KDWN and KXST ceasing operations

[davideduardo]

Then why did so many new AM stations get built in Las Vegas in the early 2000s? They pretty much filled out the dial. That just seemed weird to me, even as someone who loves AM radio.

The city was growing dramatically, and AM was not yet considered dead. But even going back to the breakdown of the clear channels in the 70's, we saw Las Vegas get two of those premium channels! And a number of stations upgraded with higher power.

I was Lotus' corporate consultant for KENO in the earlier 70's and the place was just a big "town" back then. The increase of cheap air travel enhanced growth.

 

[michael hagerty]

Then why did so many new AM stations get built in Las Vegas in the early 2000s? They pretty much filled out the dial. That just seemed weird to me, even as someone who loves AM radio.

I never understood that either. I left just before the Spring '86 Arbitron. Here's what that looked like---only two AMs in the top ten:

1. KXTZ 94.1 (Beautiful Music): 13.2
2. KFMS 101.9 (Country): 10.1
3. KLUC 98.5 (CHR): 9.9
4. KKLZ 96.3 (AC): 9.0
5. KMZQ 100.5 (AC): 7.6
6. KOMP 92.3 (AOR): 7.5
7. KORK 920 (Standards): 5.4
8. KYRK 97.1 (CHR): 4.4
9. KDWN 720 (News/Talk): 3.7
10. KRRI 105.1 (Oldies): 3.0

 

[semoochie]

I never understood that either. I left just before the Spring '86 Arbitron. Here's what that looked like---only two AMs in the top ten:

1. KXTZ 94.1 (Beautiful Music): 13.2
2. KFMS 101.9 (Country): 10.1
3. KLUC 98.5 (CHR): 9.9
4. KKLZ 96.3 (AC): 9.0
5. KMZQ 100.5 (AC): 7.6
6. KOMP 92.3 (AOR): 7.5
7. KORK 920 (Standards): 5.4
8. KYRK 97.1 (CHR): 4.4
9. KDWN 720 (News/Talk): 3.7
10. KRRI 105.1 (Oldies): 3.0

I didn't realize that KDWN was News/Talk that early. I believe they began with Show Tunes.

 

[michael hagerty]

I didn't realize that KDWN was News/Talk that early. I believe they began with Show Tunes.

They began in 1975 with a fairly contemporary AC. Owner hated “that rock stuff”, so they went very safe, very old MOR (including show tunes) within the first month or two.

They started incorporating talk elements in certain dayparts around 1978 and were all news/talk by 1980.

 

[semoochie]

They began in 1975 with a fairly contemporary AC. Owner hated “that rock stuff”, so they went very safe, very old MOR (including show tunes) within the first month or two.

They started incorporating talk elements in certain dayparts around 1978 and were all news/talk by 1980.

Thanks!

 

[DNezTech]

KDWN and KXST will be airing a short special program at midnight.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

KDWN and KXST will be airing a short special program at midnight.

We havent been made aware KXST is, just KDWN.

(We, being the courtesy program committe from the international radio club of america and the national radio club.....we were told just 10 mintues on KDWN)

 

[BomberOtt]

I assume they’d already lost the Primary Entry Point status?

 

[DNezTech]

KXNT is new FEMA PEP.

 

[Joey1986]

I recorded the sign-off of KDWN on my iPhone and uploaded it to YouTube. I DXed it on my car radio in L.A.

Here is the video:

 

[asugeorge1]

KDWN is still on the air as of 2:45 A.M. So much for signing off!

 

[Joey1986]

KDWN is still on the air as of 2:45 A.M. So much for signing off!

Back to broadcasting normal programming? I ask because after playing The Star-Spangled Banner, I heard Morse code underneath the static. Now I’m confused.

 

[SarahB98]

Back to broadcasting normal programming? I ask because after playing The Star-Spangled Banner, I heard Morse code underneath the static. Now I’m confused.

Matt Sittel’s clip of it has a rooster crowing from WGN.

 

[DNezTech]

Shutdown will be tonight. The same program will air again on KXST at 11pm and KDWN just before midnight. There are free apps and software to decode the Slow Scan TV transmission in the Scottie 1 format.

 

[MarioMania]

Question

Can KDWN/KXST just go to a different site to broadcast on

 

[seattlesarchiebunker]

Question

Can KDWN/KXST just go to a different site to broadcast on

Assuming it will meet technical specifications for the FCC, yes.

The issue is trying to find a fellow station with a pre-existing antenna to diplex off of or blow a good chunk of the $40 million they just received for the land and equipment on a brand new tower site.

Doubtful they’ll do the latter. If they can find someone to diplex with they can return to the air relatively cheaply, but (likely) with a penalty of greatly reduced range on a dying broadcast band.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Assuming it will meet technical specifications for the FCC, yes.

The issue is trying to find a fellow station with a pre-existing antenna to diplex off of or blow a good chunk of the $40 million they just received for the land and equipment on a brand new tower site.

Doubtful they’ll do the latter. If they can find someone to diplex with they can return to the air relatively cheaply, but (likely) with a penalty of greatly reduced range on a dying broadcast band.

The owner of KDWN and KXST already has a directional AM tower site in the area with four towers. Almost certainly they could locate 720 and 1140 there with some reduced level of power. But they haven’t. They haven’t even filed and application to move either there even though this deal has been public for more than six months. Seems doubtful anything would suddenly happen now if it hasn’t already. I don’t get it at all.

 

[michael hagerty]

The owner of KDWN and KXST already has a directional AM tower site in the area with four towers. Almost certainly they could locate 720 and 1140 there with some reduced level of power. But they haven’t. They haven’t even filed and application to move either there even though this deal has been public for more than six months. Seems doubtful anything would suddenly happen now if it hasn’t already. I don’t get it at all.

My first question about the directional site is:

What's that land worth?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I don’t get it at all.

Audacy is broker than a coal miner with a debt to the company store. The only way they'd spend a bunch of money to re-engineer KDWN or KXST to operate from the KXNT site is if doing so would make them a bunch of money, quickly.

In this case, KDWN has a satisfactory FM translator that will remain on the air, and KXST is likely marginally profitable at best with their sports betting format, the impetus to spend that money just isn't there.

Maybe a different broadcaster (iHeart, Cumulus) would make a different choice.

 

[michael hagerty]

Audacy is broker than a coal miner with a debt to the company store. The only way they'd spend a bunch of money to re-engineer KDWN or KXST to operate from the KXNT site is if doing so would make them a bunch of money, quickly.

In this case, KDWN has a satisfactory FM translator that will remain on the air, and KXST is likely marginally profitable at best with their sports betting format, the impetus to spend that money just isn't there.

Maybe a different broadcaster (iHeart, Cumulus) would make a different choice.

...but probably not. A tall metal tower on an acre of land is a spectacularly inefficient way to send sound to individual listeners and it's not going to get any better.