• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

KEYG-FM sold to EMF

T

The New Chico

100kW Class C KEYG Grand Coulee has been sold to EMF. I suppose they made the Wheeler family an offer they were not likely to get elsewhere, but again there goes another locally owned station.

I do note they had turned over programming and local sales back in 2020 to the folks running "Sunny" in Wenatchee. Hard to make a living in small market radio any more without God On Your Side(tm).
 
Last edited:
It's rather unfortunate, though I'd rather it be EMF than AFR or VCY. We already have a malignant religious broadcaster around here (ACN on 93.9/106.1/810).

This purchase will bring K-Love to the Spokane market (and yet ANOTHER religious station, if there wasn't already enough of those in the region). I have a feeling EMF may move KEYG closer to Spokane in order to fully cover the market.

Regarding the two translators: since both the 98.1 and 97.7 translators are owned separately, I think they will continue to simulcast Sunny FM (via KCSY Twisp 106.3). Wenatchee already has K-Love on 88.1.

While Central Washington will be losing its main classic hits station, the gap will be filled by the remainder of Sunny FM's translators as well as the newly flipped 95.7 KKSR and 97.5 KOLW in the Tri Cities area.
 
Another great station bites the dust for a nationally-run CCM format with no presence whatsoever in WA. EMF was begging to get K-LOVE in Spokane after all the years they've had Air 1 on KTSL.
I don't listen to K-LOVE and never donate, and never will. I have a preset on my car for KYPL/Positive Life because they serve central and eastern WA. Not Nashville. God bless the regional and local Christian outlets that do good for communities, instead of spending money on glitzy 'K-LOVE Music Awards'.

Kyle is probably right as KEYG is way too weak in Spokane. They will likely move COL to Davenport or Cheney, along w/ a new tower (maybe at KKRS?) Has to be a location where K-HITS KZID in Lewiston doesn't complain. New call letters too, maybe "KSKV"?

How are Shine's (KEEH) ratings in Spokane? Will K-LOVE even make a *dent*?
 
crainbebo said:
Kyle is probably right as KEYG is way too weak in Spokane. They will likely move COL to Davenport or Cheney, along w/ a new tower (maybe at KKRS?) Has to be a location where K-HITS KZID in Lewiston doesn't complain. New call letters too, maybe "KSKV"?
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on whether they want to fill in the gap here in Central WA or serve primarily Spokane. Considering KZID being present, they might opt to place their COL and tower toward north/west of Spokane, even if it means they add a booster or two.

crainbebo said:
How are Shine's (KEEH) ratings in Spokane? Will K-LOVE even make a *dent*?
Click to expand...
KEEH doesn't show up in the ratings. KJYR is the only CCM station that shows up - it's a 0.4 as of May 2022. Way FM and Air1 don't show up in the ratings either.
 
dxsphere said:
KEEH doesn't show up in the ratings. KJYR is the only CCM station that shows up - it's a 0.4 as of May 2022. Way FM and Air1 don't show up in the ratings either.
Click to expand...
KEEH does not show up in the public releases because they are not subscribed. In 12+, they are tied for 6th.
 
crainbebo said:
I don't listen to K-LOVE and never donate, and never will. I have a preset on my car for KYPL/Positive Life because they serve central and eastern WA. Not Nashville. God bless the regional and local Christian outlets that do good for communities, instead of spending money on glitzy 'K-LOVE Music Awards'.
Click to expand...
Remember, radio is just part of the EMF "program" and they have local outreach programs in most of their markets, and do things like having 24/7 counselors available on the phone or online for people who find comfort in faith-based solutions.

I'm not a listener and am not a partisan of their music, either. But I don't listen to lots of music styles yet understand that each has its partisans. What I do believe is that EMF helps keep a significant group of people involved with traditional radio, and that benefits the industry in more general terms.
 
crainbebo said:
I don't listen to K-LOVE and never donate, and never will. I have a preset on my car for KYPL/Positive Life because they serve central and eastern WA. Not Nashville. God bless the regional and local Christian outlets that do good for communities, instead of spending money on glitzy 'K-LOVE Music Awards'.
Click to expand...

Do these local outlets have people available by phone 24/7/365 to pray for you? They NEVER call people back and ask for money, and theyve been known to call people and check on them.

EMF also offers training for first responders and how to deal with traagedy.. at no charge.

