KBUN (AM)

KBUN-AM first went on the air on October 30, 1946, as part of a wave of radio and TV stations that launched after electronics rationing during World War II.{{Cite book |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Minnesota-Anniversary-&-Directory.pdf |title=Historical Scrapbook and Station Directory |publisher=Minnesota Broadcasters Association |year=1990 |access-date=June 22, 2017}} It was initially owned and operated by Harry F. Pihl and R. W. Bradford as Bemidji Broadcasting Co. (aka, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting Co.) and broadcast with 250 watts at 1450 AM, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.According to a reply to a radio reception report by chief engineer Dick E. Noble: "Our transmitter is a Raytheon, Model RA250, single vertical tower, radiatór, 150 feet high." {{Cite web |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/VERIES-KERMIT/Minnesota.pdf |title=Minnesota Radio Reception Reports |date=1946-11-22 |website=American Radio History |access-date=2017-06-24}} Affiliated with the Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS),{{Cite magazine |date=December 28, 1946 |title=MBS Tally Goes to 383 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wRoEAAAAMBAJ&q=kbun%201946%20-kebun&pg=PT13 |magazine=The Billboard |access-date=2017-06-22}} it was purchased on February 24, 1948, by Butler Broadcasting Co. and operated by Edward and Gwenyth Butler from then until 1956.{{Cite magazine |date=1965-03-04 |title=Edward Butler Obituary |magazine=Bemidji Pioneer Press}} Its studios were located at 419 1/2 Beltrami Avenue, Bemidji. On November 1, 1956, the FCC announced its approval of KBUN's sale to the Ben H. Potter, Jr., family.{{Cite magazine |date=1956-11-03 |title=Telecasting Notes |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-TV-Digest/50s/Television-Digest-1956-11.pdf |magazine=Television Digest |access-date=2017-06-25}}

In 1972 Ben Potter, Jr., sold Paul Bunyan Broadcasting Co., to his daughter, Anne P. Delong and her husband, Edward Delong III.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Ownership Changes |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Broadcasting-IDX/1972-Broadcasting/1972-02-21-Broadcasting-Page-0056.pdf#search=%22kbun%20delong%22 |magazine=Broadcasting |location=Washington, DC |date=21 February 1972 |access-date=26 March 2020 }} In 1989, the Delongs sold KBUN to Louis H. Buron, Jr., who formed Omni Broadcasting as the umbrella company for his radio stations.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Ownership Changes |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Broadcasting-IDX/1989-Broadcasting/1989-05-08-Broadcasting-Page-0113.pdf#search=%22kbun%20buron%22 |magazine=Broadcasting |location=Washington, DC |date=8 May 1989 |access-date=26 March 2020 }}

Hubbard Broadcasting announced on November 13, 2014, that it would purchase the sixteen Omni Broadcasting stations, including KBUN.{{cite news|title=Hubbard Picks up 16 Stations From Omni |url=http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2861899&spid=24698 |access-date=November 13, 2014 |work=Radio Ink |date=November 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113191858/http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2861899&spid=24698 |archive-date=November 13, 2014 }} The sale was completed on February 27, 2015, at a purchase price of $8 million for the 16 stations and one translator.{{cite news|title=Hubbard Closes on 16 MN Stations from Omni|url=http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=b14281|access-date=March 2, 2015|work=Radio Online|date=February 27, 2015}}

On December 10, 2010, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting Co., acquired FM Translator Station K235BP, 94.9 MHz, from Shine the Light, Inc., for $50,000.{{cite web |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1403209s|title=FCC CDBS Public Access |website=fcc.gov |access-date=March 27, 2020}} K235BP relays the KBUN signal. It was the first time the FAN Network was carried anywhere on an FM signal.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://kbunsportsradio.com/ KBUN website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110728153503/http://www.kfan.com/pages/station.html?feed=289104&article=4051817%2F FAN Radio Network]

{{AM station data|51879|KBUN}}

• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|152419|K235BP}}
• {{FXL|K235BP}}
• {{FCC-LMS-Facility|201328|K261EV}}
• {{FXL|K261EV}}

{{Bemidji radio}}

{{Sports Radio Stations in Minnesota}}

{{ESPN Minnesota}}

{{Hubbard Broadcasting Inc.}}

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Category:Radio stations in Minnesota

Category:Sports radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1946

Category:1946 establishments in Minnesota

Category:Hubbard Broadcasting

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