| WKBM | |
| City: | Sandwich, Illinois |
| Area: | Chicago metropolitan area |
| Branding: | Relevant Radio |
| Frequency: | 930 kHz |
| Format: | Catholic talk and teaching |
| Network: | Relevant Radio |
| Class: | B |
| Facility Id: | 48240 |
| Coordinates: | 41.6072°N -88.4531°W |
| Owner: | Relevant Radio |
| Licensee: | Relevant Radio, Inc. |
| Licensing Authority: | FCC |
| Webcast: | Listen Live |
| Website: | relevantradio.com |
WKBM (930 kHz) is an AM radio station broadcasting a Catholic talk and teaching radio format.[1] It is licensed to Sandwich, Illinois, and largely simulcasts with sister station WNTD 950 AM Chicago. They are owned by Relevant Radio, based in Lincolnshire, Illinois.[2]
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.[3] Programming is also heard on 34-watt FM translator W256DU at 99.1 MHz in Cloverdale, Illinois.[4]
The station began broadcasting in .[5] The original call sign was WBYG.[6] [5] The station was originally owned by Larry Nelson.[7] On April 11, 1988, the station's call sign was changed to WAUR.[6] From the late 1980s until 1990 aired a full service format with country music and news, information, and talk programming.[8] [9] [10] In 1990 the country music was replaced with Oldies, with the station airing full-service format with a strong emphasis on local issues.[11] [12] [5] It continued to air this format until its sale to the Children's Broadcasting Corporation in 1997.[13] [14]
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.[15] [14] [16] After Radio AAHS discontinued operations in January 1998, Children's Broadcasting Corporation, began leasing time on its stations until it could find buyers.[17] 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.[18] [17] [19]
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.[20] [21] [22] In late 1999, Catholic Radio Network had entered into an agreement to the station to Saul Acquisition Co. for $4.4 million.[23] [24] [25] 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.[23] 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.[26]
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),[27] and the station returned to the air broadcasting a religious format.[28] [29] The station was branded "Victory 930". In late 2001, Midwest Broadcasting entered into an agreement to purchase the station for $4 million.[30] 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.[31]
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.[32] [33] [34] The station changed its call sign to the current WKBM on June 18, 2014.[6]