For broadcasting stations that have previously held the WKBM call sign, see WKBM (disambiguation).
WKBM
CitySandwich, Illinois
CountryUS
AreaChicago metropolitan area
AirdateMay 1986
LanguageEnglish
FormatCatholic radio
NetworkRelevant Radio
Power
  • 2,500 watts (day)
  • 4,200 watts (night)
ClassB
Facility id48240
Coordinates41°36′26″N 88°27′11″W
Former callsigns
  • WBYG (1986–1988)[1]
  • WAUR (1988–2014)[1]
OwnerRelevant Radio
LicenseeRelevant Radio, Inc.
Licensing authorityFCC
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.relevantradio.com
Sister stationsWSFS · WWCA

WKBM (930 AM) is a noncommercial radio station licensed to Sandwich, Illinois, United States, and serving much of the Chicago metropolitan area. It carries a Catholic radio format as an owned-and-operated station of Relevant Radio, largely simulcasting WSFS (950 AM).[2][3]

WKBM's transmitter is sited on Legion Road at Immanuel Road in Yorkville, Illinois. Programming is also heard on 34-watt FM translator W256DU at 99.1 MHz in Cloverdale, Illinois.

History

Full service era

The station began broadcasting in May 1986.[4] The original call sign was WBYG.[1][4] The station was originally owned by Larry Nelson.[5][6] 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.[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][4] It continued to air this format until its sale to the Children's Broadcasting Corporation in 1997.[11][12]

Children's Broadcasting Corporation

On February 5, 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 each night.[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.[1]

References

  1. ^ Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Summer 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  3. ^ "WKBM Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  4. ^ The Broadcasting Yearbook 1991[dead link], Broadcasting. 1991. p. B-96. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  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. Retrieved 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 1, 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.