KABQ is a commercialAM radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and features a radio format comnsisting of various podcasts covering various topics in usually hour long blocks. KABQ's studios and offices are on NE Jefferson Street in Albuquerque. The transmitter is located off NW Montoya Street, also in Albuquerque. KABQ is powered at 5,000 watts by day using a non-directional antenna. But to avoid interfering with other stations on AM 1350, it reduces power at night to 500 watts and uses a directional antenna, with a three-tower array. KABQ programming is also heard on the HD-2 subchannel of 104.7 KABQ-FM.
History
In 1947, the stationsigned on as KVER at 1490 kHz. It was owned by Intermountain Broadcasting and was powered at only 250 watts. KVER was a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System. The station moved to 1340 kHz in 1949. An advertisement in the 1950 edition of the Broadcasting Yearbook said 1340 KVER is "The choice on the dial for Albuquerque." It listed KVER's programming as drama, sports and live events, as well as Spanish-language programming, reminding readers that over 50% of Albuquerque residents speak Spanish. In 1956, the station was acquired by Duke Broadcasting. It became a full-time Spanish-language radio station. In 1959, the station was acquired by Sadia Broadcasting and moved to 1350 kHz, as KABQ. The move allowed it to increase its power to its current 5,000 watts by day and 500 watts at night. The station continued to serve the Mexican-American community. In 1972, the station was acquired by the Albuquerque Corporation. In March 2000, Clear Channel Communications, a forerunner of today's iHeartMedia, acquired the radio station. The Spanish-language format continued until Fall of 2002 when Clear Channel switched the format to sports radio, using the Fox Sports Radio Network. All local personalities on the station were let go.
Progressive Talk 2004-2019
In late August 2004, KABQ became a full-time affiliate of Air America Radio, carrying that network's line up of liberal hosts, including Al Franken, Rachel Maddow, Chuck D, Randi Rhodes, Marc Maron and Janeane Garofalo. The station would be branded as Albuquerque's Progressive Talk. In 2007, Clear Channel Communications placed this station, along with 104.7 KABQ-FM, into the Aloha Station Trust to comply with Federal Communications Commission limitations. Clear Channel was over the FCC limit for the number of radio stations it could own in one radio market. However, AM 1350 KABQ has returned into the iHeartMedia portfolio. In 2010, the Air America Network discontinued its broadcasts after the parent company declared bankruptcy. The station continued its progressive talk format using programs from other networks, including several hosts who originally were with Air America. In May 2014 both Ed Schultz and Randi Rhodes, who had the longest running programs on the station, had ended their shows. Thom Hartmann, who had been heard in PM drive time, took over Schultz's midday time slot while Leslie Marshall moved to early afternoons. Norman Goldman replaced Rhodes in late afternoons. In the final years it carried nationally syndicated shows from Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Norman Goldman and Clark Howard. On weekends, syndicated shows include Kim Komando, Bill Handel on the Law, Ring of Fire Radio and repeats of weekday shows. World and national news was supplied by Westwood One News. The station had generated decent ratings for a 5 kW AM station over the years and was usually ranked the second most listened to commercial talk radio station in the market behind 770 KKOB, owned by Cumulus Media. In May 2019, the station switched to an all-podcast format with little warning, having dropped the format after becoming the longest-running liberal talk station in the country at 15 years. The station is mostly utilizing programming that iHeartMedia gained from its purchase of provider Stuff Media last year.
