This is the KOB History section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by: Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
last update: 4/6/07

KOB

KKOB-AM is an AM radio station operating out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the oldest in the state:
KKOB operates on 770 kHz with 50,000 watts of power and is owned by Citadel Broadcasting Company. Format is talk radio. KKOB's brand is "News Radio 770 KKOB." KKOB-AM is the local outlet for nationally syndicated talk radio hosts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, and Coast-to-Coast AM as well as Paul Harvey. It also features local hosts Bob Clark in the morning and Jim Villanucci in the afternoon and a sports talk program with Guest Host in the evening. KKOB also provides local news and weather updates every half hour 24-hours a day and national news updates from ABC News hourly. KKOB-AM also broadcasts University of New Mexico basketball and football games.

KOB-KKOB


On July 17, 1941 a powerful new transmitter was switched into service,
using the earlier 10 kW unit as the exciter. This new transmitter was the
first production unit of the RCA model 50E. It was in service with KOB for
35 years as the main transmitter and for another 20 years as the standby
unit.

It must have been operated on 1180, 1030 and 770, at various times, and
on 770 after the SCOTUS finally turned down Hubbard's lawsuit, with
prejudice.

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New Mexico had been a state for just ten years when 770 KKOB (KOB) began broadcasting as a commercial radio station. On April 5, 1922, the Federal Radio Commission awarded the campus radio station at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts a commercial radio license to broadcast at 883.3 on the AM dial with 750 watts of power. The school went on to become New Mexico State University and the radio station is now the 50-thousand watt Voice of The Land of Enchantment, News Radio 770 KKOB. In 2007 we're celebrating our first 85 years!

1925:
KOB moves from 883.3 to 860 on the AM dial and increases its power from 500 to 750 watts. The University of Wisconsin has the only other campus radio station with that much power. Later that year, KOB increases its daytime power to 1,000 watts.

1927:
The Federal Radio Commission allows KOB to increase its power to 5,000 watts.

On June 15, KOB moves to 760 AM.

In November, KOB increases its power to 7500 watts.


1928:
On February 29, KOB is assigned to 1050 AM. One month later it returns to 760 AM.

The World Series is heard live in the southwest for the first time on broadcasts by KOB.

On November 11, KOB is assigned to 1180 AM.

1929:
KOB increases its power to 10,000 watts and becomes the most powerful college radio station in the country. The seven-person staff includes 3 announcers, 2 engineers, a secretary, and director Ralph Goddard.

On December 30, Ralph Goddard is accidentally electrocuted at the KOB transmitter. KOB stays off the air until January 2nd, 1930.


1930:
On January 11, KOB is authorized to operate at 20,000 watts.

The New Mexico Board of Regents allows KOB to sell advertising to help meet operating expenses.


1931:
Because of persistent equipment problems and mounting expenses, the Albuquerque Journal proposes taking over operation of KOB and moving it to Albuquerque. The final broadcast from the Las Cruces campus comes on April 24, 1932.

1932:
The Albuquerque Journal assumes operation of KOB, which is still owned by the New Mexico College for Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. KOB studios are moved to the basement of the El Fidel Hotel in Albuquerque at 5th and Copper. The first broadcast from Albuquerque comes on October 5.

1933:
The newly-established New Mexico Motor Patrol (now the Highway patrol) receives information on crimes and criminals broadcast over KOB. Updated information was broadcast twice per day except for Sundays.

1936:
KOB is purchased outright by Albuquerque Journal owner T.M. Pepperday for $25,000.00. Studios are moved to 5th and Gold.

KOB programming is provided by NBC, ABC, and Transradio networks. UNM and State College students also produce shows, and live music is performed by Johnny Floyd and his Florida Crackers. UNM's Theater Department presents "Little Theater of the Air" each Wednesday night; performers are paid 50 cents each.

1937:
On March 29, KOB is assigned to 1030 on the AM dial, and increases its power to 50,000 watts during daytime hours. Immediately KOB suffers interference problems with WBZ in Boston.

