KBOW

For the airport serving Bartow, Florida assigned the ICAO code KBOW, see Bartow Municipal Airport.

KBOW (550 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Butte, Montana. The station is owned by Butte Broadcasting, Inc. It airs a country music format.^[2][3]

KBOW

KBOW and KOPR's studios in Butte
Butte, Montana
Frequency	550 kHz
Branding	KBOW 550AM 101.5FM
Programming
Format	Country
Affiliations	CBS News Radio
Ownership
Owner	Butte Broadcasting, Inc.
Sister stations	KGLM-FM, KOPR
History
First air date	February 14, 1947 (78 years ago) (1947-02-14) (on 1490 AM)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	7911
Class	B
Power	5,000 watts (day) 1,000 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates	45°58′30″N 112°34′18″W
Translator	101.5 K268CI (Butte)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	www.kbow550.net

The main offices and studios of Butte Broadcasting are at 660 Dewey in Butte. The KBOW transmitter site is southwest of town on Beef Trail Road.

History

KBOW officially began broadcasting on February 14, 1947, originally operating on the frequency of 1490 kHz. ^[4] In 1962, the station was purchased by Richard "Shag" Miller, a prominent local figure who spent the next 32 years building the station's reputation as a community hub. ^[5] Miller acquired the assets of KOPR-AM in 1964, leading to the station's move to its current frequency of 550 kHz. ^[6][7][8]

Under Miller's leadership, KBOW famously scooped national and international media in 1974 by securing the exclusive live broadcast of Evel Knievel’s attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. The station is also responsible for the "I'm from Butte, America" branding; after Miller ordered an initial run of 5,000 bumper stickers with the slogan, the demand was so overwhelming that it became a permanent symbol of the city's identity.^[9]

In 1994, the station was purchased by Ron and Shelly Davis under Butte Broadcasting Inc., continuing its tradition of local ownership. Ron Davis had previously served as the station's program director and assistant general manager before becoming the owner.^[10]