KCBR is a radio station licensed to Monument, Colorado. Owned by SGMK Communications, it broadcasts a hybrid format of variety hits interspersed with comedy content from the Today's Comedy radio network. The station serves Colorado Springs, through its main signal and two FM translators on 95.7 and 98.5. The main frequency of KCBR is 1040 AM; it is a United States clear-channel frequency on which WHO in Des Moines, Iowa is the dominant Class A station. KCBR must leave the air during the period from sunset to sunrise to protect the nighttime skywave signal of the Class A station.
History
The station first signed on back in 1986 as KKRE; broadcasting a Christian Adult Contemporary format and was a handful of stations at the time that did an all Christian music format. The studio was located in Monument during its early years. In late 1988 after losing too much money, KKRE flipped to a Business News/Talk format via the Colorado Springs-based network at the time BRN. KKRE would later change its call letters to KCBR that would reflect the Business format on the station. In 1991 after BRN switched its flagship affiliated station, KCBR went dark. By 1992 under the ownership of the owners of KCMN at the time KCBR returned to the air with Combination format of Christian Talk and Christian AC, and the call letters now stood for "Colorado's K-Bright." KCBR ran Christian teaching and talk programs during the morning hours and played Christian Music in the afternoons and Weekends. With the sign on of KBIQ on the FM band KCBR gradually phased out the Christian AC music. In the late 1990s KCBR along with KCMN were sold to Crawford Broadcasting Company. Crawford soon adopted the nickname "Victory Radio" for KCBR. In August 2006, Don Crawford Jr. son of Crawford Broadcasting owner Don Crawford Sr. bought KCBR and KCMN, for an undisclosed amount. The new owner said that the formats and staffing would stay the same at the stations. Crawford Jr. had begun working at Crawford Broadcasting in 1989, and had been a regional manager since 1994, responsible for the company's stations in Colorado Springs, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Following the purchase, Crawford was to continue to manage KAAM in Dallas. Beginning in 2007, the station began broadcasting in HD Radio format. In 2012 DJR Broadcasting sold KCBR to Pueblo Radio Group. The new owners gradually made changes to the station eventually dropping the Christian Talk programs in August. The station transitioned to a News/Talk format in October with longtime KCMN/KCBR personality Tron Simpson from 6AM-8AM and 1PM-2PM, radio veteran Lee Roberts from 8AM-10AM, National Sports Talker Jim Rome from 10AM-1PM, National Syndicated talker Phil Valentine from 2PM-3PM, and longtime local talk radio personality Chuck Baker along with local restaurant owner Chuck Graybill doing afternoons from 3PM-5PM. On March 27, 2013; Laura Ingraham replaced Jim Rome in the 10AM-1PM time frame, when crosstown station KCSF picked up show. After about 22 years on KCMN/KCBR Tron Simpson left the station after October 10, 2014 pending management and format changes with KCBR. Tron Simpson resumed his daily radio talk show online at www.tronshow.com and was picked up by crosstown KVOR for a Sunday Afternoon local talk program. On November 1, 2014, KCBR flipped to variety hits as Tailgate 98, also broadcast on FM translator K253AH 98.5 FM in Colorado Springs. The following year, the station flipped to oldies as Crusin' 98.5. On May 4, 2016, KCBR flipped to classic hip-hop as Blazin' 98.5, which also featured programming catering to cannabis in Colorado. In October 2018, KCBR flipped to a hybrid format of comedy and 90's hits, branded as Hits & Giggles 98.5/95.7. The flip coincided with the introduction of a second translator, K239CH.
