KMER

KMER

KMER

Radio station in Kemmerer, Wyoming

For the airport in Merced, California, assigned ICAO code KMER, see Castle Airport.

KMER (940 AM) is an American radio station broadcasting on 940 kHz and is licensed to Kemmerer, Wyoming. It primarily broadcasts a country format, but occasionally broadcasts local high school football and basketball games from Kemmerer as well. KMER has national news at the top of the hour and weather during commercial breaks. KMER has a sister station KDWY 105.3 FM, which is licensed to Diamondville.

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History

KMER began broadcasting in April of 1963 on 950 kHz. The station was owned by Lincoln Broadcasting Company, and had a power of 1,000 watts. The transmitter was located near US Highway 30. The studios were located at 436 Fossil Butte Drive in Kemmerer. Five years later in 1968, the station applied to increase power to 5,000 watts. Until 2006, KMER was a daytimer, signing off at local sunset to protect other stations on the frequency. The station was sold to Big Wyoming Broadcasting Corporation in 1979.[1]

KMER's primary coverage area is southwestern Wyoming, including Evanston, Green River, and Rock Springs.[2] During it's time on 950, the station was an affiliate of the Denver Broncos.[3] KMER was also once an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies baseball team.[4]

The station went through a number of different owners in the 1990s.[5]

In the 1990s, the station carried a country format.[6]

In 2004, owner Chaparral Broadcasting sold the station and its sister KDWY to Utah-based Simmons Media.[7]

Move to 940

In 2006, in order to accommodate nearby KOVO AM 960's move from Provo, Utah to Bluffdale, Utah (which ultimately did not happen), KMER was forced to change its frequency from 950 to 940 and lower its power so as to not interfere with KOVO.[8] Both stations were at the time owned by Simmons Media. KOVO did relocate their towers, however it is unclear if the frequency change was necessary. KMER is listed as broadcasting in AM Stereo, or at least did broadcast in stereo.[9]

Simmons' stations were purchased by Broadway Media, also a Utah-based radio operator, in 2014.[10] Sister station KAOX, was included in the sale.

KMER was an oldies station throughout the 2000s until it was purchased by Star Valley Media in 2018.[11][12] Following the sale, the station became a simulcast of KRSV in Afton, Wyoming, carrying a country music format. SVI Media noted that at the time of sale, both KMER and sister KDWY were off air. Most of the broadcasting equipment at the studio was "archaic" and needed to be upgraded. The stations returned to air with a soft opening, before fully returning to air with newer equipment. The current owners also stated they would add local high school football broadcasts at a later date.[13]

References

  1. [1]
    "FCC History Cards for KMER" (PDF). United States Federal Communications Commission.
  2. [2]
    John C. Johnson. "Wyoming QSL cards and verification letters from the John in Arizona Collection". johninarizona.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  3. [3]
    Lynn Arave (August 10, 1990). "KQOL offers prizes, trips to heat up interest among listeners". Deseret News.
  4. [4]
    Ken Reitz (2001). "The Baseball Listener's Guide 2001".
  5. [5]
    "KMER FCC record". FCCData.org. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  6. [6]
    "CMA: The 1994 Country Music Association Country Radio Directory". Country Music Association. 1994. p. 121.
  7. [7]
    "Assignments". Federal Communications Commission. April 19, 2004.
  8. [8]
    "Strange happenings by Utah's Simmons Media". Archived from the original on 2004-10-26. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  9. [9]
    "AM Stereo Stations : United States of America". AMStereo.org. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  10. [10]
    "Broadway Media Acquires Simmons Salt Lake City". RadioInsight.com. January 13, 2014.
  11. [11]
    Matthew Lombardi (June 2006). Montana and Wyoming: With the South Dakota Black Hills. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 389. ISBN 978-1-4000-1667-9.
  12. [12]
    "Assignments". Federal Communications Commission. September 7, 2018.
  13. [13]
    "SVI buys local radio stations". Kemmerer Gazette. July 19, 2018.


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