What Would YOU In Your City/Town/Region If You Had The Clout ??

[JeeperOne]

In keeping with a similar thread on the National TV board, I figured I'd start one here to get the ball rolling on the radio side. Here's what I'd do if I had the clout here in the Denver/Boulder area.....

AM

KKZN 760 - Strike a deal with Salem to buy the 990 frequency, move EVERYTHING (Including the call & license) there & take this frequency off the air

KOA 850 - Drop the talk shows & convert to 24/7 All News ALA 1010 WINS, KNX 1070, etc & simulcast on 106.7 FM (They can still keep Fox News Radio for network news or iHeartMedia can utilize its 24/7 news service & start ITS OWN network designed for such stations)

KRWZ 950 - Add 70s music to the mix (If they don't already do this) & simulcast on 103.1 as KRWZ-FM "Crusin' 103"

KRKS 990 - Sell the frequency (But NOT the license as that likely won't fly with the FCC) to iHeartMedia who will then move KKZN & its current format to 990

KEZW 1430 - Drop the Adult Standards format for either Liberal Talk (ALA Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Bill Press etc) with brokered talk overnights & weekends OR a simulcast of KALC 105.9 FM as a Hot Talker. Either way, flip to a format that appeals to a much younger demographic

KBJD 1650 - Pick up the syndicated talk shows dropped by KOA 850 in its transition to 24/7 All News

KDDZ 1690 Strike a deal with the owner of 96.5 FM & sell 1690 on the condition that it remain with Radio Disney AND that Radio Disney is simulcast on 06.5

FM

KCKK 93.7 - Replace the translator with a full powered city grade transmittter & turn up the power. Next, I'd replace the current hybrid AC format for Smooth Jazz/NACsince Denver DESPERATELY needs one of these. I'd also bring back the old KJCD call letters & brand it as either CD 93.7 or CD 94

KRKS 94.7 - I'd upgrade the transmitter & then drop the Godcaster format for Sports Talk powered by Mile High Sports BUT I'd replace Yahoo! Sports Radio with CBS Sports Radio due to the pro gun agenda of some of the YSR hosts (Which WILL NOT fly here)

KXPK 96.5 - I'd drop the mexican format for either Smooth Jazz/NAC (As KJCD with the CD 96,5 moniker) or a Soft Rock/AC format (Depending on what the Hunts do with KCKK 93.7)

If an AC format is chosen here, I'd go local for the drive times but go with Radio Disney at all other times & become Radio Disney 96.5 with a continuing simulcast on AM 1690

KBCO 97.3 / KRFX 103.5 - Merge the two stations into one since they largely play much THE SAME music anyuway. As such (And in short), this move would eliminate the redundancy

KQMT 99.5 - Drop Classic Rock (Where THEY SUCK) for Classic Hits (Where they may ACTUALLY have a chance) & rebrand it as "Big 99.5" or "99.5 BIG FM"

103.1 Translator - Replace the translator equipment with full powered city grade transmitter equipment & become the FM side of KRWZ AM 950 as KRWZ-FM 7 use the "Crusin' 103" moniker

KRFX 103.5 - See KBCO 97.3 except replace classic Rock with Soft Rock/AC & bring back the old KOAQ call & rebrand as Q 103. If that's not an option, then bring back the old KSYY call & rebrand as "Sunny 103"

KALC 105.9 / KQKS 107.5 - Either keep the Hot AC format (But tweak it a little) or move the Hot AC format to 107.5 & flip to a Hot Talk format with brokered talk to fill in programming gaps

KBPI 106.7 - Kill the Rock format (And reitre the KBPI call) & replace with an FM simulcast of KOA 850 with the All News 106.7 brandsing iHeartMedia can still keep Fox News Radio for network news or iHeartMedia can utilize its 24/7 news service & start ITS OWN network designed for such stations)

KQKS 107.5 - Either tweak the current format whereas it's more in line with similar stations around the cound the country or COMPLETELY DUMP IT ALTOGETHER in favor of the Hot Talk with brokered talk filling in programming gaps as proposed for KALC 105.9

Those are my ideas for the Denver/Boulder area. What are yours ?? What would YOU in YOUR City/Town/Region ??

