WKBM

WKBM (930 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Catholic format.[3] Licensed to Sandwich, Illinois, United States, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is owned by Relevant Radio.[4] The station is one of three owned-and-operated Relevant Radio affiliates in the Chicago area.

For the radio station in Coal City, Illinois that held the call sign WKBM from 1990 to 1998, see WRXQ.
WKBM
CitySandwich, Illinois
Broadcast areaChicago market
Frequency930 kHz
BrandingRelevant Radio
Programming
FormatCatholic radio
AffiliationsRelevant Radio
Ownership
OwnerRelevant Radio
(Relevant Radio, Inc.)
WNTD, WWCA
History
First air date
May 1986[1]
Former call signs
WBYG (1986–1988)[2]
WAUR (1988–2014)[2]
Technical information
Facility ID48240
ClassB
Power2,500 watts day
4,200 watts night
Transmitter coordinates
41°36′26″N 88°27′11″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websiterelevantradio.com

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.[5][6] 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.[7][8][9] In 1990 the country music was replaced with Oldies, with the station airing full-service format with a strong emphasis on local issues.[10][5][1] It continued to air this format until its sale to the Children's Broadcasting Corporation in 1997.[11][12]

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.[13][12][14] After Radio AAHS discontinued operations in January 1998, Children's Broadcasting Corporation, began leasing time on its stations until it could find buyers.[15] 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.[16][15][17]

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.[18][19][20] In late 1999, Catholic Radio Network had entered into an agreement to the station to Saul Acquisition Co. for $4.4 million.[21][22][23] 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.[21] 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.[24]

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),[25] and the station returned to the air broadcasting a religious format.[26][27] The station was branded "Victory 930". In late 2001, Midwest Broadcasting entered into an agreement to purchase the station for $4 million.[28] 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.[29]

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.[30][31][32] The station changed its call sign to the current WKBM on June 18, 2014.[2]

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