| Broadcast area | Topeka metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1440 kHz |
| Branding | The Big Talker 93.5 FM / 1440 AM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Talk radio |
| Network | Fox News Radio |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | July 1947; 77 years ago (1947-07) (as KJAY)[1] |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | from its sister stationKMAJ-FM |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 42014 |
| Class | B |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 39°01′17″N95°34′15″W / 39.02139°N 95.57083°W /39.02139; -95.57083 |
| Translator(s) | 93.5 K228FW (Topeka) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | Official website |
KMAJ (1440kHz) is acommercialAMradio station inTopeka, Kansas. It is owned byCumulus Media and it broadcasts atalk radioformat, calling itself "The Big Talker". Thestudios and offices are South Kansas Avenue.
By day, KMAJ is powered at 5,000watts. It’s coverage pattern is slightly odd. One large signal lobe heads towards Manhattan and Wamego. Distant coverage extends into Holt County, Missouri. Tonganoxie Kansas pertains only to a fringe-grade signal despite being 27 miles from the transmitter. At night, to protect other stations on1440 AM from interference, it reduces power to 1,000 watts. It uses adirectional antenna with a four-tower array. Thetransmitter is on SE Ratner Road near SE 29th Street inTecumseh, Kansas.[3] Programming is also heard on 250-wattFM translatorK228FW at 93.5MHz in Topeka.[4][1]
Most weekday programming isnationally syndicated talk shows. Mornings begin withAmerica in the Morning followed byArmstrong & Getty,The Chris Plante Show,The Dan Bongino Show,The Ben Shapiro Show,The Mark Levin Show,The Michael Knowles Show andRed Eye Radio. Weekends feature specialty shows on money, health, real estate, movies and repeats of weekday shows. Most hours begin with an update fromFox News Radio.
Beginning with the 2014–15 season, KMAJ and KWIC became the home of theKansas Jayhawksfootball and basketball (men/women's) teams.[5] Previously, the games had been aired onWIBW.[5] In addition, KMAJ also carries localhigh school football andbasketball games.
The stationsigned on the air in July 1947 as KJAY. It called itself "The Jayhawker Station", representing theKansas Jayhawks sports teams of theUniversity of Kansas. KJAY was owned by S.H. Patterson with studios at 908 Kansas Avenue.[6] As other stations in Topeka and Kansas City had taken the majornetwork affiliations, KJAY was an independent station, coming up with its own programs.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, KJAY featured afull service format ofmiddle of the road (MOR) music, along with personalities, sports, farm information and news.
In March 1962, Fred Reynolds, dba Midland Broadcasters, Inc., acquired KJAY. He immediately changed thecall sign to KEWI and flipped the format toTop 40 hits. Reynolds brought in some of consultantGordon McLendon's "Raiders" (high-energyDJs) to make a big splash on "Big KeeWee". By the late 1960s, these "KeeWee Good Guys" had made KEWI the city's top-rated station. The weekly Top 20+20 Tunedex survey evolved into a Fab 40 Tunedex to go with the British Invasion and then to a Top 14+40 Tunedex to match its dial position at 1440 kHz.
By the 1980s, young people were tuning in FM stations to hear their favorite hits. In September 1980, KEWI changed its format tocountry music. It used the slogan "Kix Country" with the call letters KSKX. Then, to capitalize on the popularity of the "Retro" craze, the KEWI call letters came back in November 1986.
By 1990, as most music formats had moved to the FM dial, KEWI changed call letters to KMAJ tosimulcast its FMsister station,KMAJ-FM.
Cumulus bought KMAJ-AM-FM from Midland Broadcasters in February 1999, and began simulcasting syndicated talk shows and programming withKMBZ inKansas City.
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