KGBT-FM

KGBT-FM
	McAllen, Texas; United States;
Broadcast area	Rio Grande Valley
Frequency	98.5 MHz
Branding	KGBT 98.5 La Preferida
Programming
Format	Regional Mexican
Ownership
Owner	Latino Media Network; (Latino Media Network, LLC);
Sister stations	KBTQ; KYWW;
History
First air date	October 4, 1966
Former call signs	KQXX (1966–1997)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	6662
Class	C
ERP	100,000 watts
HAAT	304 meters (997 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	26°08′57″N 97°49′19″W / 26.1492°N 97.8219°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live (via iHeartRadio)

KGBT-FM (98.5 MHz) is an American radio station in McAllen, Texas, United States, owned by Latino Media Network, which offers a regional Mexican music format^[2] The station has had a regional Mexican format since 1997. Its studios are located in McAllen, Texas, while its transmitter is located in La Feria, Texas.

History

The 98.5 frequency went on the air October 4, 1966, as the Rio Broadcasting Company's KQXX (though the permit was known as KABG-FM before going on the air).^[3] KQXX maintained studios in the Casa de Palmas Hotel in McAllen. One of the founders was Ed Gomez, a local radio and TV personality who went on to be elected a Hidalgo County judge. The station changed formats from country to Spanish.

In 1980, Bravo Broadcasting bought KQXX and increased its power to the present 100,000 watts. A new Rio Broadcasting Company acquired the station in 1990. Tichenor acquired the station in 1996 and rechristened it as KGBT-FM on January 20, 1997.

Latino Media Network purchased KGBT-FM from TelevisaUnivision in 2022 as part of a larger $60 million deal.^[4] Under a local marketing agreement, it continued to be programmed by TelevisaUnivision's Uforia Audio Network until the spring of 2023.

References

↑ "Facility Technical Data for KGBT-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
↑ "KGBT-FM 98.5 MHz - McAllen, TX". radio-locator.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
↑ "New FM Station To Begin Broadcasting". Valley Evening Monitor. McAllen, Texas. October 2, 1966. p. 7A. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Venta, Lance (November 21, 2022). "FCC Approves Latino Media Network Purchase Of 18 Univision Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 11, 2025.

External links

FCC History Cards for KGBT-FM
FCC FM Query Results for KGBT-FM
Facility details for Facility ID 6662 (KGBT-FM) in the FCC Licensing and Management System

KGBT-FM in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

This article about a radio station in Texas is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[FCC-LMS-6662-1] "Facility Technical Data for KGBT-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[2] "KGBT-FM 98.5 MHz - McAllen, TX". radio-locator.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.

[3] "New FM Station To Begin Broadcasting". Valley Evening Monitor. McAllen, Texas. October 2, 1966. p. 7A. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.

[ri-saletolmn-4] Venta, Lance (November 21, 2022). "FCC Approves Latino Media Network Purchase Of 18 Univision Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved March 11, 2025.

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v t e Spanish-language radio stations in the state of Texas
Stations	KABA – Louise KAIQ – Wolfforth KAMA – El Paso KAMA-FM – Deer Park KAMV – Benbrook KBDR – Mirando City KBEX - Dalhart KBIB – Marion KBIC – Raymondville KBNA-FM – El Paso KBNL – Laredo KBNR – Brownsville KBOC – Bridgeport KBRZ-FM – Victoria KBZO - Lubbock KCHX – Odessa KCOT – Cotulla KCZO – Carrizo Springs KDFM – Falfurrias KDFT – Ferris KDRN – Del Rio KDXX – Lewisville KEPI – Eagle Pass KEPX – Eagle Pass KESS - Port Arthur KEWP – Uvalde Estates KEYH – Houston KFLC – Fort Worth KFTG – Pasadena KFZO – Denton KGBT-FM – McAllen KGFZ - Burke KGSR - Cedar Park KGVL – Greenville KHFZ – Pittsburgh KHRO – El Paso KHVU – Houston KIBL – Beeville KINE – Kingsville KINT – El Paso KIRT – Mission KJOZ - Conroe KLAR – Laredo KLAT – Houston KLBD – Premont KLDS – Falfurrias KLEY-FM – Jourdanton KLFZ – Jacksonville KLIT – Ranchitos Las Lomas KLJA – Georgetown KLOL – Houston KLQB – Taylor KLTD - Temple KLTN – Houston KLTW - Winnie KLVL – Pasadena KLZT – Bastrop KMFR – Pearsall KMVK – Fort Worth KMXO – Merkel KMYO - Comfort KNOR – Krum KNTE – Bay City KNVO-FM – Port Isabel KOIR – Edinburg KOKE-FM - Thorndale KOPY - Alice KOVE-FM – Galveston KOYE – Frankston KPCO-FM – Cooper KPMB – Plainview KQBO – Rio Grande City KQFX - Borger/Amarillo KQLM – Odessa KQQK – Beaumont KQUE – Houston KRCM – Shenandoah KRGE – Weslaco KRGC – Rio Grande City KRIO – McAllen KRIO-FM – Roma KROB – Robstown KROI - Seabrook/Houston KROM – San Antonio KRVA – Cockrell Hill KSAH – Universal City KSAH-FM – Pearsall KSJT-FM – San Angelo KSML-FM – Huntington KSTV – Stephenville KSVE – El Paso KTAE - Elgin KTAM – Bryan KTJM – Port Arthur KTLH – Hallsville KTNZ – Amarillo KTXO - Goldsmith KTXX-FM - Bee Cave KTXZ – West Lake Hills KTYR – Trinity KUBR – San Juan KUNO – Corpus Christi KVER – El Paso KVFM – Beeville KVIV – El Paso KVJM – Hearne KVJY – Pharr KVOZ – Del Mar Hills KVUD – Bay City KVUJ – Lake Jackson KVVO-LP – Abilene KVVT – Sulphur Springs KWBT – Waco KWEL – Midland KWMF – Pleasanton KWOW – Clifton KWRA-LP – Waco KXBJ – El Campo KXOI – Crane KXTN – San Antonio KXVR-LP – Corpus Christi KXZX-LP – Juilliard KXZY-LP – Waco KYLP-LP – Greenville KYST – Texas City KYWW – Harlingen KZAM – Pleasant Valley KZDC – San Antonio KZEP-FM - San Antonio KZIP - Amarillo KZNX – Creedmoor KZZA – Muenster
Defunct	KERB-FM – Kermit KJNZ – Hereford KJOJ-FM – Freeport KMUL – Farwell KOZA – Odessa KPDB – Big Lake KTNO – Plano KXPL – El Paso
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