Cumulus Media’s KBGG/1700 (Des Moines) and its FM translator, K267CY/101.3 (Des Moines), have gone off the air.
KBGG had carried syndicated Sports Talk as “The Champ.” RadioInsight reports KBGG is one of a few dozen stations taken silent by Cumulus nationwide in March, though it is the only known Cumulus station in the Upper Midwest to be affected.
FCC filings submitted on April 2 indicate KBGG and K267CY went off the air March 28. The filings state Cumulus “is in the process of deciding whether to change the format or sell the station.”
KBGG has been removed from the station directory on Cumulus’ website and its former website appears to be down. Its Facebook page remains active with links to Cumulus podcasts.
K267CY was granted as a result of the AM Revitalization filing window and, as a result, can only be used to relay KBGG. Its 130-Watt signal transmits from the northwestern suburb of Grimes and delivers a strong signal to roughly half of the metro area.
KBGG, like most other “expanded band” stations, is licensed for 10kW day and 1kW night, non-directional. It is the successor to the former KKSO/1390.
“The Champ” had competed with the locally-focused Sports format on iHeartMedia’s KXNO-FM/106.3 (Ankeny-Des Moines) and KXNO/1460 (Des Moines), and ESPN Radio on Saga’s KRNT/1350 (Des Moines) and K271CO/102.1 (Des Moines).
This item was updated April 5 with details of FCC filings. The callsign of the translator was also corrected.