On June 15, KOB becomes New Mexico's first affiliate of the top-rated NBC Radio Network. To celebrate KOB hosts a dance party at UNM's Carlisle Gymnasium featuring NBC's Rita Rio and Her All-Girl Orchestra.


KOB broadcasting live at the 1937 State Fair.


INTERESTING TRIVIA: KOB was involved in a 38-year-long dispute with New York City station WABC (originally WJZ) over the use of the 770 kHz frequency. KOB was moved there from 1030 to make room for WBZ in Boston. While the Federal Communications Commission had requested that WJZ install a directional antenna to allow the stations to interoperate over large areas, the station refused to comply, encroaching on the range KOB was intended to receive. Only after reaching the U.S. Supreme Court was the issue settled, when the FCC assigned KOB to a new license class.

1941
On July 17, KOB celebrates its fifth year as an NBC affiliate with a live broadcast from The Kimo Theater, starring NBC celebrities Don Wilson of the Jack Benny Program, NBC singer Martha Tilton and the KOB staff.


In November, KOB is moved to its current dial position of 770 AM to prevent interference problems with WBZ.

Because of its tremendous popularity and signal strength, KOB was promoted to advertisers around the country. Programs broadcast on KOB could be heard from Florida to California.

>INTERESTING TRIVIA: KOB was involved in a 38-year-long dispute with New York 
>City station WABC (originally WJZ) over the use of the 770 kHz frequency. 
>KOB was moved there from 1030 to make room for WBZ in Boston. While the 
>Federal Communications Commission had requested that WJZ install a 
>directional antenna to allow the stations to interoperate over large areas, 
>the station refused to comply, encroaching on the range KOB was intended to 
>receive. Only after reaching the U.S. Supreme Court was the issue settled, 
>when the FCC assigned KOB to a new license class.

Not true.

660 and 770 were not in the original "Class II-A List", but 880 was (went 
to Nebraska).

After the SCOTUS rejected KOB's appeal, and returned the matter to the 
FCC, after having determined that, as there was already a "station of the 
Class I type" in New Mexico (KSWS, a Class II-A, on-air since 1965), and 
that New Mexico was not, therefore, a "white area" which was deserving of 
a Class I-B or a Class I-A station, the FCC took the easy way out, and 
added 770 to the "Class II-A List", thereby giving New Mexico two 
"stations of the Class I type".

Case closed.

It is not apparent from the enumeration of the many changes just when KOB 
was first allowed true unlimited time operation.

It was time-sharing with KEX for a while, so its claims to being a Class 
I are very weak, if not entirely absent.

WBZ always had a priority on its frequency, although during the time KOB 
was "squatting" on 1030, WBZ was temporarily reclassified as a Class I-B, 
domestically only, while it remained classified as a Class I-A, 
internationally.

When KOB's 770/1030 STA was vacated, WBZ was returned to a Class I-A, 
domestically.

(The notion that WBZ was "interfering" with KOB is absurd, as a station 
of a higher class cannot cause interference to a station of a lower 
class. A station of a lower class can, however, receive ground-wave 
and/or sky-wave signals from station(s) of a higher class, and which 
necessarily limits its primary signal. But it cannot make a claim of 
"interference". Its primary service will always be limited to that which 
is allowed by the station(s) of higher class. Game over!).

Mexico was given a Class II-B priority on 1030 (and also on 830) by 
NARBA, so in any case KOB couldn't have had a very good signal on 1030 in 
the Southwest, which is perhaps why it claimed, in court pleadings, that 
"1030 was technically infeasible".

And, if it wasn't Mexico's full-time operation on 1030 which made 1030 
"technically infeasible", then KSWS' operation on 1020 surely did.

Bottom line: KOB was assigned an additional entry in an existing license 
class, Class II-A, which is unique to the United States, and is not used 
by any other signatories, but one which would eventually be the same as 
any other secondary station on a U.S. Class I-A clear channel. Not, 
repeat NOT, a "new license class".

1948:
KOB-TV, also owned by Albuquerque Broadcasting, signs on the air on September 13, broadcasting three hours per day. For live broadcasts the station shares a delivery truck with Mead's Bakery.

