Radio KMBZ-AM (News980)

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KMBZ, known as "Newsradio 980", is a conservative news and talk AM radio station broadcasting in the Kansas City, Missouri market from its studios and broadcast tower in suburban Mission, Kansas.

KMBZ is the oldest surviving station in Kansas City, first going on the air on April 5, 1922, with the callsign WPE, and the second oldest radio station in the state of Missouri (behind only St. Louis' WEW).

In its history it has been owned by two rival branches of the Latter Day Saint movement although it has no church affiliation now.See more

Kansas AM|980
913-744-3780
7000 Squibb RdMission, KS 66202
KMBZ, known as "Newsradio 980", is a conservative news and talk AM radio station broadcasting in the Kansas City, Missouri market from its studios and broadcast tower in suburban Mission, Kansas.

KMBZ is the oldest surviving station in Kansas City, first going on the air on April 5, 1922, with the callsign WPE, and the second oldest radio station in the state of Missouri (behind only St. Louis' WEW).

In its history it has been owned by two rival branches of the Latter Day Saint movement although it has no church affiliation now.

The Reorganized Church of Latter-Day Saints (RLDS - based in Independence, Missouri) bought the station in 1923 and renamed the station KFIX and later KLDS.

In 1928, Midland Broadcasting bought the station and renamed it KMBC. Cook Paint and Varnish Company bought the Midland holdings in 1954. The AM radio and television station operated out of the Lyric Theatre.

In 1961 Cook sold the radio and television stations to Metromedia, who signed on KMBC-FM (later KMBR and KLTH, now KGEX) the next year. In 1967, Metromedia sold both radio stations to Bonneville International but kept the television station. Bonneville is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons based in Salt Lake City). They changed to KMBZ (with "Z" rhyming with "C").

In 1997, Bonneville sold its entire Kansas City cluster, which by then consisted of KMBZ, KLTH, KCMO (AM) and KCMO-FM, to Entercom Communications. KMBZ consistently ranks as the most listened talk radio station in the Kansas City market.

Paul Henning, who created The Beverly Hillbillies, was a writer, actor, disc jockey and newsreader at the station early in his career.

Rush Limbaugh got his start in political commentary on the station in 1983. He continues to be heard on KMBZ both in his live slot and on an overnight replay, one of only a handful of stations (KTTH in Seattle being another) that airs Limbaugh in the overnight hours.

The station now carries Limbaugh's nationally syndicated show along with those of Glenn Beck, Adam Bold, and Mark Levin as well as local hosts Mike Shanin & Scott Parks and Darla Jaye.

Though KMBZ was the Kansas City Royals flagship station for some time, their format is currently mostly news and political talk. However, beginning in 2009 the Royals returned to KMBZ, as part of a partnership with KCSP. The station is also the western flagship for the Missouri Tigers radio network, broadcasting football, men's and women's basketball and the "Tiger Talk" coach's show.

The station is one of the country's comparatively few stations to actually have local talk show hosts outside of "morning drive."

In 2009, KMBZ began simulcasting its program on sister station KUDL's HD3 subchannel.

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