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| Broadcast area | Albuquerque metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1350kHz |
| Branding | Fox Sports 1350 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Sports |
| Affiliations | Fox Sports Radio |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KABQ-FM,KBQI,KPEK,KTEG,KZRR,K251AU,K265CA | |
| History | |
First air date | 1947 (as KVER at 1490) |
Former call signs | KVER (1947–1959) |
Former frequencies | 1490 kHz (1947–1949) 1340 kHz (1949–1959) |
Call sign meaning | Albuquerque; "ABQ" is also theairport code for theSunport |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 65394 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 5,000watts (day) 500 watts (night) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | foxsportsabq.iheart.com |
KABQ (1350kHz) is acommercialAMradio station inAlbuquerque, New Mexico. It is owned byiHeartMedia, Inc., and is airing asportsradio format as "Fox Sports 1350". It had been carrying all iHeartpodcasts since 2019.
KABQ'sradio studios and offices are on NE Jefferson Street in Albuquerque.[2] Thetransmitter is located off NW Montoya Street, also in Albuquerque.[3] KABQ is powered at 5,000watts by day using anon-directional antenna. To avoid interfering with other stations onAM 1350, it reduces power at night to 500 watts and uses adirectional antenna, with a three-tower array.
In 1947, the stationsigned on asKVER at 1490 kHz.[4] It was owned by Intermountain Broadcasting and was powered at only 250 watts. KVER was anetwork affiliate of theMutual Broadcasting System.
The station moved to 1340 kHz in 1949. An advertisement in the 1950 edition of theBroadcasting Yearbook said 1340 KVER is "The choice on the dial for Albuquerque." It listed KVER's programming as drama (including programs fromMGM and Mutual), sports and live events, as well asSpanish-language programming, reminding readers that over 50% of Albuquerque residents speak Spanish.[5]
In 1956, the station was acquired by Duke Broadcasting.[6] It became a full-time Spanish-language radio station.
In 1959, the station was acquired by Sadia Broadcasting and moved to 1350 kHz, asKABQ.[7] The move allowed it to increase its power to its current 5,000 watts by day and 500 watts at night. The station continued to serve theMexican-American community. In 1972, the station was acquired by the Albuquerque Corporation.[8]
In March 2000,Clear Channel Communications, a forerunner of today's iHeartMedia, acquired the radio station.[9] The Spanish-language format continued until Fall of 2002 when Clear Channel switched the format tosports radio, using theFox Sports Radio Network. All local personalities on the station were let go.[10]
In late August 2004, KABQ became a full-time affiliate ofAir America Radio, carrying that network's line up of liberal hosts, includingAl Franken,Rachel Maddow,Chuck D,Randi Rhodes,Marc Maron andJaneane Garofalo.[11] The station would be branded asAlbuquerque's Progressive Talk.
In 2007, Clear Channel Communications placed this station, along with 104.7KABQ-FM, into theAloha Station Trust to comply withFederal Communications Commission limitations. Clear Channel was over the FCC limit for the number of radio stations it could own in oneradio market. However, AM 1350 KABQ has returned into the iHeartMedia portfolio.
In 2010, the Air America Network discontinued its broadcasts after the parent company declaredbankruptcy. The station continued its progressive talk format using programs from other networks, including several hosts who originally were with Air America. In May 2014 bothEd Schultz andRandi Rhodes, who had the longest running programs on the station, had ended their shows. Thom Hartmann, who had been heard in PMdrive time, took over Schultz's midday time slot whileLeslie Marshall moved to early afternoons. Norman Goldman replaced Rhodes in late afternoons.
In the final years it carriednationally syndicated shows fromStephanie Miller (aired in mornings and afternoons),Thom Hartmann (middays and nights),Norman Goldman andClark Howard. On weekends, syndicated shows includeKim Komando,Bill Handel on the Law,Ring of Fire Radio and repeats of weekday shows. World and national news was supplied byWestwood One News.
The station had generated decent ratings for a 5 kW AM station high up the dial and was usually ranked the second most listened to commercial talk radio station in the market behind 770KKOB, owned byCumulus Media.
In May 2019, the station switched to an all-podcast format with little warning (to the point where radio news websiteRadioInsight didn't report the change until July 9, nearly a month and a half after the flip). It had been the longest-running progressive talk station in the country at 15 years. The station began utilizing programming that iHeartMedia gained from its purchase of provider Stuff Media in 2018.[12]
On November 22, 2021, KABQ dropped its all-podcast format and beganstunting withChristmas music, branded as "Santa 1350".[13]
On January 3, 2022, the station flipped to sports as "Fox Sports 1350".[14]
TV Comes to New Mexico by George Morrison
35°06′02″N106°40′34″W / 35.10056°N 106.67611°W /35.10056; -106.67611