INTERESTING TRIVIA: Tom Pepperday also owned KOB-TV which started operations on September 13, 1948. KOB TV's radio cousins were later sold off and are now known as KKOB-AM-FM, many people still confuse the television and radio stations today.

1951:
KOB's Frank Joyce begins broadcasting UNM basketball.

Tom Doyle prepares his newscast for broadcast on KOB.

1952:
KOB and KOB-TV are sold to Time, Incorporated and for $600,000.00

1956:
KOB personality Frank Joyce is saluted by Sports Illustrated magazine for his daily outdoor program, Coors Calling.


KOB's lineup of personalities includes George Mahoney and his wife Mary McDonald, Tom Washington, morning man "Johnny G" (John Griswold), and the live music of The Sandia Mountain Boys, featuring future country and pop star Glen Campbell.


Before there was audio tape, CDs and hard drives, programs were recorded on acetate discs by KOB engineers for later playback.

1957:
KOB and KOB-TV are sold to Stanley Hubbard of Minneapolis for $1,500,000.00

1962:
NBC honors KOB for 25 years as a network affiliate. Tom Dunn becomes KOB Program Director and morning show host.

1966:
On September 6, the Farmington High School football team bus drops sportscaster MIKE ROBERTS off at UNM stadium, where he joins KOB's Frank Joyce on the Lobo football broadcast. Roberts serves as Joyce's color man for one season before taking over as the voice of the Lobos. Roberts was hired on a recommendation by KOB's receptionist who worked with him in Farmington.

1972:
KOB celebrates its 50th year on the air by hosting the first-ever Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Rally. Thirteen balloons showed up and were launched from Coronado Mall. 20,000 people turned out. The next year 138 balloons were entered, representing 13 countries. The event has grown to the world's largest and most spectacular hot-air ballooning event. Current County Commissioner and Balloon Fiesta announcer Tom Rutherford was the afternoon host on KOB.



1981:
KOB hires a Roswell DJ to replace Dan Evans as morning show host. Despite the prediction of KOB's programming consultant that he won't last, Larry Ahrens remains on the job until 2002, when he takes a leave of absence to run for governor of New Mexico.

Larry is later joined on the air by his former college roommate, Mike Molony.

1986:
KOB applies and is authorized to build and operate a Synchronous Transmitter in Santa Fe, NM to again serve the capital city. Because of a mandated (FCC) change in KOB's nighttime coverage pattern, Santa Feans could no longer receive the KOB signal after local sunset and before local sunrise. The FCC agreed with KOB and public comment that the station's broadcast of news and other information is valuable for legislators, the governor and the public throughout the State.

KOB-AM is bought by Price Communications (dba Southwest Radio) for approximately $14,000,000!

October 28, KOB-AM changes call letters to KKOB. In order to trade on the well-known KOB calls, the new owners simply added an extra "K" to the radio station's call letters.

INTERESTING TRIVIA:
KKOB is the callsign for two radio stations on the AM and FM bands in the Albuquerque radio market. Both stations' callsigns were KOB before Oct 28, 1986.
KOB-TV, also in Albuquerque, is still commonly confused with the two radio stations because it was co-owned with them for many years. KKOB-AM currently has a news partnership with KOB-TV.

1994:
KOB, along with stations KOB-FM, KQEO-AM and KMGA-FM are bought by Citadel Broadcasting. Citadel subsequently adds KRST, KTBL, KHFM and KNML to its cluster of Albuquerque stations.

2002:

770 KKOB celebrates 80 years! Hundreds of fans as well as local and national dignitaries celebrated at a party at Sandia Casino.

Excellence In Broadcasting:
Over the years News Radio 770 KKOB has become on of the most honored ratio stations in the country. For it's commitment to local, state and regional issues and interests KKOB has won two Marconi "Station of the Year" Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters. KKOB is one of only thirty-two stations nationwide to be honored more than once.

KKOB's news and programming has earned countless other national and local awards in recognition of its contributions to the community.