KBNO (AM)
{{short description|Regional Mexican radio station in Denver}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KBNO
| logo = File:KBNO QueBueno1280-97.7 logo.png
| city = Denver, Colorado | country = US
| area = Denver metropolitan area
| branding = Que Bueno 1280AM Y 97.7FM
| airdate = May 16, 1948 (as 990 KTLN)
| frequency = 1280 kHz
| translator = {{Radio Relay|97.7|K249EX|Denver}}
| format = Regional Mexican
| power = 5,000 watts
| erp =
| haat =
| class = B
| facility_id = 59956
| coordinates = {{coord|39|36|5|N|104|58|48|W}}
| callsign_meaning = The station name {{lang|es|italic=no|Que Bueno}} (How Good)
| former_callsigns = KTLN (1948–1969)
KTLK (1969–1981)
KBRQ (1981–1987)
KXKL(1987–1996)
KRRF (1996-4/1999)
KEXX (4/1999-5/1999)
KXKL (5/1999-6/1999)
KVOD (1999–2001)
| owner = Latino Communications, LLC.
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast = [http://quebueno1280.com/en-vivo/ Listen Live]
| website = [http://quebueno1280.com/ KBNO Website]
| affiliations =
| licensing_authority= FCC
}}
KBNO (1280 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican radio format. Licensed to Denver, Colorado, it serves the Denver metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Latino Communications, LLC. It uses the moniker "Que Bueno" (How Good).
Programming is also heard in Denver and its adjacent communities on FM translator station 97.7 K249EX.
History
On May 16, 1948, the station signed on the air as KTLN on 990 kHz. It was owned by Alfred M. Landon, former governor of Kansas and one-time Republican presidential candidate.{{cite news|title=KTLN Takes the Air|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-05-24-BC.pdf|access-date=13 December 2014|agency=Broadcasting|date=May 24, 1948}} It moved to 1150 kHz in 1951. It moved to its current 1280 frequency in 1954.
On July 1, 1969, the call letters were changed to KTLK for "K-Talk." KTLK began with a mix of youth oriented telephone talk and top 40 music, eventually dropping the talk to take on top-rated top 40 station KIMN. KTLK evolved to a disco format in the late 1970s before changing to country KBRQ ("K-Bar-Q") in 1981.
The station joined in a long-term simulcast with then-sister station KBRQ (including its flip to oldies in 1987), which would last until August 1, 1996. At that time, AM 1280 flipped to a talk radio format as "Ralph 1280" (which would later be renamed "1280 The X").[https://web.archive.org/web/20160504213934/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67789006.html HighBeam] On March 21, 1999, the station returned to a simulcast with now-KXKL.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160504213641/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67476910.html HighBeam] Two months later, 1280 became the third home of Denver's heritage classical station KVOD.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160504213654/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67483465.html HighBeam]
In September 2000, Latino Communications, owned by Zee Ferrufino, bought KVOD from Clear Channel for a reported $3.3 million. Ferrufino announced plans to rename the station to KBNO (which was formerly on 1220 AM), and said that he planned to rehire numerous former KBNO personalities to play what he called "Mexican regional music," among other styles.Michael Roberts, [http://www.westword.com/2000-10-12/news/the-missing-linc/print The Missing Linc: Who on earth would want to work at the News these days? Bernie Lincicome, for one."], Denver Westword, October 12, 2000"Spanish radio station returns to dial; Classical outlet's move leaves spot for KBNO", The Denver Post, October 7, 2000.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160504223644/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81027153.html HighBeam][https://web.archive.org/web/20160504223715/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81070246.html HighBeam] The following month, Colorado Public Radio acquired the KVOD intellectual properties, call letters and music library (the deal would be completed in March 2001).[https://web.archive.org/web/20160504223721/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81071361.html HighBeam][https://web.archive.org/web/20160504220342/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72098713.html HighBeam] KVOD would cease independent operations after 43 years on December 15, 2000.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160504213808/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67624066.html HighBeam]"Classical sounds triumph", The Denver Post, October 11, 2000."Radio Que Bueno returning with 5,000 watts of optimism", The Denver Post, December 28, 2000. CPR then moved the classical format to 90.1 FM.
References
Original call letters and planned debut date [https://books.google.com/books?id=i_UDAAAAMBAJ&dq=ktln+990+billboard&pg=PA6]
Date of call letter change to KTLK: July 1, 1969 [https://books.google.com/books?id=jygEAAAAMBAJ&dq=ktln+ktlk+billboard&pg=RA1-PA64]
External links
- [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=32041 FCC History Cards for KBNO]
{{AM station data|59956|KBNO}}
{{FCC-LMS-Facility|157657|K249EX}}
{{Denver Radio}}
Category:Mexican-American culture in Colorado
Category:Regional Mexican radio stations in the United States