KFBC

KFBC (1240 AM) is an American sports formatted radio station based in Cheyenne, Wyoming and targets the entire market. The station is a full time affiliate of CBS Sports Radio[1] as well as the Flagship station of the Cowboy State News Network.[2] Additionally, KFBC is a part-time affiliate of the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies (both through KOA) as well as the Wyoming Cowboys. In KFBC's early days, they were part of the NBC Blue Network, which is now ABC News Radio. It is unclear whether KFBC is still part of ABC or not.

For the television station formerly associated with this station, see KGWN-TV.
KFBC
CityCheyenne, Wyoming
Broadcast areaCheyenne Area
Frequency1240 kHz
BrandingKFBC AM 1240
SloganYour #1 Station for the Home Team
Programming
FormatSports
AffiliationsCBS Sports Radio, Broncos Radio Network
Ownership
OwnerMontgomery Broadcasting LLC
History
First air date
1940
Technical information
Facility ID43629
ClassC
Power700 watts
Transmitter coordinates
41°7′17″N 104°50′22″W
Translator(s)97.5 K248CZ (Cheyenne)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitekfbcradio.com

Signal

KFBC puts out a continuous 700 watts of non-directional power which provides local coverage to Cheyenne and the surrounding area,[3] while it can be marginally heard in Western Nebraska, Northern Colorado (even Fort Collins), and some of South-east Wyoming. KFBC is unusual in the fact that Class C stations are normally 1,000 watts, such as KRAL. The station is on one of six shared-local frequencies (the others are 1230, 1340, 1400, 1450, and 1490), informally referred to as the "graveyard" frequencies, because of the excessive amount of stations. Because of this, the skywave (night-time) signal mixes with several others, thus limiting it's usefulness to it's groundwave signal. However, a skilled operator with a very directional antenna may separate it from the rest, upwards of 300 miles.

To provide another option, as well as to take advantage of AM Revitalization, KFBC signed on translator K248CZ, (97.5 FM) located Downtown at 250 watts, just a few miles away from the KFBC tower.[4] This signal provides a local grade signal to the city itself, and depending on the conditions, can extend to the Nebraska Panhandle, much like its parent station. This is more likely to happen at night or when there's more humidity in the air. In general, the translator copies everything from the KFBC broadcast; it even broadcasts in mono, a rarity for modern-day FM translators, although still the standard for some AM stations.

History

According to the KFBC website, they have been active for 75 years as of 2021,[2] which would put their start date as 1946, however records indicate[5][6] they were around since at least 1941,[7][8] albeit on the frequency of 1450. Meanwhile, KYAN was on 1400, who eventually sold their facilities to KFBC the same year.[9] (This is however disputed by this source which is dated 1942). The likely founder and owner of the station was media mogul Tracy McCracken.[10]

KFBC originally was an independent station before becoming an affiliate of NBC Blue,[11] before going independent again. From the very start, KFBC was very sports orientated, being the first to hire Curt Gowdy as a broadcaster.[12] The McCracken family started KFBC-TV (now KGWN-TV) in 1954, effectively making the two sister outlets, along with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

KFBC's logo under previous news/talk format held in the early 21st century

In the 21st century, KFBC was taking on a more news/talk role omnipresent of post-golden era stations, while including some sports, like the Motor Racing Network. A massive shake-up of Cheyenne AM affiliations occurred between 2006 and 2016; fellow station KRAE went from classic country to ESPN to oldies. Upon KRAE's switch from sports to oldies, KFBC took up the position as Cheyenne's sports station, which the station management[13] regarded well. Meanwhile, KGAB picked up KFBC's news and talk status. Both KFBC and former sister station '92.9 The Boss' launched Christmas Cash in the 2010s, a give-away contest that continues to exist as of the 2020 Holiday season. In the 2020's, KFBC continues to serve as Cheyenne's CBS Sports Affiliate and will occasionally air local games and events.[14] Recently, the station will play music during fireworks, mainly for 4th of July, and now for New Year's Day fireworks.


Programming

The vast majority of the schedule is syndicated from CBS Sports Radio, however local programming preempts the national feed occasionally, and KFBC produces two shows each weekday. During the weekend, no local programming (besides live coverage of sports) is produced. One of the producers of the Jim Rome Show, Adam Hawk, achieved infamy when a parody of Mission:Impossible's theme song included his name. [15]

Weekday Schedule for KFBC[16][17]
Time Slot (Local)ProgramNotes
12am-4amAmy Lawerence1-
4am-5:30amThe DA Show1;3CBS Contract after Gio and Jones split not renewed
5:30a-9aCheyenne This Morning2Usually shortened to "Cheyenne Today".
9a-10aReiter Than You1;3Formerly Pat McAfee, sources disagree on current slot.
10a-1pJim Rome1-
1p-4pTiki & Tierney1-
4p-6pThe Sports Zone2;3A local direct competitor to Wyoming Sports Talk Today
6p-8pZach Gelb1;3The Sports Zone takes precedence most days.
8p-12aJR Sports Brief1Formerly Ferrall on the Bench
1From CBS Sports Radio; 2Local Programing/KFBC flagship; 3Timeframe bumped by local programming

References

  1. "Stations". CBS Sports Radio. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. Technology, Cheyenne. "About | KFBC AM1240". Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. "KFBC - AM Station Profile - FCC Public Inspection Files". publicfiles.fcc.gov. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  4. "FCCInfo Results". www.fccinfo.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. "OCR Broadcast" (PDF). 1942. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. "Broadcasting Stations By Locations" (PDF). September 10, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  7. "Broadcasting Yearbook 1941". Broadcasting Publications. 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  8. "Silvertone Logbook 1941" (PDF). April 1, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  9. "Broadcasting Newsmagazine" (PDF). April 7, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. "Tracy McCraken: From a $3,000 Loan to a Newspaper Empire | WyoHistory.org". www.wyohistory.org. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  11. "DCB May Improve Radio's Priorities" (PDF). November 3, 1941. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  12. "Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame". www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  13. Potter, Chris (20 March 2018). "CBS Sports Radio Testimonials". Westwood One. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  14. Lerner, Dave. "COVID Grounds Thunderbirds, but Air Show to Fly". The Cheyenne Post. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  15. Benton, Jim. "Benard T submitted a Ritt..." Twitter. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  16. Technology, Cheyenne. "Program Schedule | KFBC AM1240". Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  17. "Daily Schedule". CBS Sports Radio. Retrieved 29 January 2021.


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