K251AU is an

FM translator A broadcast relay station, also known as a satellite station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator (U.S.), re-broadcaster (Canada), repeater (two-way radio) or complementary station (Mexico), is a broadcast transmitter which repeats (or tra ...

radio station that serves the Albuquerque, New Mexico area. It broadcasts at 98.1 MHz with a 165 watt signal from atop

Sandia Crest Sandia Crest, also known locally as Sandia Peak or simply as the Crest, is a mountain ridge that, at , is the highpoint of the Sandia–Manzano Mountains, and is located in the Sandia Mountains of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States ...

, sending a somewhat strong signal into much of the city. Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque. Currently this translator is re-broadcasting programming from the HD2 subchannel of

KBQI KBQI (107.9 FM, "Big I 107.9") is a radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico which carries a country music format, owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque, and the transmitter tower is located atop Sandia C ...

(107.9 FM).

History

K251AU began broadcasting in January 2007 with programming from KBNM-LP (98.7 FM), a low-powered radio station based in Belen, New Mexico offering a non-commercial

oldies Oldies is a term for musical genres such as pop music, rock and roll, doo-wop, surf music (broadly characterized as classic rock and pop rock) from the second half of the 20th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1980s, as ...

music format. At the time, the translator was running at just 10 watts, and often encountered interference problems with the full-powered

KBAC KBAC (98.1 FM, "Radio Free Santa Fe") is a commercial radio station located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, broadcasting to the Santa Fe, New Mexico, area. KBAC airs an adult album alternative music format. KBAC has a playlist that is more eclectic ...

out of

Las Vegas, New Mexico Las Vegas is a city in and the county seat of San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities (one a city and the other a town), both were named Las Vegas—West Las Vegas ("Old Town") and East Las Vegas ("New Town ...

. There were also times when the station would be on air with no programming. In April 2013, Clear Channel Communications purchased K251AU from Maria Candelaria for $170,000. At that time it also applied for a construction permit to upgrade the signal to 165 watts. On June 17, 2013 the upgraded signal went on the air stunting with a Christmas music format as "Santa 98.1". On June 21, 2013, K251AU became the new home for the

classic country Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country and western music hits from past decades. Repertoire The radio format specializes in hits from the 1950s through the early 1980s, and focus primarily on innov ...

format that had previously aired on KABQ-FM (104.7 FM) since May 2, 2009. On June 30, 2016, K251AU and KBQI-HD2 rebranded as "98.1 The Bull".Classic Country 98.1 Albuquerque Rebrands as the Bull
Radioinsight - June 30, 2016

Former logo

References

External links

* * {{IHeartMedia Classic country radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 2007 251AU IHeartMedia radio stations