| Broadcast area | Seattle metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1210kHz |
| Branding | Radio Amor |
| Programming | |
| Format | Spanish-languageChristian Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KDDS-FM,KZNW,KZTM | |
| History | |
First air date | 1958 (1958) |
Former call signs | KASY (1958–1989) KBSG (1989–2003) KNWX (2003–2004) KWMG (2004–2007) KTBK (2007–2011) |
Former frequencies | 1220 kHz (1958–1989) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 33683 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 27,500watts day 220 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 47°17′58″N122°11′18″W / 47.29944°N 122.18833°W /47.29944; -122.18833 |
| Translators | 92.1 K221FJ (Tacoma) 98.5 K253CG (Seattle) 102.1 K271BS (Auburn) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | radio-amor.com |
KMIA (1210kHz) is anAMradio station broadcasting aSpanish-languageChristian Radioformat, known as "Radio Amor."Licensed toAuburn–Federal Way, Washington, it serves theSeattle metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Amador and Rosalie Bustos, through licenseeBustos Media Holdings, LLC. It uses abrokered programming system, where religious leaders buy time on the station and seek donations to their ministries during their shows.
By day, KMIA is powered at 27,500watts. But because1210 AM is aclear channel frequency, KMIA must reduce power at night to only 220 watts to minimize interference to other stations.[2] KMIA uses adirectional antenna at all times. Programming is also heard on 150 wattFM translatorK221FJ at 92.1MHz inTacoma, Washington, 250 watt FM translatorK253CG at 98.5 MHz inSeattle, Washington, and 250 watt FM translatorK271BS at 102.1 MHz in Auburn, Washington.
Edward and June Garre were the founders of this station, which began asKASY in 1958. It originally broadcast on 1220 AM as a 250 wattdaytimer. It ran aMiddle of the Road music format. The station was sold in October 1989.[3]
Viacom bought the station, with 1210 becoming asimulcast ofOldies station 97.3KBSG-FM. The AM station becameKBSG (AM).Entercom bought KBSG-AM-FM in 1996. The simulcast lasted until around 2002, when KBSG (AM) flipped to a business format asKNWX (the formercall sign of 770KTTH). That lasted until 2003, when KNWX switched to anall-news radio format, using programming fromAP Radio News.
In December 2004, afterBustos Media bought the station, 1210 switched to aRegional Mexican format, first asKWMG and later asKTBK. In September 2010, Bustos transferred most of its licenses to Adelante Media Group as part of a settlement with its lenders.[4] The station switched to a Spanish popular hits format on November 7, 2011, calling itself "Latino 1210" and operating under the call letters of KMIA.
Effective December 10, 2014, Bustos Media reacquired KMIA, along with eight other stations and a translator, from Adelante Media for $6 million. On December 31, 2014, KMIA returned to a Regional Mexican format, branded as "La Zeta 1210".
On November 29, 2016, KMIA was granted aFederal Communications Commissionconstruction permit to move the night transmitter to the day transmitter site and reduce night power to 220 watts.[5]
In March 2020, Bustos Media took KMIAsilent, notifying the FCC that theCOVID-19 pandemic made it economically unviable to keep the station on the air. Bustos characterized the shutdown as temporary.[6] The station eventually returned to the air.