Those are just two of the things they do that they dont really talk about and get no money from.

I know several; peopel who work for EMF and say its a great place to work, with lots of respect, family/life balance and good pay

They mroe or less do what alot of people say is missing in radio (good pay!) and caring about listeners (they do)

I love live, local radio.. look at where ive worked, KLMI and now, KSKO... but EMF has thsi down pat and people obviously liek it or they wouldnt donate. Just because it isnt your cup of tea, doesnt mean it isnt someone elses.

I've donated to EMF sparingly and i jhave donated sparingly to KACS in Centralia.
 
The only problem(s) I have with PLR is the voicetracking from elsewhere. The AM show is voicetracked from KEEH (Dave Arthur), which is ironically a former PLR affiliate. Brandi Lanai at 4-8PM is also voicetracked from D.C. But that's just radio nowadays.
They do positive passages throughout the day, sometimes Psalm, sometimes Luke, sometimes Matthew, etc.
And the music selection is tighter compared to other CCM stations. I wish they played some classic Christian music here and there. 'I Can Only Imagine' MercyMe is about as classic as it gets. They seem to think 'Way Maker' is the only song Michael W. Smith ever did. He's been a musician since the '80s!

Still, I prefer PLR/Shine/KCMS etc. over EMF for the same reasons I prefer a local church of 300-600 capacity over Joel Osteen's TV ministry. Why watch a televangelist on TBN when you can be in a group of local people who love and pray over you? Not to mention small groups, serving opportunities in the church and in the community (from school supply giveaways to A/V and greeting).
 
I listen to religious stations occasionally when I'm DXing (despite being an atheist); EMF/K-Love is basically a bigger version of PLR, Shine or KCMS - I have never once heard anything toxic coming from EMF, PLR, Shine or KCMS, unlike some of the preacher networks such as American Christian Network (810/93.9 here; 930/96.1 in Yakima) or VCY America.
 
dxsphere said:
I guess it depends on whether they want to fill in the gap here in Central WA or serve primarily Spokane. Considering KZID being present, they might opt to place their COL and tower toward north/west of Spokane, even if it means they add a booster or two.
Click to expand...
Suppose they could get closer to Spokane. Fit 2 channel separation between KKZX 98.9 and KISC 98.1 .
Not sure what Canadian they may bump into.
Co-channel Class c3 KZID "Lewiston" probably won't be much of a factor. Terrain shields them to the North.
 
They won't bump into much of anything in BC, that's for sure. 98.5 is a big signal out of Victoria, but other than that they have several small signals way up north heading towards the Yukon. OR and ID both are way out of the mix. Of course this is on co-channel. I am not qualified to look at adjacent channels.
 
The New Chico said:
They won't bump into much of anything in BC, that's for sure. 98.5 is a big signal out of Victoria, but other than that they have several small signals way up north heading towards the Yukon. OR and ID both are way out of the mix. Of course this is on co-channel. I am not qualified to look at adjacent channels.
Click to expand...
Victoria is clear on the other side of the mountains...some 450 km away. KBBZ Kalispell is closer (and does make it to high peaks around Spokane) KZID doesn't make it into Spokane, but it does make it into the Palouse quite well, and would mix with KEYG there should EMF move the station to Spokane.
 
They could force KZID to move channels just like KPND had KLER moved to 103.3
 
dxsphere said:
They could force KZID to move channels just like KPND had KLER moved to 103.3
Click to expand...
FCC's made it more difficult to force other to move outside of the auctions.
When KZID moved city of license to Culdesac (from Graingville) they "forced" KEYG to Class C0 status only due to KEYG not having full Class C facilities (like 100 kW @ 2000 feet). KZID is shoehorned into the Lewiston-Clarkston market. Probably not necessary to move anyone out of the way to get closer to Spokane. Just have to find a site that still covers Grande Coulee.
 
KEYG doesn't even hardly make it to Idaho. Barely makes it to the CDA suburbs. KZID is gone well south of St. Maries. EMF won't have issues, most likely. They would only need to protect Kalispell which is naturally protected by the Rockies...I did not hear a trace of KBBZ, KWOL or other Kalispell/Missoula FMs on my trip in April. Maybe they show up on the Cabinet or Selkirk peaks, but not on Hwy 95...
 
KBBZ, KWOL, KDBR and other Kalispell FMs show up at Mt. Spokane.
 
All of them, over 750 I think.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom