KBWG

KBWG
	Browning, Montana; United States;
Frequency	89.7 MHz
Branding	Thunder Radio
Programming
Format	Variety
Ownership
Owner	Blackfeet Tribe
History
First air date	November 20, 2010
Former call signs	KBWG-LP (2010–2024)
Former frequencies	107.5 MHz (2010–2024)
Call sign meaning	"Browning"
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	763408
Class	A
ERP	1,250 watts
HAAT	127 meters (417 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	48°42′22.7″N 113°6′1.2″W / 48.706306°N 113.100333°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Website	KBWG on Facebook

KBWG (89.7 MHz), known as Thunder Radio, is a radio station in Browning, Montana, United States, owned by the Blackfeet Tribe.

The station began as KBWG-LP 107.5, a low-power FM radio station, in 2004. It was owned by the town of Browning and initially broadcast emergency and weather information before the town received a grant in 2006 to upgrade the facility. It then began broadcasting classic country music.^[2] In 2010 and 2011, the station began broadcasting with live DJs and local news and sports programming, adopting the name Thunder Radio.^[3]^[4] By 2015, the station had more than two dozen volunteers.^[5]

The station temporarily shut down on January 14, 2016, amid the closure of City Hall and a dispute between the town of Browning and the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and discussions of a possible municipal bankruptcy filing for Browning.^[6] By March 2017, the town was in receivership, and Glacier County was evaluating spinning Thunder Radio off to a community board.^[7] The Blackfeet Tribe was owed $2.6 million by the town of Browning, and as part of a court-ordered settlement agreement in which the tribe acquired most of the town's assets, KBWG-LP was included.^[8]^[9]

The Blackfeet Tribe obtained a full-power license and replaced KBWG-LP with KBWG on 89.7 MHz in 2024. The tribe also holds the licenses for four other full-power stations on the reservation: KIYO 88.1 in St. Mary, KWRR 90.3 in Heart Butte, KIPP 90.7 in East Glacier Park Village, and KEOP 90.7 in Little Browning. These stations were on the air with Thunder Radio's programming by February 2025 and were built as part of a partnership with the University of Montana that also saw Montana Public Radio add a transmitter—KUFB 88.9—in Browning.^[10]

Simulcasts

Repeaters of KBWG
Call sign	Frequency	City of license	FID	ERP (W)	HAAT	Class	Transmitter coordinates	FCC info
KIYO	88.1 FM	St. Mary, Montana	763578	750	427 m (1,401 ft)	C3	48°40′7.8″N 113°23′10.7″W / 48.668833°N 113.386306°W / 48.668833; -113.386306 (KIYO)	LMS
KWRR	90.3 FM	Heart Butte, Montana	763582	250	103 m (338 ft)	A	48°18′1.6″N 112°52′46.4″W / 48.300444°N 112.879556°W / 48.300444; -112.879556 (KWRR)	LMS
KIPP	90.7 FM	East Glacier Park Village, Montana	763579	100	98 m (322 ft)	A	48°29′4.9″N 113°11′15.5″W / 48.484694°N 113.187639°W / 48.484694; -113.187639 (KIPP)	LMS
KEOP	90.7 FM	Little Browning, Montana	763581	100	2 m (6.6 ft)	A	48°37′40.3″N 112°20′52.6″W / 48.627861°N 112.347944°W / 48.627861; -112.347944 (KEOP)	LMS

References

^ "Facility Technical Data for KBWG". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ McGill, John (March 21, 2007). "Voice of Browning is now 107.5 FM". Glacier Reporter.
^ McGill, John (November 17, 2010). "Changes launched at Browning's radio station KBWG FM". Glacier Reporter.
^ McGill, John (January 19, 2011). "'Voice of Browning' radio station KBWG expanding". Glacier Reporter.
^ McGill, John (March 11, 2015). "KBWG-LP Thunder Radio seeking more DJs". Glacier Reporter.
^ McGill, John (January 20, 2016). "What's next? Bankruptcy or Disincorporating? Browning's City Hall closes its doors and radio station goes off the air". Glacier Reporter.
^ McGill, John (April 5, 2017). "Commissioners discuss creating board to operate Browning's Thunder Radio". Glacier Reporter.
^ Franz, Justin (September 20, 2017). "Browning to Sell Assets to Blackfeet Tribe as Town Dissolves". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
^ Jacobson, Adam (February 19, 2018). "Blackfeet Tribe Gets An LPFM From A Local Town". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
^ Heavy Runner, Martina (February 18, 2025). "Thunder Radio takes to the airwaves throughout Blackfeet Country". Cut Bank Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 14, 2026.

External links

Facility details for Facility ID 763408 (KBWG) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
KBWG in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
Facility details for Facility ID 763578 (KIYO) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
KIYO in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
Facility details for Facility ID 763579 (KWRR) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
KWRR in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
Facility details for Facility ID 763579 (KIPP) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
KIPP in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
Facility details for Facility ID 763581 (KEOP) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
KEOP in Nielsen Audio's FM station database

[FCC-LMS-763408-1] "Facility Technical Data for KBWG". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[2] McGill, John (March 21, 2007). "Voice of Browning is now 107.5 FM". Glacier Reporter.

[3] McGill, John (November 17, 2010). "Changes launched at Browning's radio station KBWG FM". Glacier Reporter.

[4] McGill, John (January 19, 2011). "'Voice of Browning' radio station KBWG expanding". Glacier Reporter.

[5] McGill, John (March 11, 2015). "KBWG-LP Thunder Radio seeking more DJs". Glacier Reporter.

[6] McGill, John (January 20, 2016). "What's next? Bankruptcy or Disincorporating? Browning's City Hall closes its doors and radio station goes off the air". Glacier Reporter.

[7] McGill, John (April 5, 2017). "Commissioners discuss creating board to operate Browning's Thunder Radio". Glacier Reporter.

[8] Franz, Justin (September 20, 2017). "Browning to Sell Assets to Blackfeet Tribe as Town Dissolves". Flathead Beacon. Retrieved February 16, 2025.

[9] Jacobson, Adam (February 19, 2018). "Blackfeet Tribe Gets An LPFM From A Local Town". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved February 15, 2025.

[cbpp-kbwgsimulcasts-10] Heavy Runner, Martina (February 18, 2025). "Thunder Radio takes to the airwaves throughout Blackfeet Country". Cut Bank Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 14, 2026.

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