Let's have some fun with this & see if we can't wake up TPTB

Cheers & 73

 

[mimo]

For Ottawa, Canada, I'd do the following:

AM

540 Bring back 54 rock and the original CJSB calls. When the station moved to 106.9 they couldn't simulcast on 540, and since they've dropped rock Ottawa rockers are begging for a local rock station. Many said on facebook that they would put up with an AM signal to hear their music, so I'm calling them out.

630. A simulcast with 92.3 CJET who was originally on the frequency, but since the FM flip, has lost 90% of it's Ottawa coverage.

910 Bring back CBC radio one, currently at 91.5 to it's former frequency. I know they moved to 920 in the 70's, but 910 khz would give some breathing room between it and the future 940 from Montreal which will deliver a good signal into Ottawa. Turn 91.5 into a nested repeater.

1150. Once home to a French talk station that has moved to 104.7 FM. I'd move it back and either delete 104.7 (not a great signal) or sell the frequency to someone else.

1250. Radio Canada's premiere Chaine's former home. Now at 90.7, bring it back to 1250 and turn 90.7 into a nested repeater.

1310 Go back to all news. All news in the drive times, a local talk show and sports talk the rest of the time shows the station doesn't really have an identity. We already have sports on 1200, so one local station is enough. They can keep the Blue Jays games.

1350 the now former home of Radio VM, a translator for a Montreal station that was quite good. The problem was poor equipment and management unwilling to make it work. Bring it back, and get some new equipment, not some second hand stuff that broke down fairly often.

FM

88.5 Go harder. An alt rock station that seems to lean more AAA. There's a lot of music on the alternative charts they won't touch. They need to play all the new rock and alternative. Drop the 90's grunge, it's tired and worn out. Drop the top 40 stuff too. You're alternative, not a pop station.

92.7 a low powered French language Christian music station. This would go off the air and be replaced by suburban 92.5 who could move their and up the power.

93.9 go back to Classic hits, 80's and 90's and drop the recent country format they adopted.

95.7 the so called Voices radio. Supposed to be a station for the first nations people in the region but does almost nothing for them Only one day of programming focused on native people and issues, the rest of the time it's a mix of hit music, rock and classic hits, with no aboriginal artists. This station was off the air after October, but came back on today, and is probably going to be losing it's license. I'd pull it off the air since it refuses to adhere to it's condition of license, and instead I'd give the frequency to 96.5.

96.5, move to 95.7 and let 96.5 go silent. 96.5 is too low powered to really be competitive or heard in much of the city. That would also eliminate the need for the east end repeater at 107.5

97.9. Supposed to be an ethnic station but for 12 hours a day is a relay of China Radio International. Either drop the CRI programming or give up your license. Should they remain on the air, their tower MUST move out of downtown to the regular FM antenna farm most of the other stations use

98.5 Move your tower out of downtown to the main antenna farm or lose the license. The station causes too much damage to reception of most of the FM dial in the inner city.

99.1 A Christian hit music station that would lose it's license. Maybe could relocate to 1630 AM at 1000 watts.

99.7. Move to the main antenna farm. Nice station, poor signal downtown.

104.7 would go silent after moving back to 1150 AM

106.9 4 CHR stations is too many, go back to rock and simulcast on 540.

107.9 A massive power increase from 100 to at least 3000 watts, tower relocated to the main antenna farm. The suburban station at 107.7 could be moved to 104.7

 

[Ravens]

KEZW 1430 - Drop the Adult Standards format for either Liberal Talk (ALA Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Bill Press etc) with brokered talk overnights & weekends OR a simulcast of KALC 105.9 FM as a Hot Talker. Either way, flip to a format that appeals to a much younger demographic

Hot Talk maybe, but younger people don't want to hear angry 70 year old men yell about liberal stuff, either.

 

[Oscar Madison]

I'm not sure what anybody to accomplish with their fantasy line-ups. Personal preferences? Max profits? Or just some idea of what's the right "design?"

A more realistic question would be what you would do if you can the dominant cluster in your market?

 

[JeeperOne]

Hot Talk maybe, but younger people don't want to hear angry 70 year old men yell about liberal stuff, either.

