KARS (AM)
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| City | Belen, New Mexico |
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| Broadcast area | Albuquerque area |
| Branding | Area 102.9 |
| Slogan | Shut up and rock |
| Frequency | 840 kHz |
| Translator(s) | 102.9 K275AO (Albuquerque) |
| First air date | 1961 (at 860) |
| Format | Active Rock |
| Power | 840: 1,800 watts (day) 30 watts (night) |
| ERP | 102.9: 990 watts |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 25528 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 35°00′31″N 106°42′52″W / 35.00861°N 106.71444°WCoordinates: 35°00′31″N 106°42′52″W / 35.00861°N 106.71444°W |
| Callsign meaning | K ARea S |
| Former frequencies | 860 kHz (1961-2013) |
| Owner | American General Media (AGM-Nevada, LLC.) |
| Sister stations | KABG, KAGM, KDLW, KHFM, KLVO, KSFE |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | area1029.com |
KARS (840 AM) is a radio station licensed to Belen, New Mexico, United States, which also serves the Albuquerque area. The station is owned by American General Media. KARS also broadcasts on FM translator K275AO at 102.9 MHz at 99 watts from atop Sandia Crest. KARS airs an active rock format branded as "Area 102-9". The station does not feature any on-air personalities.
Its studios are located in Northeast Albuquerque and the transmitter tower for KARS is located in South Valley, New Mexico.
KARS used to broadcast at 860 kHz at 1,300 watts during the day and 185 watts at night. The signal in Albuquerque had been a bit weak there during daytime hours and was even harder (but not impossible) to hear at night due to its transmitter being located near Belen about 40 miles south of Albuquerque and using low levels of power. However the station mostly served the Valencia County area and did not really target Albuquerque.
KARS has featured a variety of programming over the years from Classic Country and Spanish-language programming as well as community information for Belen and other parts of Valencia County. In 2010 it began airing an Adult Standards format and later featured some religious programs before changing to the all news format in April 2012. The station used to brand itself as "The Heart of New Mexico".
From April 2012 until March 2013 KARS broadcast an all news format with most of its content coming from Talk Radio Networks "America's Radio News". Local news, weather and traffic reports were featured in the mornings and afternoons.
KARS had filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to move to 840 kHz at a new transmitter site, increase day power to 1,800 watts and decrease night power to 30 watts. A construction permit to make these changes was granted by the FCC on January 17, 2013. This upgrade also allows for it to re-broadcast on FM translator K275AO on 102.9 at 990 watts from atop Sandia Crest.
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