KBTN (AM)

KBTN

Neosho, Missouri
Broadcast area	Joplin, Missouri
Frequency	1420 kHz
Branding	Fox Sports 99.1 - 100.1 & 1420 AM
Programming
Format	Sports
Affiliations	Fox Sports Radio
Ownership
Owner	American Media Investments
Sister stations	KBTN-FM, KSEK-FM
History
First air date	1954 (1954)
Former call signs	KBTN (1954–2006) KQYS (2006–2008)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	33687
Class	B
Power	1,000 watts day 500 watts night
Translator(s)	K261ET (100.1 MHz, Neosho)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	Official Website

KBTN (1420 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a sports talk format. Licensed to Neosho, Missouri, United States, the station serves the Neosho, Missouri, area.^[2] The station is currently owned by American Media Investments, and features programming from Fox Sports Radio.

History

From its inception until the introduction of KBTN-FM, KBTN (AM) was a community-minded, low-power station that broadcast local news, local sports, and in-house produced programming. From the 1950s to the 1990s, the station broadcast on a dawn-to-dusk schedule at a power of 500 watts. A well-remembered announcer, "Herkimer P. Pushbroom" (Joe Johnson), greeted early morning risers for years, along with his fictional sidekick, "Homer" the rooster. David Winegardner owned and managed the station from 1974 through the years 2000. KBTN played a major role in the emergency notifications during the tornado of 1975, saving many lives.

Expanded Band assignment

On March 17, 1997 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with KBTN authorized to move from 1420 to 1670 kHz.^[3] However, the station never procured the Construction Permit needed to implement the authorization, so the expanded band station was never built.

Later history

The station was once affiliated with both Citadel Media and CNN Radio. Station call letters were changed to KQYS on March 16, 2006, but changed back to KBTN on May 28, 2008.^[4]

On January 31, 2022, the station fliped its format from classic rock to sports.^[5]

References

1. "Facility Technical Data for KBTN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
2. "Station Search Details". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
3. "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations" (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
4. FCC Call Sign History (FCC.gov)
5. "Multiple Recent Changes In Joplin/Pittsburg". RadioInsight. Retrieved 2022-01-27.

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 33687 (KBTN) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KBTN in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
• FCC History Cards for KBTN (covering 1953-1981)