio Network, later known as Catholic Family Radio, and it began airing a Catholic oriented talk format.[19][20][21] In late 1999, Catholic Radio Network had entered into an agreement to the station to Saul Acquisition Co. for $4.4 million.[22][23][24] The plans were for the station to be operated by Radio Center for People with Disabilities, with Catholic Family Radio continuing to air temporarily during certain time-slots.[22] However, the sale was never consummated, ownership reverted to Catholic Family Radio, and the station was taken off the air temporarily in spring of 2001.[25]
Victory 930
In spring 2001, Catholic Family Radio entered into a local marketing agreement with Michigan based religious broadcaster Midwest Broadcasting (now known as Christian Broadcasting System),[26] and the station returned to the air broadcasting a religious format.[27][28] The station was branded "Victory 930". In late 2001, Midwest Broadcasting entered into an agreement to purchase the station for $4 million.[29] However, the Radio Center for People with Disabilities filed a challenge with the Federal Communications Commission to block the sale of the station, on the basis that the purchaser was not a member of a minority, and the sale was never consummated.[30]
Relevant Radio
In 2004, WAUR was sold to Starboard Broadcasting for $3.5 million, and the station began airing its current Catholic format as an affiliate of Relevant Radio.[31][32][33] The station changed its call sign to the current WKBM on June 18, 2014.[2]
References
- ^ a b c The Broadcasting Yearbook 1991, Broadcasting. 1991. p. B-96. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WKBM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Summer 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ "WKBM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ a b Doyle, Mary K. "On The Air - Larry Nelson Stations Himself At The Forefront In Local Broadcasting", Chicago Tribune. January 31, 1993. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 78.
- ^ Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988 & Spring/Summer 1989. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ "WAUR AM 930", Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. p. 8. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ "WAUR AM 930", Radio Chicago. Summer 1990. p. 38. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ "WAUR AM 930", Radio Chicago. p. 40. Fall 1990. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Feder, Robert. "Kids get their own 24-hour radio station". Chicago Sun-Times. October 16, 1996.
- ^ a b "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 1. January 8, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ "Children's broadcasting acquires radio broadcast license of WAUR-AM, Chicago.", Business Wire. January 31, 1997. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ "Station & Cable Trading", Broadcasting & Cable. February 3, 1997. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ a b "M Street Bazaar: People Products and Programming", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 1. February 25, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 1. February 25, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "About Beat Radio", Beat Radio. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ Kirk, Jim. "Catholic Radio Network Seeks Stronger Signal", Chicago Tribune. January 27, 1999. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ Kirk, Jim. "Catholic Radio CEO Keeps The Faith About Family Programming", Chicago Tribune. June 27, 1999. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15 No. 44. November 4, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ a b Feder, Robert. "New station to offer training for disabled", Chicago Sun-Times. October 26, 1999. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 16 No. 43. October 27, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ WAUR-AM speculation strong after sale deal falls though Hazen, Don. The Beacon News. April 28, 2001. Accessed December 30, 2013
- ^ WLCM AM 1390 Holt/Lansing, Michiguide.com. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18 Issue 17. May 2, 2001. p. 5. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Transaction Brief", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18 Issue 20. June 13, 2001. p. 15. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Transaction Brief", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18 Issue 31. November 14, 2001. p. 14. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Group to challenge station sale", Crain's Chicago Business. December 01, 2001. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Catholic radio network expands, buys Minneapolis station for $7 million", Catholic News Agency. January 26, 2004. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Asset Purchase Agreement", fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
- ^ "Advance Acquisition, Inc. Ownership", fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
External links
- WKBM in the FCC AM station database
- WKBM in Nielsen Audio's AM station database