KBOB-FM

{{Short description|Radio station in Haven–Wichita, Kansas}}

{{see also|KBOB (disambiguation){{!}}KBOB}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = KBOB-FM

| logo = KBOB-FM_97.1_Haven_Logo.png

| logo_size =

| city = Haven, Kansas

| country = US

| area = Wichita, Kansas

| branding = 97.1 BOB FM

| frequency = 97.1 MHz

| airdate = May 11, 1998 (as KLSI)

| format = Adult hits

| erp = 18,500 watts

| haat = 251 meters

| class = C2

| facility_id = 59995

| coordinates = {{coord|37|48|0.7|N|97|31|30.2|W|region:US-KS_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| callsign_meaning = Bob FM

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KLSI (1998)|KSKU (1998–2007)|KGGG (2007–2008)|KIBB (2008–2023)}}

| affiliations = Bob FM network

| owner = Murfin Media

| licensee = My Town Media Inc

| sister_stations = {{hlist|KKLE|KLEY|KVWF|KWME}}

| webcast = {{listenlive|url=https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KBOB}}

| website = {{URL|https://mytown-media.com/stations/kbob-97-1-bobfm/}}

| licensing_authority = FCC

}}

KBOB-FM (97.1 MHz) is a radio station licensed to Haven, Kansas, the station serves the Wichita area, and airs an adult hits format under the "Bob FM" branding. The station is currently owned by parent corporation, Murfin Media, through daughter corporation and licensee, My Town Media Inc. The station's studios are located in downtown Wichita, and the transmitter is near Colwich, Kansas.

History

=KLSI and KSKU=

The 97.1 frequency, which initially targeted the Hutchinson area, signed on the air on May 11, 1998, with an adult contemporary format as "Classy 97.1" KLSI. The KLSI call sign formerly belonged to Kansas City radio station KMXV. The station was owned by Ad Astra Per Aspera Broadcasting. On November 27, 1998, the station flipped to an adult-oriented Top 40 format, branded simply as "97.1 KSKU", adopting the call sign that was formerly on 102.1 FM during their Top 40 run from 1973 to 1986.

Ad Astra would sell the station to Connoisseur Media in 2007. At the same time, Ad Astra would relocate the Top 40 format to 94.7 FM, replacing satellite-fed oldies. The newly relocated frequency received the call sign KGGG on February 1, 2007, which was formerly located on 94.7; 97.1 FM, meanwhile, went dark for over a year.

=Bob FM=

The adult hits format, branded as "Bob FM", would relocate to 97.1 from 100.5 on February 14, 2008, in order to make way for a new country station to be aired on that frequency (the station signed on the same day). 97.1 would acquire the KIBB call sign the day before, while the KGGG call sign would relocate to a sister station in Iowa.

Rocking M Media acquired KIBB and KVWF from Connoisseur effective September 30, 2017, at a purchase price of $3.3 million.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/109673/connoisseur-sells-wichita-duo/|title=Connoisseur Sells Wichita Duo - RadioInsight|date=December 13, 2016}}

=Sale to Murfin Media, relaunch=

On July 29, 2022, Rocking M announced they would partner with Patrick Communications to market and engage a sale of Rocking M's Wichita, Wellington and Winfield stations (including KIBB), as well as seven other stations in Kansas, through an auction; bids were then accepted until September 27. During the week of September 18, KIBB returned to the air, simulcasting the un-branded adult hits format (from Local Radio Networks' "Mix" format) originating on KWME and broadcasting on the aforementioned stations that were planned to be sold.{{Cite web|url=https://rbr.com/rocking-m-puts-13-properties-on-the-market-with-bankruptcy-emergence-sought/|title=Rocking M Puts Properties On The Market With BK Emergence Sought | Radio & Television Business Report|first=Adam|last=Jacobson|date=August 1, 2022}} On October 31, it was announced that Pittsburg-based My Town Media was the winning bidder for KIBB and Rocking M's Wichita, Wellington and Winfield stations for $1.18 million; the company was also the winning bidder for two stations in Liberal and Pratt. While the bankruptcy court had approved the purchases, the sale was officially filed with the FCC on February 2, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/244492/four-operators-to-split-12-stations-auctioned-off-by-rocking-m-media/|title=Four Operators To Split 12 Stations Auctioned Off By Rocking M Media - RadioInsight|date=October 31, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://rbr.com/the-rocking-m-asset-auction-concludes/|title=The Rocking M Asset Auction Concludes | Radio & Television Business Report|first=Adam|last=Jacobson|date=October 28, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/rocking-m-auction-opens-window-to-kansas-broadcasters-to-grow-their-reach/article_a7666a5e-58eb-11ed-82b5-7755a711e120.html|title=Rocking M Auction Opens Window To Kansas Broadcasters To Grow Their Reach.|website=Insideradio.com|date=October 31, 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076f9183ce46330183e7699df61bc8&id=25076f9183ce46330183e7699df61bc8&goBack=N | title=Draft Copy « License Modernization « FCC }}

The sale to My Town Media, doing business as Murfin Media, was approved by the FCC on March 29, 2023, and was consummated on May 12. In conjunction with the sale, My Town filed to change KIBB's call sign to KBOB-FM, which took effect on May 23. On May 31, the station returned to the syndicated 'Bob FM' branding and format, which is now part of G Networks.{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/fmDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076f9188269b2a01882b0c305c00c3&id=25076f9188269b2a01882b0c305c00c3&goBack=N|title=Draft Copy « Licensing and Management System « FCC|website=enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov}}{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/252607/bob-fm-returns-to-wichita-john-pohlman-joins-murfin-media-as-general-manager/|title=Bob-FM Returns To Wichita; John Pohlman Joins Murfin Media As General Manager - RadioInsight|date=May 31, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://gognetworks.com/24-7-programming/bob-fm/|title=BOB FM | G Networks|accessdate=August 13, 2023}}

References

{{Reflist}}