Actually the majority of young people ARE Liberal & CANNOT STAND Conservatives like Rush Limbaugh. Yet when it comes to Talk Radio, their voices are being silenced by corporate radio America

Why do you think they've turned to online shows like The Young Turks or MSNBC on cable TV ??

Cheers & 73

 

[Ravens]

Actually the majority of young people ARE Liberal & CANNOT STAND Conservatives like Rush Limbaugh. Yet when it comes to Talk Radio, their voices are being silenced by corporate radio America

Why do you think they've turned to online shows like The Young Turks or MSNBC on cable TV ??

Cheers & 73

That's the point. They haven't. No one is watching MSNBC or the Young Turks (who are reduced to a Youtube channel). As bad as talk's numbers are, those numbers are even less.

 

[JeeperOne]

That's the point. They haven't. No one is watching MSNBC or the Young Turks (who are reduced to a Youtube channel). As bad as talk's numbers are, those numbers are even less.

No one except LI BERALS.....

Anyway.....Back on topic

Cheers & 73

 

[joebtsflk1]

In Colorado's Captive-ating Climate Capitol, I'd buy KRLN 1400 and KSTY 104.5 Cañon City, then try to figure out their automation system in hopes of discovering why it was seemingly impossible for them to break-in with live updates during the peak of 2013's Royal Gorge Fire. Nothing erodes confidence in a 60 plus year old institution like hearing stale newscasts while watching, FROM THE KRLN PARKING LOT, DC10 tanker jets dumping retardant on the mountainside just three miles away.

This, boys and girls, was why I applied for an LPFM in the fall 2013 window. Prior to the fire, my ire had not grown higher, and the prospect of an LPFM was not of my desire. Blame KRLN for my LPFM. Blame me for the verse gone worse.

In the Venn diagram of LPFM development, you have churches in one circle, civic groups in another, and self-financed entrepreneurs in another. Then there was me* , outstanding in my field alone. *"me" was actually my one-man registered Colorado non-profit, just to be clear.

Trying to start an LPFM by yourself with no money puts you in the null set. Had another local partner, a radio veteran much more seasoned than myself, but he cut 'n ran after a couple of months. Never found anyone else who was local to serve as a de facto board member. Getting the thing launched was going to take more than I could give. So, I pulled the plug and cancelled the CP.

Yes, I could have saved up for a couple of years and built the silly thing. Or I could put some money away for my daughter's college tuition. It won't be enough, but the choice has to be the college fund.

 

[Darth_vader]

Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR (S.S.R.) area

87.9 KOIN audio
88.3 Voice of America/VOA Music Mix (we can do this now that Smith-Mundt has been repealled)
88.7 BBC 1
89.1 Jazz (Mount Hood CC, not the OPB Radio Empire)
89.5 Simulcast of KUOW
89.9 Classical
90.3 Golden Hours RRS
90.7 KBOO
91.1 RTE
91.5 Portland Central Radio (a.k.a. OPB)
91.9 BBC 2
92.3 Classic rock & roll
93.1 Mexican
93.9 CBC 1
94.3 Political crap
94.7 Alternative (and old Carolla era "Loveline" reruns)
95.1 Simulcast of KXXO
95.5 Easy listening/beautiful music
95.9 Heavy metal
96.3 BBC 3
97.1 Oldies
98.7 Country
99.5 Music of Your Life/AM Only
100.3 80s/90s
101.1 CBC 2
101.9 KINK (pre-Alpha)
102.3 BBC 4
102.9 BBC World Service
103.3 KKCW (pre-Crap Channel)
104.1 Europop/techno/electronica
105.1 Current pop
105.9 Smooth jazz
106.7 Progressive rock/fusion jazz (in quad where available)
107.1 Simulcast of KIG98
107.5 Disco/soul/R&B

 

[crainbebo]

