All-News Station

[oldiesfan6479]

I was once told that Jack Williams, when he managed 550 KOY in the 40s or 50s,
was approached about increasing the power to 50K.

I heard a similar but different story--same Gov., same time frame (maybe more
50s-60s, same expense (bigger power bill), and same result (no dice).

Back then class III regional frequencies could run a max of 5 kw, so this version
of the story was to upgrade KOY to 5 kw-U (instead of 5 kw-D, 1 kw-N), but to
do so involved installing a DA-N, as they'd have to protect Bakersfield and a few
other places, due to the additional nighttime power output.

Besides more $$$$ for the power bill each month, there may have been zoning or
real estate issues with erecting at least one more tower at the then-XMTR site
at 12th Street and Camelback--after all, they might have to do something to...
the car...on the ROOF! ;D

 

[DrAkbar]

Back then class III regional frequencies could run a max of 5 kw, so this version
of the story was to upgrade KOY to 5 kw-U (instead of 5 kw-D, 1 kw-N), but to
do so involved installing a DA-N, as they'd have to protect Bakersfield and a few
other places, due to the additional nighttime power output.

Besides more $$$$ for the power bill each month, there may have been zoning or
real estate issues with erecting at least one more tower at the then-XMTR site
at 12th Street and Camelback--after all, they might have to do something to...
the car...on the ROOF! ;D

To increase the power in all likelihood means going directional and losing some of the outstanding metro coverage at night. Not worth it then...not worth it now. The money should be put into converting 95~Five to KFWhyEyeFM.

btw...the Nurse and I much prefer Thom Brennaman's "on the roof" to Daron Sutton's! In our case, just look for the Gremlin with the leaky roof!

 

[lpAZ]

Two points:

All-news will not work here because A) It's a dying format anyway, just ask the folks at KFWB and KNX who are now on the beach

Consolidation. Those two have a combined 4.1 12+ and are making money. Aside from satellite bureau's they got rid of the big money old school aftra contracts.

 

[justthenumbers]

As for why Phoenix has no 50K blowtorch at the lower end of the dial... I can't explain why Albuqurque has one, but back in the 1930s, when these stations were being established, the idea was to have super-regional stations. Phoenix, at the time, was a dusty backwater and was surrounded by signals from LA, Abq, Salt Lake, and Denver.

Was Albuquerque more established than Phoenix at the time?

 

[DrAkbar]

It wasn't until the advent of central airconditioning that Phoenix became a year-round city. Prior to that, the Valley was a great winter destination but come mid April you'd want to get out of Dodge muy pronto. A/C in homes and cars made this hell hole more bearable from May 'til October.

There was no need for a 50kw blowtorch in Phoenix back then as there weren't a whole lot of rural listeners within a 300 mile radius. The jackrabbits and coyotes were cumeing KSL, KOA, KOB, KOMA, KFI, KNX and other biggies for their jollies. In the metro Phoenix area, 5~Fifty, 6~Twenty, 9~Ten and 9~Sixty did the job just fine (even though the latter two have holes in their nightime coverage). Even 12~Thirty was competitive (#1 ARB) with their puny 250 watt signal at night!

But back to the original question: Why doesn't Phoenix have an All News Station? Nurse Jeff and I stand by our original answer: they're dinosaurs and too expensive to run.

 

[davideduardo]

Consolidation. Those two have a combined 4.1 12+ and are making money. Aside from satellite bureau's they got rid of the big money old school aftra contracts.

In the September book, the two had a combined 2.7 in 25-54, the real sales demos.

 

[lpAZ]

Consolidation. Those two have a combined 4.1 12+ and are making money. Aside from satellite bureau's they got rid of the big money old school aftra contracts.

In the September book, the two had a combined 2.7 in 25-54, the real sales demos.

Thanks, I didn't have the breakouts....so they have HUGE numbers 54-death? 25-49? Interesting. Would love to see the book.

 

[justthenumbers]

Thanks, I didn't have the breakouts....so they have HUGE numbers 54-death? 25-49? Interesting. Would love to see the book.

Typically (meaning not in an election year, or during especially rough economic times), CNN and Fox News struggle in money demos, but have monster 55+ viewership -- so it would make sense if all-news radio stations (which would seemingly be even more appealing to this demo due to AM radio being a much more traditional medium than cable TV) followed the same pattern.