KFBC
Broadcast areaCheyenne metropolitan area
Frequency1240 kHz
BrandingKFBC AM 1240
Programming
FormatSports
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerMontgomery Broadcasting LLC
History
First air date
December 1940 (1940-12)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID43629
ClassC
Power700 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates
41°7′17″N 104°50′22″W / 41.12139°N 104.83944°W / 41.12139; -104.83944
Translator(s)97.5 K248CZ (Cheyenne)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitekfbcradio.com

KFBC (1240 AM) is an American sports formatted radio station based in Cheyenne, Wyoming and targets the entire market. The station is a full time affiliate of CBS Sports Radio[2] as well as the flagship station of the Cowboy State News Network.[3] Additionally, KFBC is a part-time affiliate of the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies radio networks (both through KOA) as well as the Wyoming Cowboys.

Signal

KFBC puts out a continuous 700 watts of non-directional power which provides local coverage to Cheyenne and the surrounding area,[4] while it can be marginally heard in Western Nebraska, Northern Colorado (even Fort Collins), and some of South-east Wyoming. KFBC is unusual in the fact that Class C stations are normally 1,000 watts, such as KRAL. The station is on one of six shared-local frequencies (the others are 1230, 1340, 1400, 1450, and 1490), informally referred to as the "graveyard" frequencies, because of the excessive number of stations. Because of this, the skywave (night-time) signal mixes with several others, thus limiting its usefulness to its groundwave signal. However, a skilled operator with a very directional antenna may separate it from the rest, upwards of 300 miles.

To provide another option, as well as to take advantage of AM Revitalization, KFBC signed on translator K248CZ (97.5 FM), located Downtown at 250 watts, just a few miles away from the KFBC tower.[5] This signal provides a local grade signal to the city itself, and depending on the conditions, can extend to the Nebraska Panhandle, much like its parent station. This is more likely to happen at night or when there is more humidity in the air. In general, the translator copies everything from the KFBC broadcast; it even broadcasts in mono, a rarity for modern-day FM translators, although still the standard for some AM stations.

History

KFBC is the oldest surviving radio station in Cheyenne. It was founded in December 1940 by Tracy McCracken, publisher of the Wyoming State Tribune and Wyoming Eagle (since merged as the Wyoming Tribune Eagle).[6] Records indicate[7][8][9] it was originally located on 1450.

Soon after signing on, KFBC forced Cheyenne's original radio station, KYAN on 1400, off the air.[6] In 1941[10] (or 1942[11] depending on the source), KYAN's owners sold their facilities to KFBC.

KFBC originally was an independent station before becoming an affiliate of NBC Blue,[12] before going independent again. From the very start, KFBC was very sports orientated, being the first to hire Curt Gowdy as a broadcaster.[13] The McCracken family started KFBC-TV (now KGWN-TV) in 1954, effectively making the two sister outlets, along with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle'.

KFBC's logo under previous news/talk format held in the early 21st century

In the 21st century, KFBC took on a news/talk format omnipresent of post-golden era stations, while including some sports, like the Motor Racing Network. A massive shake-up of Cheyenne AM affiliations occurred between 2006 and 2016; fellow station KRAE went from classic country to ESPN to oldies. Upon KRAE's switch from sports to oldies, KFBC took up the position as Cheyenne's sports station, which the station management[14] regarded well. Meanwhile, KGAB picked up KFBC's news and talk status. Both KFBC and former sister station '92.9 The Boss' launched Christmas Cash in the 2010s, a give-away contest that continues to exist as of the 2020 Holiday season. In the 2020s, KFBC continues to serve as Cheyenne's CBS Sports Radio station and will occasionally air local games and events.[15] Recently, the station will play music during fireworks, mainly for 4th of July, and now for New Year's Day fireworks.

Programming

KFBC is mostly a pass-through for CBS Sports Radio, but occasionally airs local programming. It produces two local shows each weekday. During the weekend, it is a full simulcast of the CBS Sports Radio national feed, aside from live sports coverage.

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KFBC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Stations". CBS Sports Radio. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Technology, Cheyenne. "About | KFBC AM1240". Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "KFBC - AM Station Profile - FCC Public Inspection Files". publicfiles.fcc.gov. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "FCCInfo Results". www.fccinfo.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Tracy McCraken: From a $3,000 Loan to a Newspaper Empire". WyoHistory. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "OCR Broadcast" (PDF). 1942. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Broadcasting Stations By Locations" (PDF). September 10, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Silvertone Logbook 1941" (PDF). April 1, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Broadcasting Newsmagazine" (PDF). April 7, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  11. ↑ https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Logs-&-Lists/IDX/Logbooks/whites%20Vol%2019%20No%208%201942%20Fall-OCR-Page-0025.pdf,
  12. ↑ "DCB May Improve Radio's Priorities" (PDF). November 3, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame". www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Potter, Chris (20 March 2018). "CBS Sports Radio Testimonials". Westwood One. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  15. ↑ Lerner, Dave. "COVID Grounds Thunderbirds, but Air Show to Fly". The Cheyenne Post. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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