When we first spotted this radio transmitter as we headed out for a few hours exploring Cheyenne,we had no idea we would discover that this was the famous (or infamous) KFBC-AM, part of the Frontier Broadcasting Corporation owned the McCraken family.
Frontier Broadcasting has a long (and sharp-elbowed) history in Wyoming media. In 1940 FBC built the second radio station in Cheyenne (KYAN-AM was first), and later in 1954 launched the state's first TV station, KFBC-TV Channel 5. Frontier also owned Cheyenne's only newspaper. So you see that Frontier had a lot of power.
In fact, Frontier Broadcasting forced Cheyenne's first radio station off the air, giving KFBC-AM a monopoly as Cheyenne's ONLY radio station.
From BROADCASTING: The Weekly Newsmagazine of Broadcast Advertising, via Radio History.com:
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"[page 54]
Competition Puts KYAN Off the Air
Cheyenne Station Victim of Survival-of-Fittest Theory
ANOTHER practical effect of the "survival of the fittest" theory advanced in the Sanders [Federal Communications Commission hearing - BMB] case was demonstrated last week when KYAN, Cheyenne, Wyo., ceased operating and entered into an arrangement with KFBC in the same city for the sale of its transmitter site and tower. Thus KFBC, affiliated with NBC-Blue, is left as the only station in the community.
KYAN, assigned 250 watts on 1370 kc., signed off March 28 with a statement by Harold L. McCracken, manager, that "the situation created by the granting of two broadcast licenses for Cheyenne has made it economically unfeasible for KYAN to continue broadcasting."
Granted Last Summer
The station was authorized last June and started operating in October. It was owned by a partnership consisting of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cecil Bott, operator of a monument works, and Mrs. Mathilda Lannen, mother-in-law of Mr. McCracken.
In pursuit of its policy of denying no application where financial, legal and technical requirements are indisputable, the Commission in July authorized KFBC as the second station. It began operating in December, and it is now using 250 watts on 1420kc. It is licensed to Frontier Broadcasting Co. and its president is S. H. Patterson, owner of KSAN, San Francisco, who holds 25% of the stock. Cheyenne Newspapers Inc., publishing the Wyoming Eagle and Wyoming Tribune & Leader, and their publisher, Tracy S. McCracken, own 26%. The Stock Growers Bank of Cheyenne, as ex- ecutors of the estate of J. H. Schroeder, holds 25%; William C. Grove, manager and chief engineer of KSAN, 9%; United Mine Workers, 10%; John Arp, hotel owner, 5%.
This is the third instance in which two new stations were authorized in small communities under the "survival of the fittest" theory, and one had to give up, but the first case where both actually went on the air. In the preceding cases - Salisbury, Md. and Las Vegas, Nev. - one surrendered the construction permit before going on the air. [BROADCASTING, June 15, 1940].
Coming out of the historical rabbit-hole now:
This tower is located next to the Cheyenne and Livestock Resting Company along the Union Pacific main line at Lincolnway and Fleischi Parkway east of downtown Cheyenne.
From radio-locator.com: (
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"KFBC-AM 1240 kHz
Cheyenne, Wyoming
"CBS Sports Radio 1240"
Station Format: Sports
Website: (
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Audio Feed: (
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Station Owner:
Montgomery Broadcasting L.L.C.
Station Address:
1806 Capitol Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: 307-634-4461
Fax: 307-632-8586
KFBC-AM Technical Details:
Station Status Licensed Class C AM Station
Digital Status Analog only
Hours of Operation Unlimited
Antenna Mode Non-Directional - 1 Pattern
Power 700 Watts
Number of Towers 1
Transmitter Location 41° 07' 17" N, 104° 50' 24"
License Granted March 05 1996
License Expires October 01 2029
Last FCC Update October 05 2021
KFBC-AM also broadcasts its primary channel from this additional transmitter [at another location -- BMB]
K248CZ 97.5 FM Cheyenne, WY (250 watts)"
Also broadcasting from this tower is KRAE-AM 1480, which Blasterz were surprised to see had a different owner according to radio-locator.com: (
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KRAE-AM 1480 kHz
Cheyenne, Wyoming
"Oldies 1480"Station
Format: Oldies
Website:https://www.1480krae.com/
Audio Feed: (
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Station Owner:
Proshop Radio Broadcasting, LLC
Station Address:
P. O. Box 189
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: 307-638-8921
Fax: 307-638-8922
KRAE-AM Technical Details:
Station Status Licensed Class D AM Station
Digital Status Analog only
Hours of Operation Unlimited
Antenna Mode Non-Directional - 2 Modes
Daytime Power 1000 Watts
Nighttime Power 72 Watts
Number of Towers 1
Transmitter Location 41° 07' 17" N, 104° 50' 24" W
License Granted August 14 2009
License Expires October 01 2029
Last FCC Update October 05 2021
KRAE-AM also broadcasts its primary channel from this additional transmitter [also at another location -- BMB]
K266CC 101.1 FM Cheyenne, WY (250 watts)"
For more on KFBC-AM, see the Wikipedia article here: (
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"KFBC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the TV station formerly associated with this station, see KGWN-TV.
