KCKN

Last updated

KCKN
Frequency 1020 kHz
Programming
LanguageSpanish
Format Christian radio
Ownership
OwnerRadio Vision Cristiana Subsidiary Corp.
History
First air date
December 1965 (1965-12) (as KSWS)
Former call signs
  • KSWS (1965–1975)
  • KBCQ (1975–1987)
  • KCKN (1987–2000)
  • KXEM (2000)
  • KINF (2000–2006)
Call sign meaning
"Kickin" (former country format)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 57721
Class B
Power 50,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates
 33°27′53.35″N104°29′59.89″W / 33.4648194°N 104.4999694°W / 33.4648194; -104.4999694
Links
Public license information
Website www.radiovision.net

KCKN (1020 kHz) is an AM radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language Christian radio format in Roswell, New Mexico. [2] It is owned by Radio Vision Cristiana Subsidiary Corp. [3] Much of the programming is also heard on co-owned WWRV (1330 AM) in New York City.

Contents

KCKN is powered at 50,000 watts, the maximum for AM stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is a Class B outlet, required to protect Class A clear channel station KDKA in Pittsburgh. KCKN uses a directional antenna at all times, with a three-tower array by day and a six-tower array at night. KCKN's transmitter is on La Luz Road at Old Clovis Highway in Roswell. [4]

History

The station signed on the air for the first time in December 1965 under the call sign KSWS. It was co-owned with KSWS-TV (now KOBR). It changed its call sign to KBCQ on June 30, 1975. [5] A sister FM station was purchased in 1986. KBCQ at the time programmed Top 40 and the FM station had the KCKN call sign and a country music format. On April 20 1987, the call signs and formats of the two stations were flipped and 1020 became KCKN Country and the FM became KBCQ-FM Top 40. [6] In the early 1990s, KCKN switched to a soft adult contemporary format with a large news commitment. Religious programming was carried at night for years.

The call sign was changed to KXEM on November 13, 2000; and to KINF on December 1, 2000. [6] As KINF, the station aired a news/talk format. In late August 2005, while operating under a local marketing agreement (LMA), KINF was off the air due to technical problems. The LMA was ended; the station reverted to the KCKN calls on January 12, 2006, [6] and the station signed back on the air in early February 2006 programming classic country music. In 2012, the station was sold to Radio Vision Cristiana Subsidiary Corp. [7] KCKN switched to Spanish language Christian radio.

On June 11, 2018, the transmitter for KCKN caught fire and badly damaged the transmitter building. KCKN requested a special temporary authority (STA) to operate an auxiliary transmitter. The FCC approved the request; however, the fire department forbade using it until electrical inspections took place. KCKN remained silent until inspections took place. [8]

References

  1. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KCKN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ↑ "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Summer 2009.
  3. ↑ "KCKN Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  4. ↑ Radio-Locator.com/KCKN
  5. ↑ "KBCQ (KCKN) history cards" (PDF). Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "KCKN Call Sign History". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  7. ↑ Application Search Details fcc.gov. Accessed February 7, 2015
  8. ↑ "STA from KCKN to use auxiliary transmitter (BSTA-20180615ABA)". Federal Communications Commission.
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