KCBR

KCBR
City Monument, Colorado
Broadcast area Colorado Springs, Colorado
Branding Blazin' 98.5
Frequency 1040 kHz (also on HD Radio)
Translator(s) 98.5 K253AH (Colorado Springs)
First air date 1985
Format Classic hip hop
Power 15,000 watts day
2,000 watts critical hours
Class D
Facility ID 10846
Transmitter coordinates 38°49′8″N 104°46′32″W / 38.81889°N 104.77556°W / 38.81889; -104.77556
Owner Pueblo Radio Group
Sister stations KWRP

KCBR (1040 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a classic hip hop format. It is licensed to Monument, Colorado, with a power of 15,000 watts, and can be heard by day from the outskirts of Denver to the state's border with New Mexico.[1]

History

The station first signed on back in 1986 as KKRE; broadcasting a Christian Adult Contemporary format and was a handful of stations at the time that did an all Christian music format. The studio was located in Monument during its early years. In late 1988 after losing too much money, KKRE flipped to a Business News/Talk format via the Colorado Springs-based network at the time BRN (Business Radio Network). KKRE would later change its call letters to KCBR (originally standing for "Colorado's Business Radio") that would reflect the Business format on the station. In 1991 after BRN switched its flagship affiliated station, KCBR went dark. By 1992 under the ownership of the owners of KCMN at the time (and one of the Country's first duopolys) KCBR returned to the air with Combination format of Christian Talk and Christian AC, and the call letters now stood for "Colorado's K-Bright." KCBR ran Christian teaching and talk programs during the morning hours and played Christian Music in the afternoons and Weekends. With the sign on of KBIQ on the FM band KCBR gradually phased out the Christian AC music. In the late 1990s KCBR along with KCMN were sold to Crawford Broadcasting Company. Crawford soon adopted the nickname "Victory Radio" for KCBR.

In August 2006, Don Crawford Jr. son of Crawford Broadcasting owner Don Crawford Sr. bought KCBR and KCMN, for an undisclosed amount. (Formally, KCBR was purchased by a new company called DJR Broadcasting, owned by Crawford.) The new owner said that the formats and staffing would stay the same at the stations. Crawford Jr. had begun working at Crawford Broadcasting in 1989, and had been a regional manager since 1994, responsible for the company's stations in Colorado Springs, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Following the purchase, Crawford was to continue to manage KAAM in Dallas.[2]

Beginning in 2007, the station began broadcasting in HD Radio format.[3]

In 2012 DJR Broadcasting sold KCBR (along with sister station KCMN) to Pueblo Radio Group. The new owners gradually made changes to the station eventually dropping the Christian Talk programs in August. The station transitioned to a News/Talk format in October with longtime KCMN/KCBR personality Tron Simpson from 6AM-8AM and 1PM-2PM, radio veteran Lee Roberts from 8AM-10AM, National Sports Talker Jim Rome from 10AM-1PM, National Syndicated talker Phil Valentine from 2PM-3PM, and longtime local talk radio personality Chuck Baker along with local restaurant owner Chuck Graybill doing afternoons from 3PM-5PM. On March 27, 2013; Laura Ingraham replaced Jim Rome in the 10AM-1PM time frame, when crosstown station KCSF picked up show. After about 22 years on KCMN/KCBR Tron Simpson left the station after October 10, 2014 pending management and format changes with KCBR. Tron Simpson resumed his daily radio talk show online at www.tronshow.com and was picked up by crosstown KVOR for a Sunday Afternoon local talk program.

On November 1, 2014 KCBR changed their format from talk to variety hits, branded as "Tailgate 98" (also broadcast on FM translator K253AH 98.5 FM Colorado Springs).[4]

On September 1, 2015 KCBR changed their format from variety hits to oldies, branded as "Cruisin' 98.5".[5]

On May 4, 2016 KCBR changed their format from oldies to classic hip hop, branded as "Blazin' 98.5".[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Father Sells Sons Two Radio Stations", KCBR News, July 31, 2006
  2. ↑ Andrew Wineke, "Son buys KCMN and KCBR from father", The Gazette (Colorado Springs), August 2, 2006
  3. ↑ Andrew Wineke, "KRCC Jumps on Next Wave of HD Radio Capabilities: Station's 2 New Digital Subchannels Will Add to Offerings", The Gazette (Colorado Springs), December 2, 2007
  4. ↑ Tailgate Party Spreads to Colorado Springs Radioinsight - November 1, 2014
  5. ↑ SoCo Resets its Colorado Holdings Radioinsight - September 1, 2015
  6. ↑ Classic Hip Hop and Pot Shows Blaze Into Colorado Springs Radioinsight - May 4, 2016

External links

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