Yakima
88.1 no KYTR
88.5 Keep NWPR News
88.9 no KOLU translator
89.5 Flip KSOH to K-LOVE
89.9 Flip K210CX from Air 1 to LifeTalk Radio - really, LifeTalk doesn't need 100 miles of coverage.
90.3 Keep NWPR Classical
91.1 Keep Positive Life Radio
91.5 no CSN translator - again, only 5 people listen to KAWZ!
91.9 Keep KDNA - good noncommercial SS station.
92.5 Flip the CSN to "Bob FM", utilizing a KHHK HD subchannel. No adult hits in Yakima or Tri-Cities anymore - since the flips of Bob FM 105.7 and 107.7 the Vine.
92.9 Keep KDBL
93.7 Flip KDYK translator to a simulcast of KWDR Royal City w/ smooth jazz and smooth AC. 93.7 used to be a KUJJ (ex-JRN Smooth Jazz) 101.9 translator.
94.5 Keep the legendary KATS
96.9 Keep La Gran D
97.9 no KYYR LP - in a town of 80,000 if that, only 5 people listen to Christian rap music.
98.7 Ah what the heck, keep La Maquina KMNA
99.3 Flip to "Soft Rock 99.3 - 70s to Today", air about a 60/40 split Soft AC and mainstream AC
99.7 keep Hot 99.7
100.9 keep KARY
101.7 keep KLES Regional Mexican
103.1 flip K-LOVE back to KQBE with COL in Ellensburg - Cube 103.1 w/ top 40. Would be nice to have them back in Ellensburg - it would be a fan favorite of those at CWU.
104.1 keep KXDD
104.5 Flip to a simulcast of KOHO-101.1 Leavenworth, which is AAA
104.9 no KYXE - needs to go.
105.7 I guess keep the classic rock
106.1 Flip Big 106.1 Adult Top 40 to an alternative rock station
106.9 Flip this to KIT-1280 from ESPN Deportes
107.3 Keep the legendary KFFM
107.9 no KYRF-LP

As for Seattle, a Classic Hip Hop station needs to be added (103.7?), some form of KMCQ needs to come back (and not a chopped up "researched" 500 song playlist like Q104.5, needs to have at least 2,000 songs "All Songs 1960s-1980s"), and some form of KWJZ needs to come back. Maybe on the failing Click 98.9 KLCK!

-crainbebo

 

[bobdavcav]

Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR (S.S.R.) area

87.9 KOIN audio
88.3 Voice of America/VOA Music Mix (we can do this now that Smith-Mundt has been repealled)
88.7 BBC 1
89.1 Jazz (Mount Hood CC, not the OPB Radio Empire)
89.5 Simulcast of KUOW
89.9 Classical
90.3 Golden Hours RRS
90.7 KBOO
91.1 RTE
91.5 Portland Central Radio (a.k.a. OPB)
91.9 BBC 2
92.3 Classic rock & roll
93.1 Mexican
93.9 CBC 1
94.3 Political crap
94.7 Alternative (and old Carolla era "Loveline" reruns)
95.1 Simulcast of KXXO
95.5 Easy listening/beautiful music
95.9 Heavy metal
96.3 BBC 3
97.1 Oldies
98.7 Country
99.5 Music of Your Life/AM Only
100.3 80s/90s
101.1 CBC 2
101.9 KINK (pre-Alpha)
102.3 BBC 4
102.9 BBC World Service
103.3 KKCW (pre-Crap Channel)
104.1 Europop/techno/electronica
105.1 Current pop
105.9 Smooth jazz
106.7 Progressive rock/fusion jazz (in quad where available)
107.1 Simulcast of KIG98
107.5 Disco/soul/R&B

Who's going to listen to all those international networks? I don't see why there needs to be so much content from overseas in your representation of Portland. Putting Golden Hours on 90.3 just might work though, with the 95.9 translator of course.

 

[bobdavcav]

In Seattle,
92.5 swap frequencies with 106.9 and bring back the KLSY calls.
97.3 bring back KBSG. Now that I think about it, 96.5 can stay the same.
98.9 tweak Click back to how they sounded when they first launched.
102.9 I wouldn't be disappointed no matter what is done with this signal, but I thought they sounded good as Q Country.
103.3 simulcast KHTP-HD2 on this and 104.1 in Olympia.
104.5 Smooth Jazz.
106.1 reimage the thing and bring back the level of personality the station had about 5 years ago.
106.9 swap with 92.5 and stay the same. I'd also add a classic dance hd2 to 89.5, and dump sports on 1090.

