| SimulcastsKSEVTomball | |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Greater Houston |
| Frequency | 1540kHz |
| Programming | |
| Format | Talk -Brokered |
| Network | Townhall News |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks Radio America Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KAML,KFJZ,KHFX,KLVL,KTMR | |
| History | |
First air date | February 1, 1947; 79 years ago (1947-02-01)[1] |
Call sign meaning | KGalvestonBroadcastingCompany[2] orKeepGalvestonBeachesClean (as formerly promoted on air) |
| Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 26002 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 3,600watts day 2,600 wattscritical hours 185 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 29°18′55″N94°48′19″W / 29.31528°N 94.80528°W /29.31528; -94.80528 |
| Translator | See § Translator |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | ksevradio.com |
KGBC (1540AM) is a broadcast radio station in the United States.Licensed toGalveston, Texas, and owned by SIGA Broadcasting, KGBC has abrokeredtalk format. The station first signed on in 1947. It also has an FM translator, K269GS is licensed to serve Houston, broadcasting from a location nearBaytown, off of W Baker Road & Texas Highway 330. KGBC first broadcast in 1947.[4][5]
As of 1989[update] it is the only radio station in Galveston.[6]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | FCC info | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K269GS | 101.7FM | Houston, Texas | 147268 | 250 | 107 m (351 ft) | D | LMS | First air date: April 3, 2007 (inWoodville; as 96.3 K262BG) |
In the early 2000s, the station carried aCatholic radio format.[2] It later shifted to non-English programming until being forced off the air byHurricane Ike in September 2008. The station resumed full-power broadcasting in February 2009 with a mix of localtalk radio andclassic hits.[5][7][8]
TheU.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted aconstruction permit in August 1946 for a new station to broadcast on 1540kilohertz and serve the community ofGalveston, Texas. The station began broadcasting underprogram test authority on February 1, 1947, and received its originalbroadcast license in May 1947. Chosen to represent original owner James W. Bradner's Galveston Broadcasting Company, the "KGBC"call sign was assigned by the FCC.[1][2][9] The station has served theGalveston area since 1947.[7][10] At its launch, the station broadcast with 1,000watts of power and onlyduring daylight hours.[1] In 1950, the station added nighttime service, but in adirectional array and at just 250 watts.[11] The station powers down at night to protectclear-channel stationKXEL inWaterloo, Iowa, fromskywave interference.[12]
After 17 years of continuous operation by Galveston Broadcasting Company, KGBC was sold to Harbor Broadcasting Company, Inc., effective December 20, 1964. On February 11, 1968, KGBC's new owners launched anFMsister station as "KGBC-FM" (106.1 FM).[13] In 1974, the FM station was sold, moved to 106.5 FM, and re-licensed as "KUFO".[14] With shifting ownership and declining fortunes, the station became "KXKX" in 1979 and "KQQK" in 1986 before signing off forever and having its license cancelled by the FCC in March 1989.[15] As of December 2011[update], the 106.5 frequency is occupied by an unrelatedSpanish Adult Hits station licensed as "KOVE-FM".
On February 20, 2002, Prets/Blum Media Company, Inc., contracted to sell KGBC to SIGA Broadcasting Corporation. The sale was approved by the FCC on April 25, 2002, and the transaction was completed on May 9, 2002.[16]
On September 13, 2008,Hurricane Ike madelandfall on the upper Texas coast causing flooding and widespread damage. The KGBC broadcast facilities suffered both flooding and damage, knocking the station off the air and keeping itdark for several weeks.[17] The station resumed broadcasting (albeit with low power) on October 6, 2008, and returned to full power operation on February 3, 2009.[5][18] After spending all of 2009 as a "live and local" broadcaster, the station began leasing all of its airtime, starting January 1, 2010.[19][20]
In May 2016, KGBC flipped to abusiness news format with programming provided by the BizTalkRadio network.[21]
In October 2017, 1540 imaging was changed to "KGBC Radio" omitting mention of either the AM or FM dial position altogether. In February 2018, KGBC began simulcastingKLVL fulltime in order to expand the Synergy Radio Network onto the Island and surrounding coastal communities. This proved to be short lived as Siga leased out KGBC and K269GS in April, which both began to airTejano, branded asPuro Tejano 101.7 FM & 1540 AM.
In July 2024, KGBC began airing Spanish CHR, becoming the main signal for K287BQ 105.3 in Houston, Texas.
In February 2025, KGBC flipped to a simulcast ofKSEV 700 inTomball, Texas, which airs brokeredconservative talk.
KGBC's Texassister stations with SIGA Broadcasting includeKTMR (1130 AM,Converse),KLVL (1480 AM,Pasadena),KAML (990 AM,Kenedy-Karnes City),KHFX (1140 AM,Cleburne), andKFJZ (870 AM,Fort Worth).
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
