KABG

KABG

File:KABG Logo.jpg
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Broadcast area	Albuquerque, New Mexico Santa Fe, New Mexico
Frequency	98.5 MHz
Branding	Big 98.5
Programming
Format	Classic Hits
Ownership
Owner	American General Media
Sister stations	KAGM, KDLW, KARS (AM), KHFM, KLVO, KSFE
History
First air date	1956 (as KRSN)
Former call signs	KRSN (1956-1986) KKBR (1986-1990) KRBL (1990-1993) KTMN (1993-1997)
Call sign meaning	KA BiG
Technical information
Facility ID	44000
Class	C
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	581 meters
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	big985.com

KABG (98.5 MHz) is an American radio station licensed to Los Alamos, New Mexico serving the Santa Fe and Albuquerque radio markets. It is owned by American General Media and has a classic top 40 classic hits format playing hits mostly from the 1960s to the 1980s. Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque and the transmitter tower is located west of Los Alamos, New Mexico.

The format launched in Summer 1997 as "Big Oldies 98.5". It then went on to overcome two other long running oldies stations in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe markets, KBOM 106.7 (moved to 94.7 in 2000, both frequencies which AGM had later purchased) in Santa Fe and KZKL (later changed to KQEO) 101.7 in Albuquerque which dropped the format in 2002 making KABG the only FM oldies station in both markets until its format change in 2007.

For many years the station had been known as "Big Oldies" but in 2007 it rebranded to just "Big 98.5" phasing out the word "oldies" as it has followed most other oldies stations across the country in shifting to a more 1970s focused "classic hits" format in order to improve its audience in the 25-54 age range demographic. It has also changed its website. Despite this, the station still played a small amount of 1950s/early 1960s oldies. As of 2015 the format is mostly focused on music from the 1980s with a small amount of music from the 1990s added.

Programming

Local radio veteran Bobby Box had hosted the morning shift from the stations' launch until 2012. Chaz Malibu now hosts mornings on the station. Bobby Box is now featured middays (10a-1p) and Big Benny, afternoons (3p-7p). Tom Kent is featured from 7PM until Midnight. It also airs several syndicated shows during the weekend.

Previous formats

Call Letters	Format	Name	Time Period
KKBR	Oldies	KKBR	1986–1990
KRBL	Rock	The Rebel Rocker	1990–1992
KRBL	Top 40	Lazer 98.5	1992–1993
KTMN	Classic Rock	The Mountain	1993–1996
KTMN	Adult Album Alternative	The Mountain	1996–1997

External links

• Official Website
• Facility details for Facility ID KABG ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's FM station database