KCBI began with its antenna atop the First International Building in downtown Dallas. Power was 1,500 watts at 660 feet above average terrain, a fraction of its current output.
The 90.9 spot traces its beginning to KCHU, a non-commercial FM that went on air August 29, 1975. KCHU operated until September 1977 when it went off air owing to financial shortfalls. The station remained silent through 1980, license renewal year in Texas. (Radio stations then operated on a three-year license cycle.) At the same time, Criswell operated KCBI-FM from a downtown Dallas rooftop with a power of 1,500 watts on 89.3. They aspired to raise power and height by relocating to the Cedar Hill, Texas, tower farm, and applied to take over the 90.9 frequency of KCHU. A legal and FCC struggle ensued. The result was a swap of frequencies, a settlement of litigation, and return of KCHU (renamed KNON) to the air as a new license.
Christian teaching and music
From the early years through 2012, KCBI was generally programmed as a Christian Talk and Teaching station. It featured religious leaders with national preaching shows, such as Chuck Swindoll, David Jeremiah, Tony Evans and John MacArthur.
With younger listeners more interested in music than preaching, KCBI began shifting to a ‘more music and personalities’ format in 2013. It plays Contemporary Christian artists such as Chris Tomlin, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns and Tobymac. The current version of KCBI's programming offers music and personalities throughout most of the day, and teaching ministries in the evening, night and late morning hours. Many of its original teaching programs continue to be aired on KCBI.
On September 5, 2017, the First Baptist Church in Dallas, operator of FDMI, ended a 41-year joint management of KCBI with Criswell College, and became the sole member of FDMI.
KCBI also is involved in community service, including an annual station initiative to provide Bibles to listeners, including in prisons around the DFW area. KCBI was the 2017 National Religious Broadcasters "Station of the Year," an honor awarded at the NRB convention in Orlando.
KCBI personalities
Weekday hosts include mornings with Caryn & Jeremy Cruise, middays with Doug Hannah, and afternoons with Sonny Delfyette.
FDMI also owns and operates 107.7 KCBN in Hico, Texas, serving communities southwest of Fort Worth. And 92.9 KZBI in Marlin, serving the Waco-Templeradio markets. It also has the KCBI All-Teaching Channel, on line and on the HD2 subchannel of KCBI.
In April 2023, KBCI started fundraising as it was a demand for 24/7 religious talk programming. The days of funding was success. On April 30, 2023, KCBI added HD2 subchannel as “KCBI’s All Teaching Channel.”
