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| Broadcast area | Albuquerque metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 1050kHz |
| Branding | 94.5 The Pit |
| Programming | |
| Format | Active rock |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| KDRF,KKOB,KKOB-FM,KMGA,KNML,KOBQ,KRST | |
| History | |
First air date | 1987 (as KNXX) |
Former call signs |
|
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 48604 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 1,000watts |
| Translator | 94.5 K233CG (Sandia) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | 945thepit.com |
KTBL (1050AM) is a commercialradio stationlicensed to the village ofLos Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico, and serves theAlbuquerque metropolitan area. It is owned byCumulus Media and its studios are located inDowntown Albuquerque and thetransmitter tower is located inSouth Valley, New Mexico. KTBL operates with 1,000watts. The station airs anactive rock format branded as "94.5 The Pit" with the use of FM translatorK233CG broadcasting at 250 watts off Sandia Crest.
This station signed on in December 1987 as KNXX.[2] The station featured abig band music format; however, it would be short lived due to operation costs, and went dark in July 1988. In April 1989, the station returned to the air as KMBA with a business talk format.[3] In July 1993, with the talk format getting no ratings, it changed to KJBO with anoldies music format co-owned by radio personality Bobby Box called "Juke Box Oldies".[4] Bobby Box would also be the morning announcer on KJBO. The music on the station would feature only American artists concentrating on music from 1954 to 1965.[5]
In October 1994, KJBO was sold to the owners of classical music stationKHFM when the stations' principal owner Don Davis wanted to devote full attention to FM start-upKRZN (101.3 FM). The format would soon switch tonews and information under new call letters KHFN.[6] In March 1996, both KHFM (then on96.3 FM) and KHFN were sold toCitadel Broadcasting for $5.75 million.[7] In October of that year, the call letters on 1050 were switched to KNML, and the station moved to asports radio format branded as "The Sports Animal", which was moved fromKRZY (1450 AM) after Citadel had divested the station to a Spanish language broadcaster.
In 2000, Citadel acquired the stronger 610 AM signal for $5.4 million, while swapping 920 AM to Life Talk Broadcasting,[8] and in April, had movedKNML to that signal. The former KNML at 1050 AM would pick up the KHTL call sign from 920 AM. KHTL previously aired a "hot talk" format on 920, but on 1050, it aired a business talk format. In February 2001, 1050 had picked up the call sign KTBL from103.3 FM. KTBL had previously been a traditional country music format branded as "K-Bull"; on 1050 AM, it had aired aclassic country music format with the "K-Bull" brand after 103.3 FM changed to anadult album alternative format.
In spring 2002, KTBL changed to a syndicated talk radio format. The talk format was mainly from aconservative viewpoint. KTBL principally airednationally syndicated shows fromWestwood One, asubsidiary of parent company Cumulus Media. KTBL also aired national news updates fromWestwood One News (Fox News Radio before that) throughout the day. Shows featured over the years includedDon Imus (mornings 2008-2018),Glenn Beck,Mike Huckabee,Laura Ingraham,Michael Savage, and many others. Some shows would at times be shifted betweenKKOB and KTBL. The station was promoted as "KKOB's talk partner".
Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
On February 18, 2020, KTBL began simulcasting on translator K233CG (94.5 FM), and flipped toactive rock, branded as "94.5 The Pit".[9]
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K233CG | 94.5 FM | Sandia, New Mexico | 88468 | 250 (Vert.) | 1,240 m (4,068 ft) | D | LMS |
34°58′46″N106°44′13″W / 34.97944°N 106.73694°W /34.97944; -106.73694