 

[Matt Boland]

List of local stations (give or take a few):

88.1 - WMNR (classical) - got to have it somewhere, I suppose.
88.5 - WVOF (college)
89.5 - WPKN (community radio)
90.1 - WUSB (college)
90.3 - WWPT (high school)
90.7 - WFUV (college)
91.1 - WSHU (NPR)
91.5 - WNYE (educational)
92.3 - WBMP (CHR)
93.9 - WNYC (NPR)
94.3 - WWSK (rock)
94.7 - WNSH (country)
95.5 - WPLJ (hot AC)
95.9 - WFOX (classic rock)
96.3 - WXNY (latin urban)
96.7 - WKLV (contemporary christian)
97.1 - WQHT (rhythmic contemporary)
97.5 - WALK (hot AC)
97.9 - WSKQ (tropical)
98.7 - WEPN (sports)
99.1 - WPLR (rock)
99.9 - WEZN (hot AC)
100.3 - WHTZ (CHR)
100.7 - WHUD (AC)
101.1 - WCBS (classic hits)
101.3 - WKCI (CHR)
101.9 - WFAN (sports)
102.3 - WBAB (classic rock)
102.7 - WWFS (hot AC)
103.5 - WKTU (rhythmic contemporary)
104.3 - WAXQ (classic rock)
104.5 - W283BS (translator airing "Bomba FM", Spanish)
105.1 - WWPR (urban contemporary)
106.1 - WBLI (CHR)
106.7 - WLTW (AC)
107.5 - WBLS (urban AC)
107.9 - WEBE (AC)

Hmmm....well, if I had any sort of clout whatsoever....I'd sign off WNYE, 91.9 out of NYC, and reserve it for an LPFM station. Here in CT, those type of stations are basically non-existent (but there is a place for them on the dial). And there are more than enough NPR stations in this market. 96.3, WXNY (also out of NYC) would flip to news/talk. Don't get me wrong, the Hispanic stations serve a large niche, but there are a few too many of them on the dial, IMHO. Finally, I'd flip WWFS at 102.7 (again, a NYC station) back to rock...but not technically "classic rock". I'd put more emphasis on alternative sounding hits of the 80s and 90s.

As for the others....the college and community stations above 92.3 would stay put. WKLV 96.7, while not my usual cup of tea, would also remain on its frequency. Also...there is an argument to be made, IMHO, for flipping W283BS 104.5 to classic hip-hop/r&b. WBLS is fine for that genre, but it can't always be heard in the Bridgeport area (possibly due to interference from a nearby unlicensed station). WWPR is good too, but its signal is also weak here. The only other choice in this area is "Hot 97" WQHT, but they don't generally play the more classic stuff (unless I'm mistaken). Those are the changes I'd make....what does everybody think?

Matt B
Southwestern CT

 

[Groove1670]

Interesting thread. However to make massive changes in the larger markets would mean confusion, loss of listeners and dollars. Also looking at the list I see changes that seem like personal tastes, not from a business or ratings analysis. I guess if you were eccentric and had a half a billion dollars, you could do these changes.

 

[bchristi]

Oklahoma City
-----------------
I would make changes to the following stations.

94.7 KBRU (Classic Rock) - Would flip it to soft AC as something like Sunny 94.7 "The At Work Radio Station." Core would be softer songs from the late 1960s through the early 2000s
96.1 KXXY (Country) - Would flip it to mainstream urban as 96.1 The Beat, filling OKC's longtime void of having a hip-hop/r&b station
100.5 KATT (Active Rock) - Would keep its format, but lower the amount of classic rock played
104.9 KKWD (CHR-Rhythmic) - Impressed with Cumulus' recent changes shifting the station back to current music, but I would go further and rebrand the station "OKC's Party Station" instead of "All The Hits" which doesn't accurately reflect the station's format
105.3 KINB (Sports) - Bring back the Adult Standards format that used to be on the station, reviving 105.3 The Martini
107.7 KRXO (Sports) - Would move the current alternative rock station 92.9 The Edge to become 107.7 The Edge, giving it a full signal rather than a weak translator