Broadcast area | Chicago metropolitan area |
---|---|
Frequency | 930 kHz |
Branding | Relevant Radio |
Programming | |
Format | Catholic talk and teaching |
Network | Relevant Radio |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
History | |
First air date | May 1986 |
Former call signs | |
Technical information [2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 48240 |
Class | B |
Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 41°36′26″N 88°27′11″W / 41.60722°N 88.45306°W |
Translator(s) | 99.1 MHz W256DU ( Cloverdale) |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | relevantradio.com |
WKBM (930 kHz) is an AM radio station broadcasting a Catholic talk and teaching radio format. [3] It is licensed to Sandwich, Illinois, and largely simulcasts with sister station WNTD 950 AM Chicago. They are owned by Relevant Radio, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. [4]
By day, WKBM is powered at 2,500 watts. At night, it increases power to 4,500 watts. To protect other stations on 930 AM from interference, it uses a directional antenna with a five- tower array. The transmitter is on Legion Road at Immanuel Road in Yorkville, Illinois. [5] Programming is also heard on 34-watt FM translator W256DU at 99.1 MHz in Cloverdale, Illinois. [6]
The station began broadcasting in May 1986[7] The original call sign was WBYG. [1] [7] The station was originally owned by Larry Nelson. [8] [9] On April 11, 1988, the station's call sign was changed to WAUR. [1] From the late 1980s until 1990 aired a full service format with country music and news, information, and talk programming. [10] [11] [12] In 1990 the country music was replaced with Oldies, with the station airing full-service format with a strong emphasis on local issues. [13] [8] [7] It continued to air this format until its sale to the Children's Broadcasting Corporation in 1997. [14] [15]
.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. [16] [15] [17] After Radio AAHS discontinued operations in January 1998, Children's Broadcasting Corporation, began leasing time on its stations until it could find buyers. [18] In February 1998, WAUR, along with the other nine CBC stations, became an outlet for " Beat Radio", which broadcast electronic dance music 12 hours each night. [19] [18] [20]
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. [21] [22] [23] In late 1999, Catholic Radio Network had entered into an agreement to the station to Saul Acquisition Co. for $4.4 million. [24] [25] [26] 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. [24] 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. [27]
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), [28] and the station returned to the air broadcasting a religious format. [29] [30] The station was branded "Victory 930". In late 2001, Midwest Broadcasting entered into an agreement to purchase the station for $4 million. [31] 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. [32]
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. [33] [34] [35] The station changed its call sign to the current WKBM on June 18, 2014. [1]