KFMB on the Block?

[Ryan Williams]

Inside Radio has story today about how Tegna has put KFMB AM/FM on the block and are expecting to announce the winning bidder in November. The article says 760 has been neglected (no surprise there) and that a format change is likely.

The article goes on to speculate that iHeart would like to do a deal so they can eliminate a KOGO competitor and put XTRA on the better 760 signal, but that they would be over the cap.

I'm not sure there is a logical buyer for the pair. iHeart is at the cap. Entercom is at the cap. Univision hasn't been a buyer in a while and may be for sale. Maybe they are sold separately? Maybe Bonneville enters San Diego?

 

[michael hagerty]

Inside Radio has story today about how Tegna has put KFMB AM/FM on the block and are expecting to announce the winning bidder in November. The article says 760 has been neglected (no surprise there) and that a format change is likely.

The article goes on to speculate that iHeart would like to do a deal so they can eliminate a KOGO competitor and put XTRA on the better 760 signal, but that they would be over the cap.

I'm not sure there is a logical buyer for the pair. iHeart is at the cap. Entercom is at the cap. Univision hasn't been a buyer in a while and may be for sale. Maybe they are sold separately? Maybe Bonneville enters San Diego?

The original piece came from the San Diego Reader: https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2019/oct/21/ticker-farewell-kfmb-radio/#

Their take: iHeart buys it for KFMB-AM, moves the programming from KLSD (1360) to 760 for the stronger signal and sells 1360. An FM gets spun, too---whether that's KFMB-FM or something iHeart already owns is anyone's guess.

With Tegna hanging on to TV, it's at least possible that 760 and 100.7 might end up with new call letters---which would mean the end of KFMB Radio.

 

[michael hagerty]

RBR speculates that iHeart could flip 95.7 to keep 100.7, should the sale happen, and that EMF would be a prime candidate for 95.7, upgrading Air1 in the market: https://www.rbr.com/a-former-san-diego-fm-owner-dies-amid-tegna-talk/

 

[Signal Geek]

If iHeart buys 760 (and sells 1360), wonder if they'd also up the daytime signal to 50kw. As noted earlier, they're already 50kw at night. I read somewhere 760 only stayed at 5kw days to avoid interference with 740 KBRT back when that station put a strong signal into San Diego from Catalina Island. But when 740 moved inland a few years ago, their San Diego coverage nearly disappeared. So, what's stopping 760 from increasing power (other than a higher electric bill)?

 

[davideduardo]

With Tegna hanging on to TV, it's at least possible that 760 and 100.7 might end up with new call letters---which would mean the end of KFMB Radio.

That makes me flash back to the Kuff-Mub comic strip...

 

[TheBigA]

The problem is everyone was expecting the FCC to loosen ownership rules. When a court struct down their proposal, it threw the whole plan in doubt. So now, all the big companies are stuck, and the only one with dry powder is EMF.

 

[asugeorge1]

If iHeart buys 760 (and sells 1360), wonder if they'd also up the daytime signal to 50kw. As noted earlier, they're already 50kw at night. I read somewhere 760 only stayed at 5kw days to avoid interference with 740 KBRT back when that station put a strong signal into San Diego from Catalina Island. But when 740 moved inland a few years ago, their San Diego coverage nearly disappeared. So, what's stopping 760 from increasing power (other than a higher electric bill)?

Despite it being only 5,000 watts at night, that signal gets out pretty well during the day. I was driving from Carlsbad back home to Phoenix on I-8 and KFMB was the strongest of the San Diego AM’s in the Imperial Valley by El Centro with KOGO slightly behind them in signal strength and KOGO is also at 5,000 watts. I doubt that KFMB would be able to increase power to 50,000 watts daytime. It would have to get approved by Mexico and the whole process would take a lot of time.

On a side note, what’s up with 1700 XEPE-AM? Their daytime power is not nearly what it used to be. It’s very staticky during the day, even in San Diego. Definitely not 10,000 watts. They must be on reduced power, but I wonder what it is?

 

[davideduardo]

Despite it being only 5,000 watts at night, that signal gets out pretty well during the day. I was driving from Carlsbad back home to Phoenix on I-8 and KFMB was the strongest of the San Diego AM’s in the Imperial Valley by El Centro with KOGO slightly behind them in signal strength and KOGO is also at 5,000 watts. I doubt that KFMB would be able to increase power to 50,000 watts daytime. It would have to get approved by Mexico and the whole process would take a lot of time.

You mean, I am sure, 5,000 watts in the daytime. It is already 50 kw at night.

KOGO in 760 is a very special situation. In the 60's, the US and the rest of NARBA gave in and granted Mexico priority rights to 540, meaning that KFMB which had resided there needed to move.

760 was given to KFMB, despite the proximity to KBIG.

But because it was "force moved" from an even better channel, KFMB always has a card it can play to try to get more daytime power. It would not surprise me to see them go for 10 kw day and night, as the 50 kw is mostly wasted. The only 760 impediment is XENY in Nogales, which is far away and, I believe, a possible FM swapper.

 

[asugeorge1]

You mean, I am sure, 5,000 watts in the daytime. It is already 50 kw at night.

KOGO in 760 is a very special situation. In the 60's, the US and the rest of NARBA gave in and granted Mexico priority rights to 540, meaning that KFMB which had resided there needed to move.

760 was given to KFMB, despite the proximity to KBIG.

But because it was "force moved" from an even better channel, KFMB always has a card it can play to try to get more daytime power. It would not surprise me to see them go for 10 kw day and night, as the 50 kw is mostly wasted. The only 760 impediment is XENY in Nogales, which is far away and, I believe, a possible FM swapper.

Yes sorry, meant to say 5,000 watts during the day for KFMB.

XESURF AM 540 is a very powerful station and can be heard all throughout Southern California during the day. That low dial position really helps it get out during the day. Was that Saul Levine’s old station? That station flipped through multiple English language formats before settling on it’s current Spanish language format. I remember there being all news, classical, country, etc... Too bad Saul doesn’t still run it, it would be a great place for an oldies station!

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Yes sorry, meant to say 5,000 watts during the day for KFMB.

XESURF AM 540 is a very powerful station and can be heard all throughout Southern California during the day. That low dial position really helps it get out during the day. Was that Saul Levine’s old station? That station flipped through multiple English language formats before settling on it’s current Spanish language format. I remember there being all news, classical, country, etc... Too bad Saul doesn’t still run it, it would be a great place for an oldies station!

Obviously Saul wouldnt sustain the operation financially or hed still be programming it.. he didnt own it.

I've heard XESURF up here in Wyoming at sunrise if i point my antenna the right way

 

[michael hagerty]

That makes me flash back to the Kuff-Mub comic strip...

There was a Kuff-Mub comic strip?

 

[Gregg.]

The 760 signal is quite good in the daytime because it is non-directional. 5,000 watts, low on the dial. But since it only has to protect, as David says, a 760 in Nogales, about 400 miles away, it could probably boost to 10,000 watts or more. The 740 that used to be on Catalina Island, licensed to Avalon, moved to the mainland and is licensed to Costa Mesa now, so that's not really a factor. KBRT is almost as far from KFMB as KNX and XEPRS are from each other, both 50,000 watt stations, also separated on the dial at 20 kHz.

If KFMB can run 50,000 watts at night, directional away from Class A WJR Detroit, I don't think there's much stopping a new owner from boosting the daytime signal, keeping it non-directional by day, directional at night. The transmitter is near Exit 13 on the San Clemente Canyon Freeway (Route 15), in the West Hills section of San Diego.

It would be sad to lose those call letters, an AM station with FM in the middle of its call sign. It's no longer required that separately owned stations choose different call letters. In Boston, WBZ AM is owned by iHeart, WBZ-FM is owned by Beasley and WBZ-TV is owned by CBS. So the three KFMBs could all share the same call sign. But unless a new owner were to continue the talk format on the AM station, it probably will no longer be KFMB.

 

[davideduardo]

There was a Kuff-Mub comic strip?

Yes, and quite a few examples ran in R&R and other trades.

 

[davideduardo]

Yes sorry, meant to say 5,000 watts during the day for KFMB.

XESURF AM 540 is a very powerful station and can be heard all throughout Southern California during the day. That low dial position really helps it get out during the day. Was that Saul Levine’s old station? That station flipped through multiple English language formats before settling on it’s current Spanish language format. I remember there being all news, classical, country, etc... Too bad Saul doesn’t still run it, it would be a great place for an oldies station!

I'd never thought 540 was a particularly strong or effective signal.

For many years, it was using a rooftop with counterpoise system on top of a supermarket or warehouse. It had a short antenna, and was likely running the announced 1 kw, which got a signal up to, maybe, Solana Beach. I'm told the move to a slightly better site occurred some years ago, but it's a pretty limited facility.

 

[philosofy]

The transmitter is near Exit 13 on the San Clemente Canyon Freeway (Route 15), in the West Hills section of San Diego.

Transmitter is along State Route 52 in Santee. 15 is an interstate and San Diego is on the other side of the hill from the site where the towers are located.

 

[asugeorge1]

Transmitter is along State Route 52 in Santee. 15 is an interstate and San Diego is on the other side of the hill from the site where the towers are located.

Yes, this is true. It’s weird when you are driving on the 52 freeway and you literally drive between the three tower array. It’s like the nexus of the universe over there!

 

[Sammi Brie]

You mean, I am sure, 5,000 watts in the daytime. It is already 50 kw at night.

KOGO in 760 is a very special situation. In the 60's, the US and the rest of NARBA gave in and granted Mexico priority rights to 540, meaning that KFMB which had resided there needed to move.

760 was given to KFMB, despite the proximity to KBIG.

But because it was "force moved" from an even better channel, KFMB always has a card it can play to try to get more daytime power. It would not surprise me to see them go for 10 kw day and night, as the 50 kw is mostly wasted. The only 760 impediment is XENY in Nogales, which is far away and, I believe, a possible FM swapper.

Nope, XENY is not moving. (It has a sister FM, XHNI-FM 105.1, but it was the only Nogales AM to not migrate)

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I'd never thought 540 was a particularly strong or effective signal.

For many years, it was using a rooftop with counterpoise system on top of a supermarket or warehouse. It had a short antenna, and was likely running the announced 1 kw, which got a signal up to, maybe, Solana Beach. I'm told the move to a slightly better site occurred some years ago, but it's a pretty limited facility.

Theyre listed with 25KW in the IRCA mexican am list.

I've heard XESURF several times here in Wyoming

 

[MarkW]

I cannot see 100.7 retaining its current format if the sale goes through. I think TEGNA may have pivoted the station to Hot AC on purpose to pique iHeart's interest. Let's face it, both FM 100.7 and AM 760 compete directly with existing iHeart stations (KMYI and KOGO, respectively).

I could certainly see Sports moving from AM 1360 to AM 760 if (when?) the deal closes or an LMA goes into effect. That said, there are a number of markets where iHeart owns two news/talk stations, so it definitely is not out of the question that AM 760 will remain News/Talk.

FM 100.7 would probably go Soft AC, back to Variety Hits, or maybe all 80's.

It became obvious TEGNA had no desire to hold onto FM 100.7 long-term when it adopted the station's current non-descript branding.

 

[Signal Geek]

100.7 is not Hot AC. It's Variety Rock. And they brought in a morning host (Chris Cantore) with a long, respected San Diego rock resume.