KCBI

KCBI
Dallas, Texas;
Broadcast area	Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
Frequency	90.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	90.9 KCBI FM
Programming
Format	Contemporary Christian music ; Christian talk and teaching
Subchannels	HD2: “KCBI’s All Teaching Channel” (Religious)
Ownership
Owner	First Dallas Media Inc.
History
First air date	May 1976
Call sign meaning	K Criswell Bible Institute (now Criswell College, the station's former owner)
Technical information
Facility ID	14524
Class	C
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	460 meters (1,510 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	32°35′24″N 96°58′12″W / 32.590°N 96.970°W
Links
Webcast	Listen Live; KCBI’s All Teaching Channel (HD2)
Website	kcbi.org

KCBI (90.9 MHz) is a listener-supported FM radio station, licensed to Dallas and serving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas. It airs a Christian radio format and is owned by First Dallas Media Inc. (FDMI) The station plays Contemporary Christian music during drive times and middays, with Christian talk and teaching programs in late mornings, evenings and overnight.

KCBI has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000 watts, the maximum for non-grandfathered FM stations. The transmitter is off West Belt Line Road in Cedar Hill, among the towers for other Dallas-area FM and TV stations.^[1]

History[edit]

KCBI began with its antenna atop the First International Building in downtown Dallas. Power was 1,500 watts at 660 feet above average terrain, a fraction of its current output.

The 90.9 spot traces its beginning to KCHU, a non-commercial FM that went on air August 29, 1975. KCHU operated until September 1977 when it went off air owing to financial shortfalls. The station remained silent through 1980, license renewal year in Texas. (Radio stations then operated on a three-year license cycle.) At the same time, Criswell operated KCBI-FM from a downtown Dallas rooftop with a power of 1,500 watts on 89.3. They aspired to raise power and height by relocating to the Cedar Hill, Texas, tower farm, and applied to take over the 90.9 frequency of KCHU. A legal and FCC struggle ensued. The result was a swap of frequencies, a settlement of litigation, and return of KCHU (renamed KNON) to the air as a new license.

From the early years through 2012, KCBI was generally programmed as a Christian Teaching station, featuring Bible teachers such as Chuck Swindoll, David Jeremiah, Tony Evans, Robert Jeffress and John MacArthur. With the format showing signs of decline, KCBI began shifting to a ‘more music and personalities’ format in 2013, highlighting Contemporary Christian artists such as Chris Tomlin, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns and Tobymac. The current version of KCBI's programming offers music and personalities throughout most of the day, and teaching ministries in the evening hours. Many of its original teaching programs continue to be aired on KCBI.

On September 5, 2017, the First Baptist Church in Dallas, operator of FDMI, ended a 41-year joint management of KCBI with Criswell College, and became the sole member of FDMI.

KCBI also is involved in community service on many levels, including an annual station initiative to provide Bibles to the Texas community, including prisons around the DFW area. KCBI was the 2017 National Religious Broadcasters "Station of the Year," an honor awarded at the NRB convention in Orlando.

On-Air Staff[edit]

Notable weekday hosts include mornings with Caryn & Jeremy Cruise, mid-days with Doug Hannah, and afternoons with Sonny Delfyette.

Other FDMI stations[edit]

FDMI also owns and operates KCBN in Hico, Texas, as well as the online KCBI All-Teaching Channel.

FDMI previously owned KCRN-AM-FM in San Angelo, Texas and KCBK in Frederick, Oklahoma, serving the Lawton/Wichita Falls area. In September 2018, the San Angelo stations were sold for $205,000 to Houston Christian Broadcasters and became KCCE AM and KSAO FM.^[2] KCBK, which was silent at the time, was sold the next week to South Central Oklahoma Christian Broadcasting for $250,000.^[3]

HD channels[edit]

In April 2023, KBCI started fundraising as it was a demand for 24/7 religious talk programming. The days of funding was success. On April 30, 2023, KCBI added HD2 subchannel as “KCBI’s All Teaching Channel.”

References[edit]

^ Radio-Locator.com/KCBI
^ "Deal Digest". Inside Radio. September 13, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
^ "Deal Digest". Inside Radio. September 20, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.

