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Bill Radke changes roles at KUOW, will develop new podcast

Perhaps responding to a potential vacuum left by KOMO. They certainly have the staff and resources to do more local news.
 
Probably not a bad idea to expand local content. Of course, KUOW tends to be pretty far to the left when it comes to their political lean. They have a very strong listener base, but I wouldn't expect a ton of KOMO listeners to make the switch.
 
Probably not a bad idea to expand local content. Of course, KUOW tends to be pretty far to the left when it comes to their political lean. They have a very strong listener base, but I wouldn't expect a ton of KOMO listeners to make the switch.
Man, if the milquetoast "let's hear from the other side on this issue" presentation of KUOW is "pretty far to the left" then we really are pretty well hosed as a nation. They are about as centrist and fact driven as you can get. Now some of the subjects they choose to focus on locally might be considered more important to progressives, but that's mainly them choosing topics that they feel reflect the interests of their listenership and subscribers.

My only complaint is that they are extremely Seattle centric- you are never going to hear much of anything that doesn't revolve around a 5 mile radius of downtown. Of course they call themselves "Seattle's NPR station", but geez, pull your heads out just slightly and you might get a little more regional support/listenership. But I have to assume this is a choice they have made on purpose. When I hear a host say, "meanwhile, all the way up in Bothell" (and I have) it's time to write another check to KNKX or NWPB. 770,000 live in Seattle, 4MM in the KUOW signal area. Ever hear of Bellevue, guys? Much less Tacoma? Seems like a missed opportunity.
 
Man, if the milquetoast "let's hear from the other side on this issue" presentation of KUOW is "pretty far to the left" then we really are pretty well hosed as a nation. They are about as centrist and fact driven as you can get. Now some of the subjects they choose to focus on locally might be considered more important to progressives, but that's mainly them choosing topics that they feel reflect the interests of their listenership and subscribers.

My only complaint is that they are extremely Seattle centric- you are never going to hear much of anything that doesn't revolve around a 5 mile radius of downtown. Of course they call themselves "Seattle's NPR station", but geez, pull your heads out just slightly and you might get a little more regional support/listenership. But I have to assume this is a choice they have made on purpose. When I hear a host say, "meanwhile, all the way up in Bothell" (and I have) it's time to write another check to KNKX or NWPB. 770,000 live in Seattle, 4MM in the KUOW signal area. Ever hear of Bellevue, guys? Much less Tacoma? Seems like a missed opportunity.
There are a lot of people who won't listen to NPR at all because they feel that the entire service is biased. I'm definitely not one of those folks, but I would say that KNKX does a better job of being centrist when compared to KUOW. Not trying to suggest that their content is not fact-based, but the overall presentation seems a little slanted to me. KOMO radio always felt like the "happy medium" for news content on the radio with an information loop without too much editorializing.

I definitely agree that KUOW is Seattle-centric, though. They have a strong audience in Seattle, and perhaps that is enough?
 
When I hear a host say, "meanwhile, all the way up in Bothell" (and I have) it's time to write another check to KNKX or NWPB. 770,000 live in Seattle, 4MM in the KUOW signal area. Ever hear of Bellevue, guys? Much less Tacoma? Seems like a missed opportunity.
If you think that's bad, imagine being in Auburn, Kent, Renton, or Federal Way -- or, gasp -- Seatac.

But then, maybe the majority of their listeners are within the Seattle city limits.

Does Nielsen provide geographical data on the listeners?
 
Remember KUOW transmits from Capital hill. KNKX from West Tiger. That lone limits the target listener and communities.
 
Probably a dumb technical question, but why does KUOW transmit from Capitol Hill? That site has its advantages, especially when you consider coverage in the City of Seattle, however, coverage in other parts of the metropolitan area is downright abysmal. To my understanding, they could technically upgrade. Not that any of that matters if they are happy concentrating exclusively on Seattle.
 
I don't know how all the dollars work now, but for many MANY years KUOW and Channel 9 TV were owned by the same entity, the UW Board of Regents. As such, it made a lot of sense to have 94.9 piggyback on the side of 9's tower. Rent had to be cheap to nonexistent.
 
Remember KUOW transmits from Capital hill. KNKX from West Tiger. That lone limits the target listener and communities.
Even worse, KEXP's predecessor (KCMU) once had their tower on top of McMahon Hall, the dorm!!
(Was even part of the legal ID ... "broadcasting from 12 floors above the McMahon Laundry room...")
 
Even worse, KEXP's predecessor (KCMU) once had their tower on top of McMahon Hall, the dorm!!
(Was even part of the legal ID ... "broadcasting from 12 floors above the McMahon Laundry room...")
Ironically, KEXP still has an abysmal signal if you're located south of downtown. The only time you could realistically tune into KEXP in the south sound was when they were simulcasting on 91.7.
 
Even worse, KEXP's predecessor (KCMU) once had their tower on top of McMahon Hall, the dorm!!
(Was even part of the legal ID ... "broadcasting from 12 floors above the McMahon Laundry room...")
The last few years they were KCMU they had their transmitter and tower moved -- I think to KUOW's tower, if I'm not mistaken. They also had a power increase.
 
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