Bob FM Wichita

[JimmyJames]

So what's the deal with the 97.1 - 100.5 simulcast? Is 100.5 going to become something other than Bob FM?

 

[Kent]

The rumor I've heard is that Bob moves to 97.1, and 100.5 takes another format. Also, word on the streets is apparently that they've been talking to Broadcast Architecture. That's about all I've heard so far, though.

 

[rufus]

Bob is now being advertised in their TV schedule as being at 97.1 only, should be soon for the new brother/sister.

Jazz..ugh..way too many markets (even ones a bit larger than ICT) can't support a Jazz station. AAA?..see jazz.

Now, LITE AC to cut into B98's shares? That has potential.

 

[Kent]

Keep in mind that Broadcast Architecture does more than just smooth jazz. Although it's the only format they provide, they offer all kinds of different research and consulting services. I got the same impression you did, which was that Conoisseur was looking at smooth jazz for 100.5, but it's far from a certainty as they could just be asking BA to help them conduct research.

As for the smooth jazz format, I have to admit that I really liked the old KWSJ 105.3. I listened to it a lot when I was in Salina roughly 10 years ago. I'm not sure the format would do very well being run on-the-cheap since a slick, well-produced format didn't make it.

I have to agree with you that B-98 needs the competition. I always thought it was a terrible AC that won by default. I seem to remember they were in a middle of the pack dogfight with KXLK until Triathalon got their hands on both of them and toasted KXLK, which caused B-98 to zoom to top-tier. However, I can't imagine 100.5 doing any damage to B-98 as an AC; it just doesn't have the signal. A niche format is about the only thing that will work there. If Connoisseur wanted to do AC, 97.1 would have been a far better fit for it. However, like you said, they're pretty much saying 97.1 is Bob's permanent home. I can't necessarily fault them for wanting to put Bob on a bigger stick when it's done as well as it has since signing on, but you also have to think it's going to be hard to duplicate that kind of success on that signal again.

 

[MN Maniac]

100.5 *may* be able to upgrade.

I noticed that KATT-100.5 in Oklahoma City has a CP to downgrade from a full Class C to Class C1. WHY they are doing this, I have no idea. They are moving, but the new stick is 1543 feet HAAT vs 1192 feet HAAT from the old location. Since they are a full C, why not run the full 100kW from the new site?

Anyway, this may allow 100.5 to upgrade, although I'm guessing this would require a directional antenna. 100.3/Kingman and 100.7/Hoisington would need to be protected.

 

[Kent]

100.5 *may* be able to upgrade.

Good point. I had forgotten about KATT-FM's proposed downgrade. Like you said, they'll still have to deal with KTCM, but there could be something in the works there. I doubt Cliff Shank would have agreed to swap 97.1 for it had there not been some upgrade potential into Hutchinson. That would probably put it even further from 100.5 if they could move the tower north a bit. However, they'd have to contend with KHOK.

I noticed that KATT-100.5 in Oklahoma City has a CP to downgrade from a full Class C to Class C1. WHY they are doing this, I have no idea. They are moving, but the new stick is 1543 feet HAAT vs 1192 feet HAAT from the old location. Since they are a full C, why not run the full 100kW from the new site?

KATT-FM is downgrading to upgrade sister station WWLS-FM 97.9. It moves to 98.1, and another station has to move to a frequency too near 100.5 as a full class C. I can't remember everything that changed in that shuffle, but they had move a station in Stillwater (KVRO 98.1 to 106.3) among others, and one in Lawton had previously downgraded to help a station move into Dallas to make the change possible. I think the one that's requiring KATT-FM to downgrade is either KIXR or KPNC in the Ponca City area, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

 

[MN Maniac]

Okay, I see it now. Ponca City moves from Class A at 100.9 to Class C3 at 100.7. Wow. That's a tight squeeze with KATT. But nothing suprises me anymore in these days of shoehorned FM allocations.

I wonder if there isn't more to this story, though. If KATT was downgrading, why would they go *up* in height from 1192 to 1543 feet. Seems this is the kind of thing a station would do to *preserve* it's full Class C under the new rules, rather than be downgraded to C0.

 

[purplepassion]

KTCM is now KNZS. KNZS has filed an application to move to move the transmitter site of 100.3 from 45 miles southwest of Hutchinson to 22 miles west of Hutchinson, and change the city of license from Kingman to Arlington. A new 488 foot tower will be built and the power will be increased from 7.8 Kw to 14.5 Kw. V100 from Topeka is also at 100.3 FM. KNZS can not move any closer to Hutchinson because of V100. If 100.5 could move it would have to be towards the south. They have to maintain a city grade signal over Augusta. I doubt if there is much room for improvement of the 100.5 FM signal over Wichita.

 

[Kent]

Okay, I see it now. Ponca City moves from Class A at 100.9 to Class C3 at 100.7. Wow. That's a tight squeeze with KATT. But nothing suprises me anymore in these days of shoehorned FM allocations.

And that move was necessitated by KVRO being moved to 101.1. It seems like it was originally proposed to move to 106.3, but that probably wasn't possible due to KYQQ being at 106.5 with a tower just north of Winfield.

I wonder if there isn't more to this story, though. If KATT was downgrading, why would they go *up* in height from 1192 to 1543 feet. Seems this is the kind of thing a station would do to *preserve* it's full Class C under the new rules, rather than be downgraded to C0.

Simply put, KATT goes up in height but lowers power to 31,000 watts. It's still the technical equivalent of 100,000 watts, but it will have to lower power to compensate for the change in height as a C1.

By the way, also thanks to purplepassion for the information on KNZS 100.3. What format is it running right now? I'd guess it's not still running the regional Mexican format it had before, but Connoisseur ran it as a placeholder for quite some time after buying it from Maria Salazar.

 

[purplepassion]

KNZS is simulcasting with KXKU-106.1 FM, playing Kansas Best Country, and broadcasting lots of local sports.

Look for a format change once the technical improvements are made and the new tower is built.

 

[MN Maniac]

I checked radio-locator.com and see now how all of this plays together.

98.1/Stillwater is moving to 101.1. This facilitates WWLS' move from 97.9 > 98.1 and upgrade to Class C1.

The proximity of Stillwater to Ponca City necessitates that Ponca City's 100.9 move to 100.7.

As I mentioned before: Despite the downgrade from C to C1, KATT is still going up to 1543 feet. This would put it above the 450m height requirement for Class C's to avoid being knocked down to C0 if another station upgrades.

My guess is that Citadel is doing this in the hope that either 100.7 can eventually be moved further north of Ponca City or relocated on yet another frequency. Then, all they would have to do is "turn it up" to restore KATT to full Class C status.

Of course, if someone on the other side of OKC takes advantage of KATT's newly downgraded C1 status to upgrade their own facilities, all bets are off.

 

[Kent]

I doubt Citadel cares if KATT operates at 97,000 watts, like it did as a class C, or 31,000, like it will as a C1. Those of us radiogeeks might wish it were to happen, but I can't imagine Citadel caring at all. The coverage area is virtually the same. You'll still be able to hear it in Enid and Bristow on a good car radio, and it will cover the entire market.

The bigger question is what, if anything, it will mean for Wichita. I agree that it's not likely you'll see 100.5 upgrade, but it may be possible now. KNZS is moving a little further north, and KATT has downgraded, but they're probably still limited by KDVV and maybe even KPNC now.