KNMX

Radio station in Las Vegas–Santa Fe, New Mexico
35°34′25″N 105°10′17″W / 35.57361°N 105.17139°W / 35.57361; -105.17139Translator(s)99.9 MHz K260DJ (Las Vegas)Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
WebsiteSDCradio.com

KNMX (540 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Las Vegas, New Mexico, serving the Santa Fe area. The station is owned by Sangre De Cristo Broadcasting Co, Inc.[2] It broadcasts a Spanish language radio format of New Mexico music with some Regional Mexican and Ranchera music.

By day, KNMX is powered at 5,000 watts. But because 540 AM is a Mexican and Canadian clear-channel frequency, KNMX must reduce nighttime power to only 20 watts to prevent skywave interference to the dominant Class A stations on this frequency. It uses a directional antenna at all times.[3] Programming is also heard on FM translator 99.9 MHz K260DJ.[4]

History

On April 11, 1979, San Miguel Broadcasting Company, Inc., filed a construction permit to build a new radio station at 540 kHz in Las Vegas. The Federal Communications Commission approved the construction permit in December,[5] and the station began broadcasting in October 1980. It was the area's first Spanish-language radio outlet, though it took three years for KNMX to turn a profit.[6]

San Miguel owned the station until 1993, when it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.[7] Sangre de Cristo acquired KNMX in 1996 for $235,000, after the station had been placed in trusteeship.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KNMX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "KNMX Facility Record". United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division.
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/KNMX
  4. ^ Radio-Locator.com/K260DJ
  5. ^ FCC History Cards for KNMX
  6. ^ Storey, Robert (July 16, 1983). "Spanish-language radio station in unique position". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  7. ^ "Bankruptcies". Santa Fe New Mexican. November 30, 1993. p. D-2. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  8. ^ "Transactions" (PDF). Radio & Records. July 19, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  • Facility details for Facility ID 58915 (KNMX) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
  • KNMX in Nielsen Audio's AM station database