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Fresno / Central Valley 1550 is the 3rd Fresno AM being silent
- Thread starter mofocat2
- Start date
Unless there are things I don't know (and I don't know a lot), I would expect all of these frequencies to be silent permanently. As to who could be next, 900 KBIF, 1300 KWRU, and 1680 KGED immediately come to mind. One of the two sports stations (either 790 or 1430--I think 1340 is still OK) comes to mind as well. Even KYNO at 940 comes to mind--I've been noticing that many of its commercial breaks contain what sounds more like PSAs than commercials. 580 could well be on the chopping block as all of its programming is now being simucast on the 105.9 signal and the station is owned by the struggling Cumulus.
So yeah! I guess they're all in trouble. But I have absolutely no idea which will be the first to go.
I agree on that,,except KYNO 940 legendary I still listen and their new transmitter sounds great, the rest KIRV1510 and KRDU 1130 have a good following, those lucky to get those FM Translators can survive, unfortunately the FM band in Fresno is very full.
Last edited:
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
You bring up an excellent point that Ted didn't take into account in his speculation.
KYNO would not have invested in that new transmitter if they felt they were anywhere close to the point where going silent and returning the license was a possibility.
Adding to this comment: And the cost of a new 50 kw AM transmitter plus shipping, installation and other incidentals approaches a quarter million dollars. And that is in a smaller market!
I've heard that KYNO is a hobby station for the owner. I've only heard ads during morning drive, most of the time it's PSA's.
For certain, the goal of KYNO is not meant to be a moneymaker.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I wonder why they don't at least run direct response ads instead. The stations I program and consult in Albuquerque run those, especially at night and as filler to properly time out syndicated programming, and we make a few bucks every month from it.
The campaigns we run range from IRS audit help and timeshare exiting to bathroom remodeling, inexpensive home Internet and discount air fares. Sure, there's no guaranteed income from them, but PSAs generate zero revenue ...
Agreed.
One Putt has several other FMs that likely subsidize at least some of KYNO's expenses, so they can do pretty much whatever they want with it and not have to worry.
c
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
That raises another "I wonder" ... why One Putt doesn't bonus the FM advertisers on KYNO instead of running PSAs. In Albuquerque, one reason why we run the PI/DR spots is -- to use the station owner's language -- to make it sound like we have "something happening sales-wise".
KYNO has a morning show with Harry Miller. From the bio, he was a popular afternoon jock back when he started at KYNO in 1971. He could be the reason that has local businesses advertising on his show, as opposed to the rest of the day. My feeling is the owner has got enough money (wealthy?) that finding advertisers the rest of the day is not a priority.
Keep in mind, also, that the "25-54 or nothing" rule applies mostly to agency business... and then not as much to local agencies.
In markets like Fresno, there is revenue from local accounts for formats that lean older. If the owner of a business likes the station, or at least likes its conceopt, there can be revenue there. And if the business does not have a sign on the door "If you are over 55, do not enter" then they actually welcome and seek older customers.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
The stations I consult and program in Albuquerque --- which is roughly the same size market as Fresno -- get a lot of local buys from business owners who like the stations. Many of them keep renewing, which is a good indicator of what kind of response they get from their ads.
Of course, I take all of that as a huge compliment from the business owners.
I never get the chance to listen before about 2pm but it seems to me they are doing exactly that. I don't hear any "PSAs" nothing from the Ad Council for example but they do run spots for local non-profits, just like on the FM stations.
Given your comment, it may well be that what I was hearing was paid-for advertisements though, as you state, they were for local non-profits.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Given that PSAs are no longer mandated, a lot of government agencies and non-profits have turned to paid advertising. And some stations have a lower rate on the card for those spots. In New Mexico, that's pretty much the case all the time now.
The other thing with PSAs is that they're often depressing. It's a downer to hear all those PSAs for car crashes and diseases - nobody wants to hear an actor sobbing because her kid died in a car crash between the music. I always feel like paid ads make a station sound better - and it's always mystified me why any station would give any airtime to the government, for free.
Although kudos to the station close to me which is currently running "chlamydia - it's hard to spell, easy to catch".
Here PSAs are usually just run during breaks where some ads haven't been sold. I've mainly heard them during nights and overnights on FM stations for the last 25 years, but sometimes also during the day on AM stations and their FM translators. I don't think I've ever heard one about an STD besides HIV/AIDS. The ones I've heard were about forest fires, gun violence, airplane turbulence, drinking and driving, adopting older kids from foster care, etc.