I didn't say anything about a comparison. I simply made a reference to what is making news in LA for their AAA format, not unlike a Philadelphia station that's making news -
http://www.xpn.org. It's more appropriate to consider within context of non-com vs com. The college is just the license holder. And, if you don't take a non-com seriously, look at what my ex-boss left behind --
https://www.forbes.com/companies/educational-media-foundation/#2c66d94a7378.
What's important is that these stations, that may or may not be associated with a college, understand that the demographics of AAA can generate the dollars needed to keep this format alive. KCSN acts like a commercial station, sounds better than many commercial stations, and is growing because of their funding base (read: older demos who drive expensive cars and have the bucks to make a donation). There's no doubt that under Dean, there was an attempt to capture this market in a less than ideal market, with no signal, questionable management, and no budget.
You're saying the music hasn't changed? Wrong. It's quickly returning to it's so called Classic Rock burnouts. Who cares? Only this forum and only because it's an easy target because it's so bad.
OK I have been reading all of this stuff, just got home and saw some more here is what I found out. Yesterday I called KKDJ spoke to someone who identified himself as Chris, here is what he told me, understand I called to ask questions I forgot to ask what he did there but he seemed to know what he was talking about, hopefully this will clarify some of the ridiculous things I am reading on here.
I asked if Dean Opperman was still there he told me that the station had a meeting with staff yesterday which included Dean Opperman and another on air guy named Jeff. This meeting as I was told was to try and work things out.
This fellow told me that Management was upset over several things, according to what I was told Dean has been AWOL or MIA on a regular basis, the station can't seem to find him for days on end. He has continually not shown up for work among other things which I will not put on here as I don't want to say something that might hurt someone or their reputation.
I will say that having been in Broadcasting for years I have seen many come and go and from what I was told Dean has been given many chances. It was brought to my attention that the owners had done a lot for Dean Financially and even secured a place for him to live rent and utilities free, gave him a station vehicle and that he was paid a sign on bonus.
When I asked about the music and format because that is what I read here from others I was told that ownership gave Dean and his friend Jeff full control of the music and format. The inside scoop as he told me was the format was to be like Kpig or Kfat and that management had secured the music lists and music from those stations and that Jeff (Deans Friend) was inputting all the music plus music from the Kcsn format in Southern Ca. He told me that Jeff was doing all of that and that Jeff did all of the music programming, even though the format to be played was a Kpig or Kfat type format with some songs that Jeff put in that play on KCSN, They were very upset as they had given both of them complete music control that the format was never followed and that they as Management felt a consultant would help.
He told me that the owners hired a consultant to help them make sure they were on track and doing what would work in Fresno. He stated that the owners are pro Dean and Pro Jeff and really respect their massive talent and what it could bring to the station.
I was told the management was very disappointed in the actual music and how it was formatted, then they will decide if Dean stays or goes, I was told Jeff on the other hand was never late and never a no show so there was no question that he would be staying on.
He mentioned to me that they are running employment ads for Disc Jockeys that could fulfill their other time slots, he did tell me that ownership had a meeting with a former KKDJ on air person Billie Wright who was considering moving back to Fresno and said that she had been offered a job.
I was told that they are buying a lot of new equipment and rebuilding their studios on Palm and Herndon as well as building a totally new studio at their downtown facilities in the Pacific Southwest building. He told me that no decision was made on Dean's future at KKDJ yesterday, they are still in talks waiting for the consultants recommendations and waiting to finish their new studios as well, before they make that decision
After what I heard in my phone call yesterday I have a different outlook, I think these owners and managers have bent over backwards to keep Dean on the air even though just from my listening experience he was not there very much. As a listener who enjoys the music I am hoping that they work with him and try to keep him.