Broadcast area Cheyenne Area
Frequency 1240 kHz
Branding KFBC AM 1240
Programming
Format Sports
Affiliations CBS Sports Radio
Colorado Rockies Radio Network
Denver Broncos Radio Network
Westwood One Sports
Owner Montgomery Broadcasting LLC
History
First air date 1940
Facility ID 43629
Class C
Power 700 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates 41°7'17?N 104°50'22?W
Coordinates: 41°7'17?N 104°50'22?W
Translator(s) 97.5 K248CZ (Cheyenne)
KFBC (1240 AM) is an American sports formatted radio station based in Cheyenne, Wyoming and targets the entire market. The station is a full time affiliate of CBS Sports Radio as well as the flagship station of the Cowboy State News Network. Additionally, KFBC is a part-time affiliate of the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies radio networks (both through KOA) as well as the Wyoming Cowboys.
Signal
KFBC puts out a continuous 700 watts of non-directional power which provides local coverage to Cheyenne and the surrounding area, while it can be marginally heard in Western Nebraska, Northern Colorado (even Fort Collins), and some of South-east Wyoming. KFBC is unusual in the fact that Class C stations are normally 1,000 watts, such as KRAL. The station is on one of six shared-local frequencies (the others are 1230, 1340, 1400, 1450, and 1490), informally referred to as the "graveyard" frequencies, because of the excessive number of stations. Because of this, the skywave (night-time) signal mixes with several others, thus limiting its usefulness to its groundwave signal. However, a skilled operator with a very directional antenna may separate it from the rest, upwards of 300 miles.
To provide another option, as well as to take advantage of AM Revitalization, KFBC signed on translator K248CZ, (97.5 FM) located Downtown at 250 watts, just a few miles away from the KFBC tower. This signal provides a local grade signal to the city itself, and depending on the conditions, can extend to the Nebraska Panhandle, much like its parent station. This is more likely to happen at night or when there is more humidity in the air. In general, the translator copies everything from the KFBC broadcast; it even broadcasts in mono, a rarity for modern-day FM translators, although still the standard for some AM stations.
History
KFBC is the oldest surviving radio station in Cheyenne. It was founded in December 1940 by Tracy McCracken, publisher of the Wyoming State Tribune and Wyoming Eagle (since merged as the Wyoming Tribune Eagle). however records indicate they were around since at least 1941. the station was originally located on 1450.
Soon after signing on, KFBC forced Cheyenne's original radio station, KYAN on 1400, off the air. In 1941 (or 1942, depending on the source), KYAN's owners sold their facilities to KFBC.
KFBC originally was an independent station before becoming an affiliate of NBC Blue, before going independent again. From the very start, KFBC was very sports orientated, being the first to hire Curt Gowdy as a broadcaster. The McCracken family started KFBC-TV (now KGWN-TV) in 1954, effectively making the two sister outlets, along with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
In the 21st century, KFBC took on a news/talk format omnipresent of post-golden era stations, while including some sports, like the Motor Racing Network. A massive shake-up of Cheyenne AM affiliations occurred between 2006 and 2016; fellow station KRAE went from classic country to ESPN to oldies. Upon KRAE's switch from sports to oldies, KFBC took up the position as Cheyenne's sports station, which the station management regarded well. Meanwhile, KGAB picked up KFBC's news and talk status. Both KFBC and former sister station '92.9 The Boss' launched Christmas Cash in the 2010s, a give-away contest that continues to exist as of the 2020 Holiday season. In the 2020s, KFBC continues to serve as Cheyenne's CBS Sports Radio station and will occasionally air local games and events. Recently, the station will play music during fireworks, mainly for 4th of July, and now for New Year's Day fireworks.
Programming
KFBC is mostly a pass-through for CBS Sports Radio, but occasionally airs local programming. It produces two local shows each weekday. During the weekend, it is a full simulcast of the CBS Sports Radio national feed, aside from live sports coverage."