KFMB AM & FM sell for a shockingly low price!!!

[michael hagerty]

It's slow here in the office, so I read the deal yesterday.

"Except as provided in this Section 6.5, the Seller is not conveying ownership
rights or granting the Buyer a license to use any of the Retained Names and Marks and, after the Closing,
the Buyer shall not and shall not permit any of its Affiliates to use in any manner the Retained Names and
Marks or any word that is similar in sound or appearance to such names or marks. "

Time to rebrand.

Ah. So, yeah....no room to be cute. There's probably a serious change coming for the AM---and maybe the FM as well. If TEGNA has trademarked "100.7 San Diego" (and why wouldn't they), then Local Media can't use their frequency and city of license as a brand.

Wow.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Ah. So, yeah....no room to be cute. There's probably a serious change coming for the AM---and maybe the FM as well. If TEGNA has trademarked "100.7 San Diego" (and why wouldn't they), then Local Media can't use their frequency and city of license as a brand.

Wow.

A quick trademark search turns up no trademark to be found for 100.7 San Diego and just three dead trademarks for KFMB (two of them being their logos from the 80s and 90s).

 

[semoochie]

They moved from 540 to 760 in 1965, to comply with a treaty with Mexico that made 540 a clear in that country.

That's interesting! Did they have a larger footprint in LA or were they lower power?

 

[davideduardo]

That's interesting! Did they have a larger footprint in LA or were they lower power?

They would have had a bit better signal everywhere in the daytime. That is due to the lower frequency.

They were 5 kw DA-N before and after the frequency move.

In either case, they would have had about the same signal as KOGO 600 in the daytime. OK in the OC, not very usable in most of LA even when noise levels were lower.

 

[michael hagerty]

They would have had a bit better signal everywhere in the daytime. That is due to the lower frequency.

They were 5 kw DA-N before and after the frequency move.

In either case, they would have had about the same signal as KOGO 600 in the daytime. OK in the OC, not very usable in most of LA even when noise levels were lower.

I became a big fan of KFMB in 1975, when it was an irreverent Adult Contemporary with Top 40 pacing and production values. I listened to it, even in Los Angeles, in the car, for most of the next ten years, when I was down there. There'd be a bit of noise, especially passing under power lines (most of L.A. was still using above-ground lines on poles in those days), but it wasn't bad. Again, I was a fan who wanted to hear it, so I put up with more than the typical listener would. A truly clean signal probably didn't happen until somewhere around Long Beach---and by that point, most of the signal was taking a straight shot over water.

I do remember, as a kid with a pocket transistor radio, hearing both KFMB at 540 and KOGO at 600 pretty clearly in Inglewood in the early 60s.

 

[semoochie]

They would have had a bit better signal everywhere in the daytime. That is due to the lower frequency.

They were 5 kw DA-N before and after the frequency move.

In either case, they would have had about the same signal as KOGO 600 in the daytime. OK in the OC, not very usable in most of LA even when noise levels were lower.

I became a big fan of KFMB in 1975, when it was an irreverent Adult Contemporary with Top 40 pacing and production values. I listened to it, even in Los Angeles, in the car, for most of the next ten years, when I was down there. There'd be a bit of noise, especially passing under power lines (most of L.A. was still using above-ground lines on poles in those days), but it wasn't bad. Again, I was a fan who wanted to hear it, so I put up with more than the typical listener would. A truly clean signal probably didn't happen until somewhere around Long Beach---and by that point, most of the signal was taking a straight shot over water.

I do remember, as a kid with a pocket transistor radio, hearing both KFMB at 540 and KOGO at 600 pretty clearly in Inglewood in the early 60s.

Thank you David and Michael! That's pretty interesting. I'll bet they weren't particularly thrilled about moving, at least after the fact.

 

[wattsup]

Any guess when it's scheduled to close?

 

[michael hagerty]

Thank you David and Michael! That's pretty interesting. I'll bet they weren't particularly thrilled about moving, at least after the fact.

I don't know---I don't think L.A. coverage really mattered. KFI bragged about being listenable in San Diego---and Monterey----and Mexico (they even had a jingle about it: https://youtu.be/23GhlE13bwU?t=472 btw, it's mismarked---the package is from 1969, not 1973), but I think San Diego stations really focused on San Diego.

760 wasn't any worse than 540 for covering the San Diego metro in 1965, and it still handles it pretty well today. And there was a bonus in the move---nighttime had to go directional to protect WJR, Detroit and KGU, Honolulu...so it all got sent north. Nothing wasted over the Pacific. Which meant that as North San Diego Country grew, KFMB's night signal (and remember, in winter, half of morning drive and half of afternoon drive is on your night signal) was more than adequate. On night pattern, I've listened to them 100 miles north of San Francisco.

 

[asugeorge1]

Semoochie:

It really isn't...except for the technicality of saying "KFMB" all at once.

There's some history here.

The legend goes that when Bobby Rich took over as PD of KFMB-FM, then an automated Beautiful Music station. to take it Top 40 in 1975, he wanted to change the call letters, but was told no.

He then had a conversation with Charlie Van Dyke, who was doing the imaging for KFMB-AM, about the challenge of making the legal ID sound different from just "KFMB-FM". Van Dyke suggested that the ID, which would be done live by the jocks, have the call letters read as "KFM......BFM", with the emphasis on the "K" and the "B"...so:

"KAY-eff-emm....BEE-eff-emm, San Diego! It's (time) with (jock) as B-100 boogies on!"

