WKBM
Broadcast areaChicago metropolitan area
Frequency930 kHz
BrandingRelevant Radio
Programming
FormatCatholic talk and teaching
AffiliationsRelevant Radio
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
May 1986 (1986-05)
Former call signs
  • WBYG (1986–1988)[1]
  • WAUR (1988–2014)[1]
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID48240
ClassB
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 / 41.60722; -88.45306
Translator(s)99.1 MHz W256DU (Cloverdale)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websiterelevantradio.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]

History

Full service era

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]

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.[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 a day.[19][18][20]

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.[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]

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),[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]

Relevant Radio

Former logo

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]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WKBM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Summer 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  4. ↑ "WKBM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  5. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/WKBM
  6. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/W256DU
  7. 1 2 3 The Broadcasting Yearbook 1991, Broadcasting. 1991. p. B-96. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  8. 1 2 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.
  9. ↑ Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 78.
  10. ↑ Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988 & Spring/Summer 1989. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ "WAUR AM 930", Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. p. 8. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  12. ↑ "WAUR AM 930", Radio Chicago. Summer 1990. p. 38. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "WAUR AM 930", Radio Chicago. p. 40. Fall 1990. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  14. ↑ Feder, Robert. "Kids get their own 24-hour radio station". Chicago Sun-Times. October 16, 1996.
  15. 1 2 "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 1. January 8, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Children's broadcasting acquires radio broadcast license of WAUR-AM, Chicago.", Business Wire. January 31, 1997. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Station & Cable Trading", Broadcasting & Cable. February 3, 1997. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  18. 1 2 "M Street Bazaar: People Products and Programming", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 1. February 25, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14 No. 1. February 25, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  20. ↑ "About Beat Radio", Beat Radio. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  21. ↑ Kirk, Jim. "Catholic Radio Network Seeks Stronger Signal", Chicago Tribune. January 27, 1999. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  22. ↑ Kirk, Jim. "Catholic Radio CEO Keeps The Faith About Family Programming", Chicago Tribune. June 27, 1999. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 15 No. 44. November 4, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  24. 1 2 Feder, Robert. "New station to offer training for disabled", Chicago Sun-Times. October 26, 1999. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  25. ↑ Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Elsewhere", The M Street Journal. Vol. 16 No. 43. October 27, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  27. ↑ WAUR-AM speculation strong after sale deal falls though Hazen, Don. The Beacon News. April 28, 2001. Accessed December 30, 2013
  28. ↑ WLCM AM 1390 Holt/Lansing, Michiguide.com. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18 Issue 17. May 2, 2001. p. 5. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Transaction Brief", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18 Issue 20. June 13, 2001. p. 15. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Transaction Brief", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18 Issue 31. November 14, 2001. p. 14. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Group to challenge station sale", Crain's Chicago Business. December 01, 2001. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Catholic radio network expands, buys Minneapolis station for $7 million", Catholic News Agency. January 26, 2004. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Asset Purchase Agreement", fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Advance Acquisition, Inc. Ownership", fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
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