KBLG (910 AM, "ESPN 910 KBLG") is an American sports radio station that broadcasts in the Billings Metro Area. KBLG broadcasts from its tower located just outside the Billings city limits.
| Broadcast area | Billings Metropolitan Area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 910 kHz |
| Branding | ESPN 910 KBLG |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | ESPN Radio Billings Mustangs Billings Outlaws |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KRKX, KPLN, KRZN, KWMY, KYYA | |
| History | |
First air date | October 19, 1955 (as KOYN) |
Former call signs | KOYN (1955–1986) |
Call sign meaning | K BiLlinGs |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 63873 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 1,000 watts day 64 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 45°45′13″N 108°30′58″W / 45.75361°N 108.51611°W |
| Translator(s) | 105.5 K288HA (Billings) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | espn910.com |
History
editThe station traces its roots to October 19, 1955. The initial call letters of the station were KOYN, and the station was owned by Meyer Broadcasting Company. It carried a country format. The studios and transmitter were located at 4900 Riverside Drive in Billings. The station was licensed for 1,000 watts. KOYN had an FM sister station sign on in 1969, which eventually became KURL. KBLG was sold to R&R Broadcasting in 1977.[2] In the 1980s, the station carried an oldies format.[3]
Ownership
editIn June 2006, KBLG was acquired by Cherry Creek Radio from Fisher Radio Regional Group as part of a 24 station deal with a total reported sale price of $33.3 million.[4]
KBLG was owned by Cherry Creek Radio until 2010 when it was acquired by Connoisseur Media along with sister stations KRZN-FM and KRKX-FM.
For the remaining Cherry Creek Radio station KYYA-FM, it was announced on May 24, 2010, that the frequency of 93.3 FM would be operated by Elenbaas Media Inc, while Elenbaas's 730 AM frequency would be operated by Connoisseur Media.[5]
In February 2013, KBLG signed a multi-year agreement with Grizzly Sports Properties to broadcast all University of Montana football and men's basketball games to Billings listeners.[6]
The station has won awards in the past for its news coverage.[7]
On May 7, 2019, Connoisseur Media announced that it would sell its Billings cluster to Desert Mountain Broadcasting, an entity formed by Connoisseur Billings general manager Cam Maxwell.[8] The sale closed on August 2, 2019.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KBLG". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "FCC History cards for KBLG" (PDF). United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
- ^ Broadcasting Cablecasting Yearbook. Broadcasting Publications. 1988. p. 169.
- ^ "Deals". Broadcasting & Cable. 2006-06-19.
- ^ Susan Olp (January 19, 2013). "Local Christian radio station celebrates 50 years of broadcasting". Billings Gazette.
- ^ "KBLG the new radio partner of Griz athletics". Billings Gazette. February 19, 2013.
- ^ "KTVQ tops awards for broadcast news". Billings Gazette. Associated Press. September 20, 2003.
- ^ "Connoisseur Media Sells Billings Cluster To Desert Mountain Broadcasting". RadioInsight. 9 May 2019.
- ^ "'My 2 passions were radio and baseball:' Billings native buys multi-million dollar media company". Montanasports.com. May 20, 2019.
External links
edit- Facility details for Facility ID 63873 (KBLG) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KBLG in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Facility details for Facility ID 200746 (K288HA) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- K288HA at FCCdata.org
- FCC History Cards for KBLG
