KBUL (AM)

{{Infobox radio station

| name = KBUL

| logo =

| city = Billings, Montana

| country = US

| area = Billings Metropolitan Area

| branding = News Talk 103.3FM 970AM

| repeater =

| translator = {{Radio Relay|103.3|K277DS|Billings}}

| airdate = {{start date|1951|03|20}} (as KOOK)

| frequency = 970 kHz

| format = News/talk

| power = 5,000 watts

| class = B

| facility_id = 16772

| licensing_authority = FCC

| coordinates = {{coord|45|44|34.8|N|108|32|38.5|W|region:US-MT_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| callsign_meaning = Bulletin

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KOOK (1951–1985)|KBIT (1985–1988)|KCTR (1988–1994)|KDWG (1994–1998)}}

| affiliations = {{ubl|Fox News Radio|Compass Media Networks|Premiere Networks|Westwood One}}

| owner = Townsquare Media

| licensee = Townsquare License, LLC

| sister_stations = {{hlist|KCHH|KCTR-FM|KKBR|KMHK}}

| webcast = {{listenlive|https://realnewsmontana.com/listen-live/}}

| website = {{URL|https://realnewsmontana.com}}

}}

KBUL (970 kHz) is an American news/talk AM radio station that broadcasts in the Billings Metro Area of the U.S. state of Montana. The station carries a news/talk format. The station covers about 76 miles in all directions during the day, and has a large coverage area north and south of Billings at night.{{cite web|url=https://fccdata.org/?lang=en&facid=16772|website=FCCData.org|title=KBUL AM Billings, MT}}

File:KCHH NewsTalk95.5 logo.png

History

KBUL signed on the air in March 1951 as KOOK. Its transmitter was located about two miles southwest of the Billings City limits. The station's construction permit dates to February 1947. The studios were located at 28th street and 1st Avenue in Billings. KOOK was owned by Mattco Inc, and later The Montana Network. The station signed on with 5,000 watts using a directional pattern, which it continues to this day.{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/675c7203-c008-f7f9-195c-12d36973196c.pdf|work=Federal Communications Commission|title=KBUL History Cards|access-date=May 1, 2024}}

From 1985 to 1988, the station was known as KBIT. It used the call sign KCTR from 1988 through 1994. From 1994 through 1998, the station was known as KDWG.{{cite web|url=https://www.buttonmuseum.org/buttons/kook-radio|title=KOOK Radio|work=Buttonmuseum.org}}{{cite web|url=https://www.johninarizona.com/kook/kook.html|title=KOOK Radio 970 Billings, Montana Station Photos from the John in Arizona Collection|website=johninarizona.com|author=John C. Johnson}}

For much of its life, the station carried Top 40, and later, a country music format. KBUL simulcast on sister station KCTR-FM until September 2001. On September 10, 2001, the station changed calls to KBUL, standing for "Bulletin" radio, with an all news format. KBUL simulcast sister station KCHH until August 2022.{{Cite web|title=KHMT TV 4 in Billings Montana - MondoTimes.com|url=https://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/26/1502/14262|access-date=2021-02-09|website=www.mondotimes.com}}

In the mid-2000s, the station carried MSU Billings Yellow Jacket Baseball games.{{cite web|url=https://www.msubillings.edu/AthleticsArchive/Softball/04%20Season/04%20SB%20Quicks.pdf|title=Montana State University-Billings Softball|date=2003|work=Montana State University Billings}}

On August 15, 2022, KBUL rebranded as "News Talk 103.3FM 970AM" and split from simulcasting with KCHH.{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/237707/kbul-on-the-move|title=KBUL on the Move|work=Radioinsight.com|date=August 12, 2022}}

Ownership

In October 2007, a deal was reached for KBUL to be acquired by GAP Broadcasting II LLC (Samuel Weller, president) from Clear Channel Communications as part of a 57 station deal with a total reported sale price of $74.78 million.{{cite news |work=Broadcasting & Cable |title=Deals |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6494941.html |date=June 19, 2006}} What eventually became GapWest Broadcasting was folded into Townsquare Media on August 13, 2010.{{cite news|title=Townsquare Media completes roll-up of GAP|url=http://www.rbr.com/radio/radio_deals/26710.html|access-date=August 15, 2010|newspaper=Radio Business Report|date=August 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121043217/http://www.rbr.com/radio/radio_deals/26710.html|archive-date=January 21, 2011|url-status=dead}}

References

External links

[http://www.realnewsmontana.com/ KBUL official website]

{{FCC-LMS-Facility|202296|K277DS}}
{{FXL|K277DS}}
[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=43598 FCC History Cards for KBUL]

BUL

Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1951

Category:1951 establishments in Montana

Category:Townsquare Media radio stations