If you want to hear what the inspired madness of B-100 sounded like, here's a link to a composite of its first anniversary in 1976: https://youtu.be/KFVNHbI6FO0?t=27

Well, people still remembered and talked about that---and so, when "Jack" finished its 13-year run on 100.7 three years ago (after about 15 years as "Star 100.7), they decided to try branding the station as KFM-BFM. Here's a link to audio of the format change, which contains the logo artwork on the page:

https://formatchange.com/jack-becomes-100-7-kfm-bfm/

But too much time had gone by---it really didn't mean anything to the target demo. So now they're "100.7 San Diego".

It's all technicalities, but the last time that 100.7 used KFMB-FM as anything other than a legal ID without doing something cute to the call letters in terms of phrasing, was March of 1975. As David rightly points out, the call letters have no real value for the station.

I think the AM is trickier---since it has never had a station name--it has always been identified by call letters and dial position---for 78 years. And it benefits from the association with KFMB-TV. But we don't know what Local Media plans to do with the frequency, so it may not matter at all.

But, for history geeks, longtime Southern Californians and the like, it's a set of calls that began on radio that won't exist on radio anymore. It's worth noting, but maybe not mourning.

Very interesting history! I miss hearing Charlie Van Dyke doing the imaging of KRTH-FM with his deep voice saying, “Ladies and Gentleman, from the entertainment capital of the world” followed by the Johnny Mann Singers saying, “KRTH... Los Angeles.” Even after they were retired on KRTH, they could still be heard up until a few years ago on KRTH-HD2. But now even that is gone. At least I can still hear Charlie Van Dyke doing the imaging for 12 news here in Phoenix!

 

[davideduardo]

Any guess when it's scheduled to close?

Routine transfers have been taking 90 to 120 days for FCC approval. Generally, the closing will be COB at the end of the month when the sale is authorized.

 

[michael hagerty]

Very interesting history! I miss hearing Charlie Van Dyke doing the imaging of KRTH-FM with his deep voice saying, “Ladies and Gentleman, from the entertainment capital of the world” followed by the Johnny Mann Singers saying, “KRTH... Los Angeles.” Even after they were retired on KRTH, they could still be heard up until a few years ago on KRTH-HD2. But now even that is gone. At least I can still hear Charlie Van Dyke doing the imaging for 12 news here in Phoenix!

I miss it, too---but it had a long run and I have to say that the new imaging---with listeners saying "K-Earth!", "K-Earth 101!" and singing the jingle themselves is inspired and really matches the energy of the music and the format nicely.

 

[johndavis]

Ah. So, yeah....no room to be cute. There's probably a serious change coming for the AM---and maybe the FM as well. If TEGNA has trademarked "100.7 San Diego" (and why wouldn't they), then Local Media can't use their frequency and city of license as a brand.

Wow.

There's no federal trademark on "100.7 San Diego." Midwest Television did file one for Star 100.7, but that's dead now.

I think TEGNA really only cares about the calls changing so if the radio station does something in the future that creates any kind of backlash the public doesn't take it out on the TV station. (and for that matter, it works both ways)

 

[michael hagerty]

There's no federal trademark on "100.7 San Diego." Midwest Television did file one for Star 100.7, but that's dead now.

I think TEGNA really only cares about the calls changing so if the radio station does something in the future that creates any kind of backlash the public doesn't take it out on the TV station. (and for that matter, it works both ways)

John, since you've read the deal memo, is there anything in there that would force a format change for either of the stations, or is it just going to have to be branding. And is there any language about talent contracts?

 

[johndavis]

John, since you've read the deal memo, is there anything in there that would force a format change for either of the stations, or is it just going to have to be branding. And is there any language about talent contracts?

There's no language that forces a format change.

As is customary in these filings, anything related to employees is redacted from the FCC filing.

 

[kwthom]

<...>The xmttr site is more than interesting with a divided four lane highway running right through it. Bet TEGNA kept the land with eyes on selling it for big $$ in the future.

C'mon, Doc - seriously?

(For those not familar, do a satellite search @ 32.842500, -117.025000 for what the good Doctor references)

What about all that p...p...power from those sticks, with 50,000 cars during drive time alone!

Obviously some value in those patches of dirt along the river...

 

[Signal Geek]

That land under the KFMB AM towers is very undesirable for homes, since a freeway runs right through it. It's also in a flood plan, so probably can't do commerical or industrial development either.

 

[michael hagerty]

Actually, I'm not sure TEGNA owns the land west of the 52 Freeway that two of the three towers sit on. My map shows it as being within the boundaries of the Mission Trails Regional Park, which is owned by the City of San Diego. They might be able to sell it to the City for reintegration to the park, do a land swap with the city for land with commercial value or donate it for tax purposes.

But, the land the one tower east of the 52 sits on looks darn near ideal for commercial development, unless there's something I'm missing. If they own the whole parcel, bounded by West Hills Parkway, Mast Boulevard and the 52, that'll be a chunk of change.

The FM stick is on the TV tower in La Jolla, so that's just gonna be rental income for TEGNA.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/183894/kfmb-san-diego-staffers-to-exit-february-7/

Update KFMB Radio staff to leave on February 7th

Ahead of the sale of Variety Hits “100.7 San Diego” KFMB-FM and Talk 760 KFMB from TEGNA to Local Media San Diego, the majority of the staffers will exit on February 7.

The San Diego Reader reports that all but five of the 45 employees of the stations were given two weeks notice last week that their employment would be coming to an end. Four salespeople and one member of the production department will remain with the stations. A TEGNA spokesperson told the publication, “They are purchasing the stations and they will decide who will stay with them,” hinting at least at the possibility that some will be rehired by the new ownership.

 

[michael hagerty]

The last two weeks have been pretty brutal in terms of talent layoffs in San Diego. This San Diego Reader piece puts it all in one place:

https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2020/jan/28/ticker-look-san-diego-radio-casualty-list/#

 

[CaliRadioFan]

Which leaves the question of what new formats and call letters are in store for 760 and 100.7