KBLU (AM)
kHz | |
Branding | News Talk Radio 560 |
---|---|
Programming | |
Format | Talk |
Affiliations | Fox News Radio Premiere Networks Westwood One |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
KTTI, KQSR | |
History | |
First air date | March 3, 1940 (KYUM) September 6, 1959 (KBLU) |
Former call signs | KYUM |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 62233 |
Class | B |
Power | 1,000 watts |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | www |
KBLU (560
KBLU is powered at 1,000 watts, non-directional by day and using a directional antenna at night. With its low dial position, KBLU can be heard around much of Southwest Arizona and Southeast California, including the communities of El Centro, Brawley and Blythe. It also covers parts of Baja California and Sonora, Mexico.
Programming
Weekday mornings begin with a local news and
History
The station is descended from two early radio stations, KYUM and KBLU, and operates on the oldest active radio license in the Yuma market.
KYUM
KYUM
With the enactment of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA), KYUM moved to 1240 AM on March 29, 1941. In 1948, the Yuma Broadcasting Company received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to move KYUM to 560 AM with 1,000 watts full-time; the move became effective on April 1, 1951.[6] In 1961, KTAR bought out the remaining shareholders in Yuma Broadcasting Company, owning KYUM outright.
KBLU
Another Yuma radio station signed on September 6, 1959, as a 500-watt,
In 1963, its co-owned television station, channel 13 KBLU-TV (now KYMA-DT), signed on the air. KBLU-AM-TV were acquired by Eller Telecasting, a division of Karl Eller's outdoor advertising business, in 1967.[8]
Two stations merge
On December 26, 1967, KTAR Broadcasting Company and Eller Outdoor Advertising Company announced their intention to merge to form Combined Communications Corporation.
In 1973, KBLU founder Crites bought back KBLU-AM-TV, in a $550,000 transaction.[11] Crites sold KBLU to Sun Country Broadcasting of Texas for $880,000 in 1983;[12] Sun Country also bought country music station 95.1 KTTI at the same time.[12]: 82 [13]
KBLU and KTTI were owned by Robert Tezak, the original marketer of the card game Uno, from 1988 to 1995.[14] That year, they were purchased out of bankruptcy by Commonwealth Broadcasting, owner of KYJT (now KQSR).[15]
Changes in Ownership
In a quick succession of owners, Commonwealth was acquired by Capstar in 1997.
Expanded Band assignment
On March 17, 1997 the FCC announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with KBLU authorized to move from 560 to 1640 kHz.[19] However, the station never procured the Construction Permit needed to implement the authorization, so the expanded band station was never built.
Later history
Clear Channel sold its Yuma stations, KBLU, KTTI and KQSR, to current owner El Dorado Broadcasters in 2007.[20]
In 2017, KBLU became one of the few local stations that broadcast its content on line. In 2018, the webcast was restricted to only the Russ Clark Show, which through its Washington DC Bureau Chief, George Braun, features interviews with members of Congress, administration officials and political commentators.
References
- ^ "Contact". NEWS TALK 560AM KBLU - Yuma, AZ. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ "KBLU-AM 560 kHz - Yuma, AZ". radio-locator.com. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ "Broadcasting Yearbook" (PDF). 1941. p. 104. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "KYUM, New Yuma Radio Station, Joins NBC Networks Today". Arizona Republic. March 15, 1940. p. 3. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ "Seek New Yuma Station As KUMA Hearing Nears" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 1, 1939. p. 51. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ "Station At Yuma Plans Open House". Arizona Republic. April 1, 1951. p. 10. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "KBLU" (PDF). Broadcasting Yearbook. 1960. p. A-112.
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1968 page B-12
- ^ "Eller Advertising Merges With KTAR Broadcasting". Arizona Republic. December 27, 1967. p. 55. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "CCC to control Eller Telecasting". Arizona Republic. November 8, 1969. p. 41. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "KBLU-AM-TV sale approved" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 6, 1973. p. 7. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ a b "KBLU(AM) Yuma, Ariz" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 6, 1983. p. 81. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ Bob Werley (May 18, 1983). "Two radio stations purchased". The Yuma Daily Sun. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ "RKO Sells NY & L.A. Properties Separately For $136.6 Million" (PDF). Radio & Records. 1988-09-02. p. 8.
- ^ Christie, Joyce (June 11, 1995). "Owner adds two radio stations". The Yuma Daily Sun. p. 24. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
- ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
- ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2015-10-25.
- ^ "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
- ^ "Price For 16 AZ, CA Clear Channel Stations: $40 Million". All Access. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
External links
- Official Website
- KBLU in the FCC AM station database
- KBLU in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- FCC History Cards for KBLU (and KYUM pre-1969)