KBVB (95.1 FM, "Bob 95 FM") is a radio station broadcasting a country format. Licensed to Barnesville, Minnesota, it serves the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1980 under the call signKDLM-FM on 95.3 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The station is currently owned by James and Brooke Ingstad, through licensee Radio Fargo-Moorhead, Inc. All the offices and studios are located at 2720 7th Ave. South in Fargo, while its transmitter is located on U.S. Route 75 just south of Moorhead.
95.1 began its life around 1980 as KDLM-FM on the 95.3 frequency licensed to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The station was purchased from Leighton Broadcasting in 1995 by MidStates Broadcasting, a division of OtterTail Power Company. At that time the studio was moved in with new sister-stations KFGO/KFGO-FM and KVOX/KVOX-FM. KDLM moved to the 95.1 frequency and underwent a format flip to alternative rock as "95X" under the call letter KFGX. This format was relatively short lived as the station transitioned to Adult Contemporary in 1997, then mainstream rock as "Rock 95" in 1998. MidStates Broadcasting was later bought out by James Ingstad in 1999.
Clear Channel Communications bought Ingstad's Fargo stations in 2000, and debuted River 95.1 debuted with an adult contemporary format. KRVI tweaked to its current AAA format in 2003, similar to that of co-owned KTCZ "Cities 97" in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After success with the AAA format on Cities 97 in Minneapolis, Clear Channel recreated the format in Fargo and several other markets. These stations tend to draw in a large middle aged, well-educated audience which made them appealing to advertisers and profitable, despite the fact that they may not have had large overall audiences. River 95.1 also annually aired Christmas music after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day.
River 95 logo as used from 2000-2007.
On September 28, 2006, KRVI and the other Clear Channel stations in Fargo were sold back to James Ingstad, who lives in Fargo. (He previously did not own KDAM, as didn't sign on until 2002.) The sale was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 19, 2007.
Bob 95 FM became an instant favorite, partially due to their early TV commercials, that often parody a popular song, such as adding words to the Chicken Dance, and at Christmas, re-writing "Jingle Bells". Their commercials also often featured the "Bob Puppets" that include a cowboy and two bobbers. There was also a "Wheels On The Bus" parody commercial for BOB 95 that had several different versions that feature groups of people from the Fargo-Moorhead area singing the jingle, including the West Fargo Fire Department. In recent years, KBVB hasn't run any local TV spots. However, the cowboy puppet (that starred in most of the ads) still serves as the station's mascot at parades and events.
The Spring 2010 Arbitron ratings gave KBVB an 8.4 share, making them the 3rd place radio station in the market based on AQH share behind KFGO and KQWB-FM, who had a 12.1 and a 9.6 respectively. This marks the first time BOB95 surpassed competitor Froggy 99.9 who registered a 7.9 share. Arbitron Ratings. Since then, the ratings battle between the two stations has remained competitive- with the stations often trading the crown.
In 2012, it was announced that KBVB, along with Ingstad's other Fargo stations would be sold to Midwest Communications for $25 million in a deal that took effect on May 1. A day later, Ingstad purchased crosstown rival Go Radio Fargo, including stations KVOX-FM, KPFX, KLTA, KBMW, KQWB-FM and KQWB-AM for $9.5 million. The following day, Ingstad and Midwest Communications announced that they would be trading country stations KBVB and KVOX in an even trade. That trade took effect on August 5, 2013, sending KVOX to Midwest, and KBVB back into the hands of Jim Ingstad. Despite reports that listeners would not notice changes, KVOX's morning show "Jesse, Amanda and Pike" was cancelled, along with KBVB's Lucy Black and Collin Taylor (who stayed with Midwest and went to KRWK and KVOX, respectively). "Jesse, Amanda and Pike" reappeared a few weeks later at KBVB sister station KLTA.
Over the 4th of July weekend, 2015, KBVB and parent company Radio FM Media had finished their acquisition of KSKK-FM from De La Hunt Broadcasting. The KSKK signal was moved to Frazee, Minnesota, renamed KDLB, and began simulcasting KBVB. This replaced listenership lost when 95.1 moved their signal closer to the Fargo metro when they flipped to "BOB 95". The KDLB signal competes primarily with KRCQ-FM.
On November 4, 2015, it was announced that KBVB would become the official radio station of WE Fest, which is advertised to be the "largest country and camping festival in America". The three-year deal would begin with the 2016 festival. This ended a long run of the station being "banned" from the festival and the airstaff referring to it on air as "bleep fest".
On October 15, 2014, KBVB began broadcasting in HD, making them the first commercial station in the Fargo-Moorhead market utilizing HD Radio technology. A week later on October 22, KBVB launched a Triple-A formatted HD2 sub-channel called "The Loft" with a translator on K233CY 94.5 operated from the STL relay tower outside the KBVB studio in Fargo. On October 30, the sub channel rebranded as "The City" due to a trademark claim from SiriusXM.[1] The HD3 sub-channel simulcasted KQWB-AM, a classic country station known as "Willie @ 1660", which later became a Fox Sports Radio affiliate. The HD3 signal moved to sister station KPFX-HD3 in July 2016.
