| Simulcasts KSEV Tomball | |
|---|---|
| |
| Broadcast area | Greater Houston |
| Frequency | 1540 kHz |
| 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[1] |
Call sign meaning | K Galveston Broadcasting Company[2] or Keep Galveston Beaches Clean (as formerly promoted on air) |
| Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 26002 |
| Class | B |
| Power | 3,600 watts day 2,600 watts critical hours 185 watts night |
Transmitter coordinates | 29°18′55″N 94°48′19″W / 29.31528°N 94.80528°W |
| Translator | See § Translator |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | ksevradio.com |
KGBC (1540 AM) is a broadcast radio station in the United States. Licensed to Galveston, Texas, and owned by SIGA Broadcasting, KGBC has a brokered talk format. The station first signed on in 1947. It also has an FM translator, K269GS is licensed to serve Houston, broadcasting from a location near Baytown, 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]
Translator
| Call sign | Frequency | City of license | FID | ERP (W) | HAAT | Class | FCC info | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K269GS | 101.7 FM | Houston, Texas | 147268 | 250 | 107 m (351 ft) | D | LMS | First air date: April 3, 2007 (in Woodville; as 96.3 K262BG) |
Programming
In the early 2000s, the station carried a Catholic radio format.[2] It later shifted to non-English programming until being forced off the air by Hurricane Ike in September 2008. The station resumed full-power broadcasting in February 2009 with a mix of local talk radio and classic hits.[5][7][8]
History
Galveston Broadcasting Company Signs On KGBC
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a construction permit in August 1946 for a new station to broadcast on 1540 kilohertz and serve the community of Galveston, Texas. The station began broadcasting under program test authority on February 1, 1947, and received its original broadcast 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 the Galveston area since 1947.[7][10] At its launch, the station broadcast with 1,000 watts of power and only during daylight hours.[1] In 1950, the station added nighttime service, but in a directional array and at just 250 watts.[11] The station powers down at night to protect clear-channel station KXEL in Waterloo, Iowa, from skywave interference.[12]
KGBC-FM Launches
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 an FM sister 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 unrelated Spanish Adult Hits station licensed as "KOVE-FM".
Siga Purchases KGBC
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 made landfall 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 it dark 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 a business 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 simulcasting KLVL 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 air Tejano, branded as Puro 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 of KSEV 700 in Tomball, Texas, which airs brokered conservative talk.
KGBC's Texas sister stations with SIGA Broadcasting include KTMR (1130 AM, Converse), KLVL (1480 AM, Pasadena), KAML (990 AM, Kenedy-Karnes City), KHFX (1140 AM, Cleburne), and KFJZ (870 AM, Fort Worth).
References
- ^ a b c "Directory of Standard Broadcasting Stations of the United States". 1948 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1948. p. 232.
- ^ a b c Cousins, Rick (September 3, 2005). "Historic KGBC part of growing Catholic radio". The Daily News. Galveston, TX. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KGBC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "KGBC Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
- ^ a b c Elder, Laura (January 5, 2010). "Isle radio station leases airtime to Chinese". The Daily News. Galveston, TX. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ Long, Steven (September 26, 1989). "KGBC: tuned in to danger/Galveston's only radio station offers quirky mix". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Jones, Leigh (March 10, 2009). "Island radio station making a comeback". The Daily News. Galveston, TX. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. U.S. Federal Communications Commission Media Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ Long, Steven (September 26, 1989). "KGBC: tuned in to danger; Galveston's only radio station offers quirky mix". Houston Chronicle. Houston, TX. p. 1. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Directory of AM, FM, and TV Stations of the United States". 1950 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1950. p. 292.
- ^ "AM Station Classes: Clear, Regional, and Local Channels". Federal Communications Commission, Audio Division. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1971. p. B-202.
- ^ "The Facilities of Radio". 1979 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-215.
- ^ "Station Search Details (40427)". FCC Media Bureau. August 1, 1983. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BAL-20020228ACR)". FCC Media Bureau. May 9, 2002. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ "Application Search Details (BLSTA-20080923ACO)". FCC Media Bureau. January 8, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- ^ Stanton, Robert (March 19, 2009). "KGBC-AM back on the airwaves in Galveston". Galveston After Ike. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Rice, Harvey (March 3, 2010). "Tune in to Chinese station, but not in Houston". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ Rice, Harvey (January 6, 2010). "Chinese news agency lands on Galveston radio". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "KGBC Dumps Classic Hits For Business Talk". Radio Ink. May 24, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
External links
- FCC History Cards for KGBC
- KGBC official website Archived April 5, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
- Facility details for Facility ID 26002 (KGBC) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KGBC in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- "Jay Allen in the Morning, 1540 KGBC Galveston TX". AirChexx. April 30, 2002. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
- Facility details for Facility ID 147268 (K269GS) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
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