KBQI
KBQI (107.9 FM, "Big I 107.9") is a radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico which carries a country music format, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.. Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque, and the transmitter tower is located atop Sandia Crest east of the city.
 | |
| City | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Albuquerque, New Mexico Santa Fe, New Mexico |
| Frequency | 107.9 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Big I 107.9 |
| Slogan | Number #1 For New Country |
| Programming | |
| Format | FM/HD1: Country HD2: Classic country "98.1 The Bull" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | iHeartMedia, Inc. (iHM Licenses, LLC) |
| History | |
First air date | April 27, 1979 (as KFMG) |
Former call signs | KFMG (1979-1991) KAMX (1991-1994) KTEG (1994-2000) |
Call sign meaning | AlBuQuerque Interstate (see below) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 4706 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 22,500 watts |
| HAAT | 1,259 meters (4,131 ft) |
| Translator(s) | 98.1 K251AU (Albuquerque, relays HD2) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) |
| Website | bigi1079.iheart.com thebullabq.iheart.com (HD2) |
KBQI takes its branding, "Big I 107-9", from the I-40 and I-25 interchange near downtown Albuquerque that is locally known as "the Big I". At the time of the station's launch in July 2000, the "Big I" was at the start of a major reconstruction project which had finished in May 2002. The station also launched with former KRST morning personalities Tony Lynn and Myles Copeland taking the morning shift at the new station. This helped to make KBQI competitive with KRST which had once dominated the format in the market. Tony and Myles had hosted mornings for 11 years until they were let go in October 2011.[1] The syndicated Bobby Bones Show now airs in mornings.
In February 2006 the station began broadcasting in HD Radio with an additional HD-2 subchannel that played country variety. On June 21, 2013 the HD subchannel began to air a classic country music format re-broadcasting on translator K251AU on 98.1 FM.[2][3]
Station history
In 1994, KAMX-FM switched to modern rock and KAMX discontinued its simulcast.[4]
| call letters | format | name | time period |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFMG | Album Oriented Rock | Rock 108 | 1979-1991 |
| KAMX | Hot AC | Mix 107.9 | 1991-1994 |
| KTEG | Modern Rock | The Edge | 1994-2000 |
References
- http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/tony-lynn--myles-show-cancelled
- http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/83843/albuquerques-classic-country-on-the-move/
- http://www.hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=70 HD Radio Guide for Albuquerque
- Stark, Phyllis (November 5, 1994). "Vox Jox". Billboard. 106 (45): 118.
External links
- KBQI in the FCC's FM station database
- KBQI on Radio-Locator
- KBQI in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- K251AU in the FCC's FM station database
- K251AU on Radio-Locator