KQQL is a commercial radio station serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul radio market and is licensed to suburban Anoka. It plays classic hits and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios and offices are on Utica Avenue South in St. Louis Park.
KMWA is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Edina, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities area. The station is owned by the Educational Media Foundation, and airs programming from EMF's nationally syndicated "Air1" radio format featuring Christian Worship Music. KMWA's transmitter is located in New Hope.
KNFL is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. The station serves the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Wausau, Wisconsin-based Midwest Communications Inc. All the offices and studios are located at 1020 S. 25th Street in Fargo, while its 6-tower transmitter array is located northeast of Glyndon. It has the fifth biggest daytime AM signal in the country.
KOYY is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1965. The station is currently owned by Midwest Communications. All the offices and studios are located at 1020 S. 25th Street in Fargo, while its transmitter is located near Amenia.
Midwest Communications, Inc. is a Wausau, Wisconsin–based radio broadcasting company. It owns 82 radio stations located primarily within the Midwest United States, in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Illinois and Wisconsin. The company is a family-owned business and is headed by the Wright family.
KLDQ is a radio station in Fargo, North Dakota, broadcasting the K-LOVE radio network, airing a contemporary Christian music format.
KRWK (101.9 FM, known as "101.9 Jack FM", is a radio station serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 1983 under the call sign KRRZ.
KLTA-FM is a radio station based in Fargo, North Dakota, though licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Moorhead, Minnesota, owned by Jim Ingstad's Radio FM Media. The station carries an Adult-oriented Top 40 (CHR) format. KLTA and Rhythmic CHR-formatted HD2 translator K245BY compete against heritage Top 40 (CHR) KOYY.
KVOX-FM is a country radio station located in Fargo, North Dakota, owned by Duey Wright's Midwest Communications, Inc.
KPFX is a classic rock radio station licensed to serve Kindred, North Dakota, serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. The radio station is owned by Jim Ingstad's Radio FM Media, and is the flagship radio station for North Dakota State University Football and Men's Basketball.
KEGK is a classic hits radio station serving the Fargo-Moorhead area, licensed to Wahpeton, North Dakota, and primarily plays rock and pop music from the 1970s and 1980s. The station is owned by Brooke Ingstad, through licensee Radio Wahpeton Breckenridge, LLC. Its studios are located at 2720 7th Ave. South in Fargo, while its transmitter is located east of Wolverton.
KQWB-FM is an active rock radio station located in Fargo, North Dakota, owned by Jim Ingstad's Radio FM Media.
KBMW-FM is an American radio station that airs a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Breckenridge, Minnesota, it serves Wahpeton-Breckenridge and the southern Red River Valley. The station is owned by Robert Ingstad's I3G Media, LLC.
KQWB is an American AM radio station located in Fargo, North Dakota, owned by Jim Ingstad's Radio FM Media. Its studios are located on 7th Avenue South in Fargo, while its transmitter array is located north of Glyndon.
KFGO-FM is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format, simulcasting KFGO. Licensed to Hope, North Dakota, it serves the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting in 2002 under the call sign KDAM.
KVXR is a radio station located in Moorhead, MN airing Catholic programming the Real Presence Radio, including programming from the national EWTN Radio network. KVXR is owned by Real Presence Radio of Grand Forks, North Dakota
KDLB is a simulcast broadcasting a country music format as a simulcast of 95.1 KBVB in Fargo, North Dakota. KDLB is licensed to Frazee, Minnesota, United States, it serves the Detroit Lakes area. KDLB is owned by James and Brooke Ingstad.
KBMW is a radio station licensed to Breckenridge, Minnesota, serving the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area, owned by Robert Ingstad's I3G Media, LLC. The station airs a mix of Country Music and news, as well local content such as community calendar, funeral notices, and Swap Shop. It carries Minnesota Twins baseball coverage, updates from the American Ag Network, and plays a variety of syndicated programming at night.
K233CY is a translator broadcasting the adult album alternative format of the HD2 subcarrier of KBVB. Licensed to Wahpeton, North Dakota, it serves the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by James and Brooke Ingstad, through licensee Radio Fargo-Hoorhead, Inc. All the offices and studios are located at 2720 7th Ave South in Fargo, which is where the translator's transmitter is located. The station signed on as "The Loft 94.5" on October 22, 2014 only to rebrand as "The City 94.5" a week later around October 30, 2014 due to a trademark claim from SiriusXM.
K245BY is a translator broadcasting the rhythmic contemporary format of the HD2 subcarrier of KLTA-FM. Licensed to Moorhead, Minnesota, it serves the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Brooke Ingstad, the daughter of Radio FM Media owner James Ingstad. All the offices and studios are located at 2720 7th Ave S Street in Fargo, which is where the translator's transmitter is located. The station signed on March 15, 2015. 96.9 Hits FM and Hot Adult Contemporary sister station KLTA-FM "Big 98.7" compete against heritage top 40 (CHR) station KOYY "Y94".
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