Another Chico Newbie: Radio101.7

sandiegoinexile · Sep 29, 2013

Seems that the change from the inane babbling-blatherhead Fox Sports Radio to jock-free alternative happened earlier this week. 101.7FM and 1340AM are now ID'd as KVXX, AKA "Radio1017". Radio1017 is a format clone of Radio947 in Sacramento, no jocks, few commercials (I heard none over the course of four hours of listening), and an alternative format mix with alternative-ish pop tossed into the mix. I have been a major fanboy of Radio947 for a couple years, so this is a great change for me. Chico hasn't had an alternative station in years, and Z-Rock can skew too devil-worship-y for my tastes

I couldn't find their website, but the old station Facebook has four complaint postings from September 25, along with replies from "former" staff citing that the stations were sold to Huth Broadcasting in Marysville a few months ago.

ETA:
http://www.chicoer.com/breakingnews/ci_24166247/radio-stations-101-7-fm-1340-am-cut
http://www.kpay.com/baca-blog/73264
http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/ch...mes/-/14322302/22108108/-/6o3js1/-/index.html
http://www.actionnewsnow.com/conten...s-Silent-in-Chico/eSRI3krDDEGvOVnJaEjtsg.cspx

stewie · Sep 30, 2013

sandiegoinexile said:
Seems that the change from the inane babbling-blatherhead Fox Sports Radio to jock-free alternative happened earlier this week. 101.7FM and 1340AM are now ID'd as KVXX, AKA "Radio1017". Radio1017 is a format clone of Radio947 in Sacramento, no jocks, few commercials (I heard none over the course of four hours of listening), and an alternative format mix with alternative-ish pop tossed into the mix. I have been a major fanboy of Radio947 for a couple years, so this is a great change for me. Chico hasn't had an alternative station in years, and Z-Rock can skew too devil-worship-y for my tastes

I couldn't find their website, but the old station Facebook has four complaint postings from September 25, along with replies from "former" staff citing that the stations were sold to Huth Broadcasting in Marysville a few months ago.

ETA:
http://www.chicoer.com/breakingnews/ci_24166247/radio-stations-101-7-fm-1340-am-cut
http://www.kpay.com/baca-blog/73264
http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/ch...mes/-/14322302/22108108/-/6o3js1/-/index.html
http://www.actionnewsnow.com/conten...s-Silent-in-Chico/eSRI3krDDEGvOVnJaEjtsg.cspx

I was wondering when the change would happen. Wonder how alternative sounds on 1340 KEWE?

I don't think they know what to do with 1340.

sandiegoinexile · Sep 30, 2013

<<<Wonder how alternative sounds on 1340 KEWE?>>>

Scratchy and tin-ny. I also noticed that the 101seven signal fades/hisses quite a bit while in Chico proper. I didn't recall that during the short-lived Top40 Hits days of a couple years ago. It's much stronger between the 5 and Chico city limit.

stewie · Oct 1, 2013

sandiegoinexile said:
<<<Wonder how alternative sounds on 1340 KEWE?>>>

Scratchy and tin-ny. I also noticed that the 101seven signal fades/hisses quite a bit while in Chico proper. I didn't recall that during the short-lived Top40 Hits days of a couple years ago. It's much stronger between the 5 and Chico city limit.

I'm familiar with the TX site for 101.7, I was once the engineer long before 101.7 came to existence. It's on the same tower as KMXI 95.1. At 500W, it should cover Chico without issue. Do you hear picket fences as you cruise around town?

sandiegoinexile · Oct 1, 2013

The 101seven signal doesn't cut in and out. It's more a constant low-grade hiss or "muffling", as if the station is wrapped in a blanket. KMXI is much much louder and crystal clear (as is the New Jack). Even with the sketchy reception, I love having a Radio94seven clone without having to drive south of Williams/LiveOak.

stewie · Oct 2, 2013

sandiegoinexile said:
The 101seven signal doesn't cut in and out. It's more a constant low-grade hiss or "muffling", as if the station is wrapped in a blanket. KMXI is much much louder and crystal clear (as is the New Jack). Even with the sketchy reception, I love having a Radio94seven clone without having to drive south of Williams/LiveOak.

Two things, I believe they had the pilot off which will account for the lack of brilliance and stereo for that matter.

There could also be an issue with the STL they're using. Hard to say but the way you explain it makes it sound like an issue with the air chain.

stewie · Oct 16, 2013

stewie said:
Two things, I believe they had the pilot off which will account for the lack of brilliance and stereo for that matter. There could also be an issue with the STL they're using. Hard to say but the way you explain it makes it sound like an issue with the air chain.

I took my first listen of Radio 101.7 yesterday. Station sounds really flat. I suspect they're still dialing things in. If you guys need help, call me.

sandiegoinexile · Oct 16, 2013

I can't vouch for the rest of the day, but every morning for the past week, the songs are exactly the same, so its clearly a recorded loop of some type. The Killers' "All These Things That I've Done" plays at roughly 8:11A, give or take a minute or two. The song preceding it and the one directly after has also been the same. My morning commute is just 10 minutes, but I suspect the entire hour is the same. I haven't noticed an exact trend for the afternoon commute.

The station was off the air Tuesday afternoon for at least an hour. Dead air on both AM/FM, though Jack was still on air.

Still commercial free, so I won't complain too much, despite the "muffled-ness". They do have a facebook account set up, though it can't be found via search. I had to type in facebook (dot) com (slash) radio1017. Ten Likes. The graphics indicate their site is kvxxFM.com, which doesn't exist.