Salem Media Surrenders Dallas AM License, Shifts Focus

KTNO 620 Plano/Dallas license returned as AM radio faces changing landscape

Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:55am

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A minimalist studio still life photograph featuring a vintage radio transmitter, a microphone, and a stack of audio tapes arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the evolving media landscape.As traditional radio stations adapt to changing listener habits, the surrender of an AM license signals a strategic shift in the industry.Dallas Today

Salem Media, a major player in Christian and conservative talk radio, has surrendered the license for its KTNO 620 AM station in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This move reflects the broader challenges facing AM radio as audio consumption habits evolve, with a shift towards FM, streaming, and digital platforms. The fate of KTNO's translator station suggests Salem is prioritizing the amplification of its successful conservative talk format on KSKY 660 AM.

Why it matters

Salem's decision to surrender the KTNO license is a symbolic move that highlights the fading dominance of AM radio, even for established players like Salem. As audio consumption habits continue to shift, traditional broadcasters must adapt their strategies to remain relevant, often by focusing resources on their strongest formats and platforms.

The details

KTNO 620 AM had been simulcasting Salem's Christian preaching format from KWRD-FM. The station's history dates back to 1939 in Wichita Falls, later moving to Dallas in 1996 as a Standards station (KAAM) and then a Radio Disney outlet (KMKI) before being acquired by Salem for $3 million in 2015. Now, Salem is surrendering the KTNO license, contracting its Dallas-Fort Worth footprint from six stations to just two - KWRD-FM and conservative talk station KSKY 660 AM. However, Salem is reallocating KTNO's translator, 102.5 K273BJ Dallas, to strengthen the reach of KSKY, demonstrating a strategic focus on its successful conservative talk format.

  • KTNO 620 AM first went on the air in 1939 in Wichita Falls.
  • The station moved to Dallas in 1996, operating as KAAM and KMKI before being acquired by Salem in 2015 for $3 million.
  • Salem is now surrendering the KTNO license in 2026.

The players

Salem Media

A major media company that specializes in Christian and conservative talk radio programming, operating stations across the United States.

KTNO 620 AM

A radio station in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that was owned and operated by Salem Media, simulcasting the company's Christian preaching format from KWRD-FM.

KSKY 660 AM

A conservative talk radio station owned and operated by Salem Media in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

K273BJ 102.5 FM

A translator station that had been rebroadcasting the KTNO 620 AM signal, and is now slated to rebroadcast the KSKY 660 AM conservative talk format.

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What’s next

Salem has not announced any specific plans for the future of the 620 AM frequency or the KTNO call letters. The company's focus appears to be on strengthening its conservative talk format on KSKY 660 AM through the reallocation of the KTNO translator station.

The takeaway

Salem Media's decision to surrender the KTNO 620 AM license in Dallas reflects the broader challenges facing traditional AM radio stations as audio consumption habits evolve. This move suggests that even established players in the industry must be willing to adapt their strategies and focus resources on their strongest formats and platforms to remain relevant in the changing media landscape.