[1] Radio-Locator.com/KCBI

[2] "Deal Digest". Inside Radio. September 13, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.

[3] "Deal Digest". Inside Radio. September 20, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Religious radio stations in the state of Texas
KHCB Radio Network	KHCB-FM – Houston (English) KHCB – Galveston (Spanish) KHCH – Huntsville (Spanish & Asian) Satellite Stations KANJ – Giddings KHCJ – Jefferson KHCP – Paris KHIB – Bastrop KHKV – Kerrville KHML – Madisonville KHPO – Port O'Connor KHTA – Wake Village KHVT – Bloomington KKER – Kerrville KRTG – Carthage
EWTN Radio affiliates	Guadalupe Radio Network: KLPF – Midland KATH – Frisco KBKN – Lamesa KBMD – Marble Falls KJMA – Floresville KVDG – Midland (Spanish) KJON – Carrollton (Spanish) KWMF – Pleasanton (Spanish) Other affiliates: KDJW – Amarillo KEDC – Hearne KINF-LP – Palestine KOLF-LP – Plainview KOOV — Kempner KPIA-LP – Huntsville KYAR – Lorena
Other religious stations	K274BA - Paris KABA – Louise KACB-LP – College Station KACD-LP – Midland KAFR – Willis KAGA-LP – San Angelo KAGC – Bryan KAMY – Lubbock KANI – Wharton KAQD – Abilene KATG – Athens KAVO – Pampa KAVW – Amarillo KAVX – Lufkin KAWA – Sanger KAYK – Victoria KBAH – Plainview KBBW – Waco KBCX – Big Spring KBJS – Jacksonville KBMM – Odessa KBNR – Brownsville KBRZ-FM – Victoria KBUB – Brownwood KCAS – McCook KCCE – San Angelo KCKB – Moran KCKT – Crockett KCTA – Corpus Christi KDAE – Sinton KDEI – Port Arthur KDKR – Decatur KDRY – Alamo Heights KEHH – Livingston KELP – El Paso KEPI – Eagle Pass KEPX – Eagle Pass KFGG-LP – Marble Falls KFLB – Odessa KFLB – Odessa KGDL – Trent KGLY – Tyler KGOD-LP – Tenaha KGWP – Pittsburg KHFZ – Pittsburg KHIH – Liberty KHVU – Houston KIBL – Beeville KIJN – Farwell KIJN-FM – Farwell KIXL – Del Valle KJAV - Alamo KJHV-LP – Killeen KJRN – Keene KJRT – Amarillo KKHT – Winnie KLDS – Falfurrias KLFZ – Jacksonville KLTW – Winnie KLTY – Arlington KMAT – Seadrift KMEO – Mertzon KMOC – Wichita Falls KNNK – Dimmitt KNRB – Atlanta KOIR – Edinburg KOKE-FM – Thorndale KOUI – Mount Pleasant KPAS – Fabens KPCO-FM – Cooper KPDR – Wheeler KQUE-FM – Bay City KRBG – Umbarger KRCM – Shenandoah KRIO-FM – Roma KRYH-LP – Temple KSAO – San Angelo KSGR – Portland KSLR – San Antonio KTAA – Big Sany KTEK – Alvin KTMR – Edna KTMR – Converse KTMU – Muenster KTNZ – Amarillo KTXB – Beaumont KTYR – Trinity KVCE – Slaton KVDT – Allen/Dallas KVJS – Arroyo KVLM – Tarzan KVLX – Franklin KVMV – McAllen KVNE - Tyler KVUD – Bay City KVUJ – Lake Jackson KWAS – Borger KWLL – Gilmer KWRD-FM – Highland Village KXAI – Odem KXOI – Crane KXVX-LP – Sulphur Springs KYFB – Denison KYFP – Palestine KYFS – San Antonio KYJC – Commerce KZAI – Refugio KZFT – Fannett KZKV – Karnes City KZWL - Bullard
Defunct	KDSH-LP – Borger KHSP-LP – Killeen KKVI – Overland KOWJ-LP – Lufkin KTER – Rudolph
See also adult contemporary classic hits college country news/talk NPR oldies religious rock sports top 40 urban other radio stations in Texas See also Classical Jazz Religious Spanish Smooth Jazz Other