KMIA (AM)
KMIA (1210 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a regional Mexican format. Licensed to Auburn–Federal Way, Washington, United States, it serves the Seattle metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Amador and Rosalie Bustos, through licensee Bustos Media Holdings, LLC.
City | Auburn–Federal Way, Washington |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Seattle metropolitan area |
Frequency | 1210 kHz |
Branding | La Zeta 1210 |
Programming | |
Format | Silent (was Regional Mexican) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Amador and Rosalie Bustos (Bustos Media Holdings, LLC) |
Sister stations | KDDS-FM, KZNW, KZTM |
History | |
First air date | 1958 |
Former call signs | KASY (1958–1989) KBSG (1989–2003) KNWX (2003–2004) KWMG (2004–2007) KTBK (2007–2011) |
Former frequencies | 1220 kHz (1958-1989) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 33683 |
Class | B |
Power | 27,500 watts (day) 220 watts (night) |
Transmitter coordinates | 47°18′20″N 122°14′53″W |
History
Edward and June Garre were the founders of this station, which began as KASY in 1958 (broadcasting on 1220 AM), running an MOR format until October 1989.[1] After Viacom bought the station, 1210 became simulcast of KBSG-FM as KBSG (AM). Entercom bought the stations in 1996. This lasted until around 2002, before changing to a business format as KNWX (the former callsign of KTTH) that lasted until 2003, when it switched to an all-news format. In December 2004, after Bustos Media bought the station, 1210 switched to a regional Mexican format, first as KWMG and later as KTBK.
In September 2010, Bustos transferred most of its licenses to Adelante Media Group as part of a settlement with its lenders.[2]
The station switched to a Spanish popular hits format on November 7, 2011, calling itself "Latino 1210" and operating under the call letters of KMIA.
Effective December 10, 2014, Bustos Media reacquired KMIA, along with eight other stations and a translator, from Adelante Media for $6 million.
On December 31, 2014, KMIA changed their format to regional Mexican, branded as "La Zeta 1210".
On November 29, 2016, KMIA was granted a Federal Communications Commission construction permit to move the night transmitter to the day transmitter site and reduce night power to 220 watts.[3]
In March 2020, Bustos Media made KMIA silent, notifying the FCC that the COVID-19 pandemic made it economically unviable to keep the station on the air. Bustos characterized the shutdown as temporary.[4]
References
- "Seattle Tacoma Oldies Radio". Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- "NAP CLOSES ON BUSTOS, LAUNCHES ADELANTE". Radio Ink. September 27, 2010. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013.
- "Application for Construction Permit for Commercial Broadcast Station". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. November 29, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- http://www.insideradio.com/free/three-am-signals-silenced-due-to-pandemic-related-financial-difficulties/article_b6bb6784-72a7-11ea-856a-db206e91c8c8.html
External links
- KMIA in the FCC's AM station database
- KMIA on Radio-Locator
- KMIA in Nielsen Audio's AM station database