 | |
| Broadcast area | Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 540 kHz |
| Branding | K New Mexico |
| Programming | |
| Format | New Mexico music |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Sangre De Cristo Broadcasting Co, Inc. |
| KBQL, KMDS, KMDZ, KNMM | |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 58915 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 5,000
watts day 20 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°34′25″N 105°10′17″W / 35.57361°N 105.17139°W |
| Translator(s) | 99.9 MHz K260DJ (Las Vegas) |
| Links | |
| Website | SDCradio.com |
KNMX (540 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Las Vegas, New Mexico, serving the Santa Fe area. The station is owned by Sangre De Cristo Broadcasting Co, Inc. [1] It broadcasts a Spanish language radio format of New Mexico music with some Regional Mexican and Ranchera music.
By day, KNMX is powered at 5,000 watts. But because 540 AM is a Mexican and Canadian clear-channel frequency, KNMX must reduce nighttime power to only 20 watts to prevent skywave interference to the dominant Class A stations on this frequency. It uses a directional antenna at all times. [2] Programming is also heard on FM translator 99.9 MHz K260DJ. [3]
History
On April 11, 1979, San Miguel Broadcasting Company, Inc., filed a construction permit to build a new radio station at 540 kHz in Las Vegas. The Federal Communications Commission approved the construction permit in December, [4] and the station began broadcasting in October 1980. It was the area's first Spanish-language radio outlet, though it took three years for KNMX to turn a profit. [5]
San Miguel owned the station until 1993, when it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. [6] Sangre de Cristo acquired KNMX in 1996 for $235,000, after the station had been placed in trusteeship. [7]
References
- ^ "KNMX Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/KNMX
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/K260DJ
- ^ FCC History Cards for KNMX
- ^ Storey, Robert (July 16, 1983). "Spanish-language radio station in unique position". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ "Bankruptcies". Santa Fe New Mexican. November 30, 1993. p. D-2. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. July 19, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
External links
- KNMX in the FCC AM station database
- KNMX in Nielsen Audio's AM station database