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Salem sells KLTY, six other CCM stations to EMF

It does matter. They tend to go out of their way to put specific calls in specific locations but occasionally leave heritage calls alone.
Maybe to K-Love management it matters, but I doubt it matters to most listeners. They know the brand and that's enough.
 
1) KLTY is heritage and already features a great corny KLOVE (brand) acronym (K Love Texas Y’all).
2) Many listeners in DFW still equate KLOVE/KLUV to 98.7 and the oldies format.
3) EMF purchased KFMK (Round Rock/Austin) from Crista Ministries back in 2021 and kept the calls.

I can't see the KLUV calls returning to DFW and to be honest, they shouldn't.
 
We'll find out this week what it will do or won't do with the KLTY calls.

The fact is the stations are all networked and the only time calls are used is for the required legal ID. So, one would think it doesn't matter about the calls....except EMF/K-Love changes regularly changes calls on stations it acquires. They filed 9 applications in the last week to shuffle or change calls on new stations it is buying from either Salem or other parties. So, someone in the leadership likes having calls that resemble the K-Love and Air 1 brands. They have certainly kept a few heritage calls (WPLJ NYC, WRQX DC)....but others have changed.

My guess is they didn't acquire the KLUV calls to keep them on a construction permit in South Dakota. They could have moved them to a more high profile top 10 market -- say put them on KLVS on San Francisco or KLVH Houston. So, I still imagine its possible they move to KLTY. They could care less about the KLTY brand -- they have obliterated local beloved brands (secular and religious) they bought in other markets; they are just buying a signal. The only interest they likely have in the KLTY calls is making sure someone else in the market doesn't take it and launch a competitor with those calls and the goodwill that comes from that heritage.
 
The only interest they likely have in the KLTY calls is making sure someone else in the market doesn't take it and launch a competitor with those calls and the goodwill that comes from that heritage.

I had a similar thought in that I'd be tempted to reach out to the KLTY staff if I had an underperforming station in the market. I believe, relative to KLTY, all three of the major operators have at least one underperforming property.

Then again, with the Christian programming continuing on 94.9, maybe the market wouldn’t be able to support a commercial Christian station this time around, unlike the last time KLTY was rescued 25 years ago.
 
We'll find out this week what it will do or won't do with the KLTY calls.

The fact is the stations are all networked and the only time calls are used is for the required legal ID. So, one would think it doesn't matter about the calls....except EMF/K-Love changes regularly changes calls on stations it acquires. They filed 9 applications in the last week to shuffle or change calls on new stations it is buying from either Salem or other parties. So, someone in the leadership likes having calls that resemble the K-Love and Air 1 brands. They have certainly kept a few heritage calls (WPLJ NYC, WRQX DC)....but others have changed.
In the case of KRTY San Jose (California), at the seller's request, EMF agreed to park the KRTY calls on one of its stations outside the market...way outside the market in Great Bend, Kansas. It's conceivable that other sellers could have asked for similar moves.

In 2022, when EMF took over KRTY, the calls were still KRTY for several hours after the 9 am changeover until the approval of the request for the new call sign of KJLV came through.
 
I understand that, it's who the buyer is, I wish kcbi had grabbed it instead.
I wouldn’t rule out KCBI acquiring another signal for their full-time teaching format that is currently on KCBI-HD2. If the KLTY calls were available, they could use any second DFW signal they acquire for a KLTY reboot and shift KCBI to teaching or a mix of teaching and worship music. I don’t think they have the resources to buy all those Salem stations, and they probably couldn’t compete against EMF/K-Love Inc.’s offer because Salem wanted to unload multiple stations at once.
Then again, with the Christian programming continuing on 94.9, maybe the market wouldn’t be able to support a commercial Christian station this time around, unlike the last time KLTY was rescued 25 years ago
I don’t think a resurrected KLTY would fare as well as in the past as a commercial station, but they might find a footing as a non-commercial station, particularly if they do something to differentiate themselves like shift to a gold-based presentation (like classic CCM hits and take advantage of the KLTY heritage.)

K-Love, Inc. probably wouldn’t want to give up those calls and open themselves to a possible competitor, which is kind of a strange way to look at other CCM stations/“radio ministries.”

Wasn’t there supposed to be a deal with Audacy where EMF (now K-Love, Inc.) acquired one of their DFW signals that they would use KLUV calls on that fell apart?
 
It does matter. They tend to go out of their way to put specific calls in specific locations but occasionally leave heritage calls alone.

It's all station specific.
I think Mark’s point is that K-Love only gives call letters once an hour per the rules, but uses its name over and over. The calls may mean something administratively, but as far as listeners and stationality, they mean nothing.
 
Wasn’t there supposed to be a deal with Audacy where EMF (now K-Love, Inc.) acquired one of their DFW signals that they would use KLUV calls on that fell apart?
A larger deal fell apart and EMF took Audacy stations in Memphis and Buffalo and the KLUV calls here and the right to use K-Love in the market. In a previous post, Lance mentioned the larger deal would have included KJKK 100.3 here: https://radiodiscussions.com/thread...d-jack-fm-is-4-in-dallas.772518/#post-6740185
 
The only interest they likely have in the KLTY calls is making sure someone else in the market doesn't take it and launch a competitor with those calls and the goodwill that comes from that heritage.
Bingo! That is almost always the reason why calls are "harbored" in other markets... so a local competitor can't pick them up and capitalize on the residual brand value.
 
KLTY is hosting special events in its final week as The Fish:


KLTY Dallas will hold a special broadcast on Friday, “with many past and present KLTY team members, KLTY artists and the north Texas listeners,” the station posted on Facebook. “We have some major surprises planned! It will be a memorable day and we hope you can be a part of it! We love you and will miss you! KLTY will pass the baton on February 1 to K-Love and they will continue broadcasting your favorite Christian music on 94.9 FM on your radio dial, so no need to change your presets!”
 
If K-LOVE wants to change KLTY's heritage calls, the KLDF callsign is available. "Dallas-Fort Worth"
But will they?
 
Will it become KLOVE from the 90’s to 2000’s? On the main 94.9 frequency?
No. We’ve already discussed this and it’s also been announced. 94.9 will be the main K-Love feed.
If K-LOVE wants to change KLTY's heritage calls, the KLDF callsign is available. "Dallas-Fort Worth"
But will they?
Probably not. As has been discussed, they’ll likely stay with KLTY or use the KLUV calls. However, this hasn’t been announced and I guess anything is possible.
They could also simulcast Air 1 on a subchannel of 94.9 as well.
I’m guessing K-Love, Inc. will put Air1 and Radio Nueva Vida on HD subchannels. I also kind of hope they’ll throw in Boost, as well.
 
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