KQBL

KQBL
Emmett, Idaho;
Broadcast area	Boise, Idaho
Frequency	101.9 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	101.9 The Bull
Programming
Format	Country
Subchannels	HD1: KQBL analog; HD2: Active rock "99.1 I-Rock"; HD3: Alternative rock "96.5 The Alternative"
Affiliations	Compass Media Networks
Ownership
Owner	Iliad Media Group Holdings Employee Stock Ownership Trust; (Iliad Media Group Holdings Inc.);
Sister stations	KIKX, KIRQ, KKOO, KSRV-FM, KTPZ, KWYD, KYUN, KZMG, KQBL-HD3, KSRV-HD2
History
First air date	April 4, 1973 (as KMFE at 101.7)
Former call signs	KMFE (1973–1984); KXUU (1984–1985); KKIC-FM (1985–1988); KJHY (1988–2005); KDBI (2005–2015); KPDA (1/2015–2/2015)
Former frequencies	101.7 MHz (1973–1986)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	54509
Class	C
ERP	57,000 watts
HAAT	772 meters (2,533 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	43°45′18″N 116°5′52″W / 43.75500°N 116.09778°W
Translator(s)	99.1 K256CZ (Boise, relays HD2); 96.5 K243BM (Boise, relays HD3)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen Live; Listen Live (HD2); Listen Live (HD3)
Website	boisebull.com; rockboise.com (HD2); altboise.com (HD3)

KQBL (101.9 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Emmett, Idaho, United States, that serves the Boise metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by the Iliad Media Group Holdings Employee Stock Ownership Trust, through licensee Iliad Media Group Holdings Inc. Known as 101.9 The Bull, it broadcasts a country music format.^[2]

KQBL broadcasts in HD Radio.^[3] Its subchannels are HD2 "99.1 I-Rock", broadcasting an active rock format, and HD3 "96.5 The Alternative", broadcasting an alternative rock format. The studios and offices are on East Franklin Road in Nampa.

History

The station went on the air as KMFE on April 4, 1973 at 101.7 FM. On October 4, 1984 the station changed its call sign to KXUU, then on March 19, 1985, the station changed its call sign to KKIC-FM, then on February 26, 1988, to KJHY, on January 20, 2005, to KDBI, & on January 14, 2015, to KPDA, then a month later to the current KQBL.^[4]

Bustos Media used to own the station. In September 2010, Bustos transferred most of its licenses to Adelante Media Group as part of a settlement with its lenders.^[5] Adelante Media sold KDBI and KQTA to JLD Media, LLC effective December 31, 2014, at a price of $850,000.

On January 16, 2015, KDBI and its "La Gran D" regional Mexican format moved to 106.3 FM, while 101.9 FM changed its call sign to KPDA and began stunting with a loop directing listeners to 106.3.^[6]

KPDA then continued to stunt, playing random music, then construction site sound effects before “101.9 The Bull” launched on February 13, 2015, at midnight with a country music format under a new KQBL call sign.^[7]^[8] FM Idaho Co., LLC acquired the station effective March 2, 2015, at a price of $700,000.

101.9 The Bull

Since its launch in 2015, 101.9 The Bull has seen steady growth in ratings across the Boise metropolitan area. In 2022, it had one of the highest overall Nielsen ratings for any Boise station in several years, while maintaining its spot as Boise's #1 country music station.

As of June 2023, the station's weekday lineup features Mee in the Morning with Kevin and Brenda Mee from 6:00 AM until 10:00 AM, Midday Bull Ride with Mona from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, and Afternoon Bull Ride with Rick Dunn from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM.