| SimulcastsKHVN 970 Fort Worth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Broadcast area | Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex |
| Frequency | 1630kHz |
| Branding | Dallas' BIN |
| Programming | |
| Format | Black-oriented news |
| Affiliations | Black Information Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | 2002; 23 years ago (2002) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | Kingdom's Key toGospel music (former format) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 87147 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 32°48′36″N97°07′26″W / 32.81000°N 97.12389°W /32.81000; -97.12389 |
| Translator | 97.5MHz K248DS (Fort Worth) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) |
| Website | dallas |
KKGM (1630AM) is acommercialradio stationlicensed toFort Worth, Texas, and serving theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The stationsimulcasts anAfrican American-targetednewsformat along withsister stationKHVN970 AM. KKGM and KHVN areaffiliates of theBlack Information Network (BIN) and are owned byiHeartMedia, Inc. The studios are alongDallas Parkway inFarmers Branch, using a Dallas address.
By day, KKGM is powered at 10,000watts,non-directional. To protect other stations on1630 AM from interference, at night power is reduced to 1,000 watts. Thetransmitter is on Trinity Boulevard at House Anderson Road in Fort Worth.[2] Programming is also heard onFM translator K248DS at 97.5MHz.
KKGM originated as theexpanded band "twin" of an existing station on the standard AM band. On March 17, 1997, theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that 88 stations had been given permission to move to newly available "expanded band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz. KHVN in Fort Worth was authorized to move from 970 to 1630 kHz.[3]
An application for the new expanded band station was filed in 1997. It was issued aconstruction permit by the FCC the next year. This was assigned the call letters KBCM on March 6, 1998, which was changed to KOME on January 15, 1999, and to KNAX on March 20, 2001.[4][5] The station began regular service in July 2002, initially with a Spanish religious format as "Radio Christiana".[6]
The FCC's initial policy was that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency.[3] However, this deadline has been extended multiple times, and both stations have remained authorized. One policy the FCC has generally enforced is that the original stations and their expanded band counterparts must remain under common ownership,[7][8] so in subsequent sales the two stations have been paired together.
KNAX applied for a move toEuless and for call letters KHEV. But it chose KKGM instead in 2004. It began airing aSouthern Gospel format. KKGM later switched to anall-talk format in 2011 as "Better Life Radio" with a mix ofChristian talk and teaching shows andconservative programming, including the controversialAlex Jones show.[9] It changed back to a mix of Southern Gospel music along with some talk shows a year later.
Even though owners of expanded band stations were not supposed to continue owning and programming two radio stations, the new frequency and the original frequency, the FCC never ordered them to surrender one of their licenses. So 970 and 1630 continued to simulcast their programming, eventually airing anurban gospel format.
On December 2, 2020,iHeartMedia announced its purchase of KKGM andKHVN fromMortenson Broadcasting for $950,000. The deal included twoFM translators, K221GV (92.1 MHz) and K237HD (95.3 MHz). ALocal marketing agreement (LMA) was set up to allow iHeart to program the stations while the deal was being finalized. That took effect on January 2, 2021. The purchase allowed iHeartMedia to max out its DFW cluster threshold of the maximum stations it could legally own.[10]
On December 24, iHeart announced that both stations would become affiliates of theBlack Information Network on January 2, 2021, ending theirurban gospel formats.[11][12] The two stations would begin airing an iHeartMedia news service aimed at African-American listeners.
On January 2, 2021, KKGM (erroneously identified as "KKMG" during top of hourlegal IDs) and KHVN beganstunting. They played recorded speeches by prominent African-American leaders, interspersed with messages such as "Our voices will be heard" and "Our side of the story is about to be told." The newBlack Information Network (BIN) format officially launched on January 4 at Noon. The purchases of KKGM and KHVN were consummated on March 31, 2021.
32°48′35″N97°07′24″W / 32.80972°N 97.12333°W /32.80972; -97.12333