KJFA (AM)

KJFA (840 AM) is a radio station licensed to Belen, New Mexico, United States, which also serves the Albuquerque area. The station is owned by American General Media.[1] KJFA also broadcasts on FM translator K275AO at 102.9 MHz at 99 watts from atop Sandia Crest. KJFA airs a bilingual Hispanic rhythmic format branded as "Fuego 102.9".

KJFA
CityBelen, New Mexico
Broadcast areaAlbuquerque area
Frequency840 kHz
BrandingFuego 102.9
Programming
FormatHispanic Rhythmic
Ownership
OwnerAmerican General Media
(AGM-Nevada, LLC.)
Sister stationsKABG, KIOT, KJFA-FM, KKRG-FM, KKSS, KLVO
History
First air date1961 (as KARS at 860)
Former call signsKARS (1961-2017)
Former frequencies860 kHz (1961-2013)
Call sign meaningK JeFA (previous format)
Technical information
Facility ID25528
Class840 AM: B
102.9 FM:D
Power840: 1,800 watts (day)
30 watts (night)
ERP102.9: 99 watts
Transmitter coordinates35°00′31″N 106°42′52″W
Translator(s)102.9 K275AO (Albuquerque)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitefuego1029.com

Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque and the transmitter tower for KJFA is located in South Valley, New Mexico.

History

This station (originally KARS) used to broadcast at 860 kHz at 1,300 watts during the day and 185 watts at night. The signal in Albuquerque had been a bit weak there during daytime hours and was even harder (but not impossible) to hear at night due to its transmitter being located near Belen about 40 miles south of Albuquerque and using low levels of power. However the station mostly served the Valencia County area and did not really target Albuquerque.

KARS has featured a variety of programming over the years from Classic Country and Spanish-language programming as well as community information for Belen and other parts of Valencia County. In 2010 it began airing an Adult Standards format and later featured some religious programs before changing to the all news format in April 2012. The station used to brand itself as "The Heart of New Mexico".

From April 2012 until March 2013, KARS broadcast an all news format with most of its content coming from Talk Radio Networks "America's Radio News". Local news, weather and traffic reports were featured in the mornings and afternoons.

KARS had filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to move to 840 kHz at a new transmitter site, increase day power to 1,800 watts and decrease night power to 30 watts. A construction permit to make these changes was granted by the FCC on January 17, 2013. This upgrade also allows for it to re-broadcast on FM translator K275AO on 102.9 at 990 watts from atop Sandia Crest.[2]

On March 28, 2013, KARS went off the air while the station upgraded its signal. It returned to the air on July 11, 2013 at 840 kHz covering the Albuquerque area well during the day and improving night time coverage. The FM translator at 102.9 was also upgraded from 10 watts to 99 watts. 102.9 had previously re-broadcast the classical music format from KHFM at 95.5 since signing on in late 2005. The translator was intended to improve coverage in the northeast heights. After a week of informing listeners that KHFM was no longer on the translator this station had been playing a loop of the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind repeatedly for nearly five days. KARS launched a modern rock format branded as "Area 102-9" at noon on July 24, 2013.[3] Area 102.9 launched with "10,000 songs in a row" however it was nearly four months before the station started to run commercials regularly as is sometimes common with new stations. The modern rock format originally featured alternative music from the 1980s to current hits.

On August 3, 2015, American General Media took over operations of KSFE 102.9 in Santa Fe which could possibly allow for more flexibility to upgrade this translator which at the current 99 watts is tightly placed between KIOT 102.5 and KDRF 103.3 both of which broadcast at the full 22 kW from atop Sandia Crest making the signal hard to pick up and possibly contributing to the stations very low ratings.[4] Currently only K229CL 93.7 uses the translator maximum power of 250 watts between two full powered Crest stations.

On August 31, 2015, KARS shifted their format from modern rock to active rock, still branded as "Area 102.9" with the new slogan "Shut Up and Rock".[5] The ratings had improved with this format, but still remained low.

On September 18, 2017, KARS picked up the Regional Mexican format that had aired on KJFA-FM 101.3, which had been spun off to Vanguard Media after American General Media acquired stations owned by Univision Radio.[6] On October 25, 2017, the call letters were changed to KJFA.[7]

La Jefa

La Jefa has been in the market since November 2002 first launching on 101.3 and then moving to 105.1 at the end of 2006. The addition of the Piolin morning program was effective in the stations success for a number of years until it was canceled by Univision Radio in July 2013. By September 28, 2015 the format moved back to 101.3 until moving to its current home two years later.

Exitos 102.9

On February 27, 2018, KJFA changed their format from regional Mexican to Spanish AC, branded as "Exitos 102.9".[8]

On August 30, 2019 at noon KJFA and KJFA-FM Pecos would flip to Spanish language rhythmic branded as "Fuego 102.9".[9]

Broadcast translators of KJFA
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseFacility
ID		ERP
(W)		ClassFCC info
K275AO102.9Albuquerque, New Mexico13924399DFCC

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References
  1. "KJFA Facility Record". U.S. Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  2. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101552436&formid=303&fac_num=25528
  3. New Area Launching in Albuquerque
  4. https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/92790/station-sales-week-of-424/
  5. Area 102.9 Albuquerque Shifts to Active Rock
  6. https://radioinsight.com/headlines/119811/la-jefa-moves-albuquerque/
  7. http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=25528&Callsign=KJFA
  8. La Jefa Fired in Albuquerque Radioinsight - February 27, 2018
  9. 102.9 Albuquerque is Now En Fuego Radioinsight - August 30, 2019
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