KGUM (AM)

KGUM
Broadcast areaGuam
Frequency567 kHz
BrandingNews Talk K57
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatNews/Talk radio
AffiliationsCBS Radio News
Ownership
OwnerSorensen Pacific Broadcasting, Inc.
History
First air date
February 1975 (as KATB)
Last air date
October 12, 2023
Former call signs
KATB (1975-1981)
Call sign meaning
Guam
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID60853
ClassB
Power10,000 watts (unlimited)
Transmitter coordinates
13°23′28″N 144°45′42″E / 13.39111°N 144.76167°E / 13.39111; 144.76167
Translator(s)96.5 K243CS (Agana)
Links
Public license information
Websitek57.com

KGUM (567 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve the community of Hagåtña, Guam.

Owned by Sorensen Media Group, it broadcasts a news/talk format branded as News Talk K57. Although KGUM broadcasts on 567 kHz, most U.S. radios tune in 10 kHz increments only; the station has thus marketed itself as being on the next nearest frequency, 570. Stations in Guam fall within the jurisdiction of the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975, instead of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement used in the U.S. mainland and Hawaii.

KGUM's sister stations include FM stations KZGZ and KGUM-FM, TV stations KTGM and KEQI-LD, and additional stations in the Northern Mariana Islands.

History

KATB went on the air in February 1975. It was owned by Magof, Inc., a company of A. T. Bordallo. Bordallo died in 1977, and the station was transferred to his estate. K-57 Radio bought the station in 1981, relaunching it as K57 Radio with the new callsign of KGUM. Four years later, KGUM began using the name News Talk K57.

In 1992, KGUM began broadcasting with 10,000 watts.

A storm knocked down KGUM's tower in January 2016, requiring the station to broadcast under special temporary authority with 5,000 watts.

On October 12, 2023, Sorensen Media Group opted to sell the station to Glimpse Media, and after a lot of speculation about the station's future. On the next day, radio station signed off together with sister stations KGUM-FM, KZGU and KZGZ, due to format changes.

Programming

K57 carries CBS News Radio every hour around the clock and provides hourly local news updates from Sorensen's Pacific News Center (PNC) during local programming. PNC's nightly TV newscast is simulcast on K57.

K57's weekday daytime and Saturday morning hours are dedicated to locally produced talk shows, while nationally syndicated programs play overnight, Saturday afternoons and Sunday.


  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KGUM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.