KYFO-FM

The El Paso Broadcasting Corporation was granted a construction permit to build a new 100 kW FM station in Ogden on May 16, 1977. The construction permit took the call letters KVFM.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=78387 |title= History Cards for KYFO-FM|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards) After being renamed Utah Broadcasting Corporation in 1982, the permittee signed the station on in June 1983;{{cite web|date=1985|work=Broadcasting Yearbook|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/1985-BC-YB.pdf|title=KJQN-FM|page=B-276|access-date=December 20, 2019}} two months later, Utah Broadcasting sold KVFM to Sherman Greenleigh Sanchez Broadcasting of Utah, owners of KJQN (1490 AM).{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-08-22.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=August 22, 1983|access-date=December 20, 2019|page=56|title=For the Record}} As a result, KVFM became KJQN-FM "KJQ", partially simulcasting its AM sister.{{r|bcyb85}}

KJQ flipped to alternative on March 1, 1988, with many of its new airstaff refugees from the former KCGL-FM, which was flipped to religious programming when it was sold in 1986.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40874888/|title=Fans respond favorably to modern music|first=Brian|last=Hill|work=Signpost|date=April 28, 1988|access-date=December 20, 2019|page=8}} The station also expanded its reach by broadcasting on translators at 92.7 MHz in Salt Lake City and 104.9 in Provo (activated in 1989).{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40874775/|title=Modern Music now airs in Utah County|page=31|work=The Daily Herald|access-date=December 20, 2019}}

Abacus Broadcasting Corporation acquired KJQN-AM-FM in 1989 for $700,000; Abacus was owned by minority shareholders from the original permittee.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1989/BC-1989-11-06.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=November 6, 1989|page=94|title=Ownership Changes|access-date=December 20, 2019}} While the format remained unchanged, the early 1990s brought mounting troubles. In the final months of 1991, 23 of the station's 25 employees quit their jobs,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875179/|first=Chandra|last=Graham|work=The Daily Utah Chronicle|date=February 27, 1992|title=Misconceptions about KJQ irritate general manager|page=8|access-date=December 20, 2019}} after the station hired its third general manager in 14 months and rumors swirled of a format flip; staffers quit because they questioned the ownership's commitment to "modern music".{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875055/|date=December 19, 1991|work=The Daily Herald|agency=Associated Press|title=Most KJQ employees quit after dispute|access-date=December 20, 2019|page=C3}} Only two DJs, the hosts of the morning show, remained with KJQ;{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875105/|work=Daily Utah Chronicle|title=KJQ plans to stay on cutting edge|first=Chandra|last=Graham|page=5|access-date=December 20, 2019|date=January 9, 1992}} the station also lost 75 percent of its music library and some equipment, as well as several advertising clients.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1992/RR-1992-06-12.pdf|date=June 12, 1992|access-date=December 22, 2019|title=Chaos In Salt Lake City|page=74|first=Shawn|last=Alexander|work=Radio & Records}} The former KJQ employees then brokered out time on KZOL (96.1 FM), which became KXRK on February 13, 1992.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875149/|title=Radio-Station Staffers Find New Home After Saying No to 'Fat, Corporate Rock'|access-date=December 20, 2019|date=February 13, 1992|work=Salt Lake Tribune|page=B9|first=Lori|last=Buttars}} When the former employees acquired KXRK outright in 1993 for $925,000, the application included a copy of a lawsuit filed by the former KJQN-FM, alleging that its former employees took equipment, including a former milk truck used for remote broadcasts known as the "Milk Beast", when they defected, and that the ex-KJQ staffers used KJQN-owned trademarks and made defamatory remarks about their former station.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1993/RR-1993-07-30.pdf|work=Radio & Records|date=July 30, 1993|title=Transactions|page=8|access-date=December 22, 2019}}

Nearly eight months after the mass defection that birthed KXRK, Abacus had seen enough. It flipped KJQN-FM to KKBE-FM "The Killer Bee", a contemporary hit radio outlet, at 5{{nbsp}}p.m. on October 6, 1992.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875225/|access-date=December 20, 2019|date=October 9, 1992|work=Salt Lake Tribune|title=Airwaves|page=C4}} KKBE-FM drew many of its staff from alumni of KWCR-FM, the radio station at Weber State University.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875266/|page=2|first=Michael|last=Elwell|work=Signpost|date=May 3, 1993|title=KWCR alumni sting Utah at KKBE-FM|access-date=December 20, 2019}} The Killer Bee, however, did not last eight months itself; in May 1993, it yielded to gospel from the Super Gospel Network, after it was rumored that the station would go country.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1993/RR-1993-05-07.pdf|work=Radio & Records|page=24|title=Street Talk|date=May 7, 1993|access-date=December 20, 2019}} Owner Michael Haston revealed that he had been faked out when contemporary competitor KZHT flipped to rock and then changed right back days later, leaving KKBE in a three-way format battle; furthermore, ratings were hurt when the Provo translator was out of service for three months.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875322/|title=KKBE, KJQN go gospel|pages=C7, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875348/ C8]|work=Salt Lake Tribune|access-date=December 20, 2019|date=May 7, 1993}}

By the end of 1992, Abacus Broadcasting had filed for bankruptcy.{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1993/RR-1993-01-01.pdf|work=Radio & Records|date=January 1, 1993|access-date=December 20, 2019|page=20|title=Street Talk}} The Chapter 7{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/1994/1/21/19087928/kkds-program-teaches-students-listening-skills|work=Deseret News|title=KKDS PROGRAM TEACHES STUDENTS LISTENING SKILLS|first=Lynn|last=Arave|date=January 21, 1994|access-date=December 20, 2019}} bankruptcy case was resolved when KKBE-FM and KJOE (the former KJQN AM) were purchased at auction by the Bible Broadcasting Network for $455,000 in 1994; both stations flipped to BBN religious programming as KYFO FM and AM.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40875395/|access-date=December 20, 2019|date=April 23, 1994|work=Salt Lake Tribune|title=Bible Broadcasting Network...|page=D11}}

KYFO-FM operates a booster on 95.5 MHz and a translator on 91.3 MHz from Ensign Peak, which improve the signal in Salt Lake City. The translator has been associated with KYFO since the KJQ days, when it was K224BY; it moved from 92.7 MHz to 91.3 in 2006 after being forced off the air when KUUU moved to first-adjacent 92.5.{{Cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101118663&formid=349&fac_num=5177|title=CDBS Print|website=licensing.fcc.gov}}

{{RadioTranslators

| call1 = KYFO-FM1

| city1 = Salt Lake City

| watts1 = 7

| class1 = D

| freq1 = 95.5

|-

| call2 = K217FQ

| city2 = Centerville, Utah

| watts2 = 215

| class2 = D

| freq2 = 91.3

| fid1= 171187

| fid2= 5177

}}

The Provo translator, K285EA, later became K284AI, simulcasting Logan-based KVFX. The move-in of Wyoming station KYLZ to the Salt Lake City market and the commissioning of a booster network forced that translator off the air in 2009.{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=13933 |title= K284AI surrender letter|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}

• List of Salt Lake City media

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• {{FM station data|5176|KYFO-FM}}

{{Salt Lake City Radio}}

Category:Mass media in Salt Lake City

Category:Radio stations established in 1983

Category:1983 establishments in Utah

Category:Bible Broadcasting Network

YFO-FM