Epic Fail: Pappas To Shut Down KMPH/840

[DaveBayArea]

Re: Fools Fools Fools

Anyway , I'm going to listen to some old airchecks of KFRC.

I bet it won't be on AM either

One of the things that I've noticed is that it's not impossible for an AM to make money. There are many. But does anyone know of an AM anywhere that's tried a new signal (like KTRB/KMPH) or even a new format in the last five years & made any kind of dent in the ratings? It seems like all of the successful AM's are heritage stations. KGO, KCBS, & KNBR in SF. KFBK in Sac. I guess maybe 1240 in Sacramento when it went talk. But even at its height it barely came close to a 2-share. There just isn't much of a chance for a NEW station on the AM band from what I can tell.

Dave B.

 

[kenrayc]

Who's next to shut down in Modesto, KFIV 1360.

 

[travisl5678]

It seems tome that all the AMs in Stockton/Modesto could go off.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Who's next to shut down in Modesto, KFIV 1360.

And its doddering twin, KWSX/1280 in Stockton.

 

[Madmansam]

Who's next to shut down in Modesto, KFIV 1360.

And its doddering twin, KWSX/1280 in Stockton.

Between those two, I actually wouldn't be surprised to see KWSX go silent. At least, KFIV shows up in the ratings and they have two localized shows (Morning News and Afternoon Drive Talk Show). KWSX has neither. It is a mystery why Clear Channel keeps KWSX on the air. They probably spend more on the power bill than they receive revenue from that station.

 

[MarcB]

The day that a 50,000 watt AM goes brokered is the day that AM Radio is officially dead.

Northern California

KLOK 1170 Brokered Ethnic 50 kw Day/ 5 kw Night
KCBC 770 Brokered Religion 50 kw Day/ 4.1 kw NIght
KFAX 1100 Brokered Religion 50 kw Day and Night

Southern California

1580 KBLA Brokered 50 kw Day and Night

And from outside of California - WNWR 1540 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 50KW daytime only.

 

[DanielBoone]

There is not a chance in a godzillian that 860 is moving back to Modesto. Jim Pappas and his team have done so much work just to get it where it is now that -- whether it's sold to someone else or they keep it -- it ain't going anywhere. That's a Bay Area station now.

Exactly. It apparently goes back to a feud the Pappas brothers had a long time ago when they were either denied a license or couldn't join a broadcast association or something because of discrimination against them because they were of Greek background. From what I understand they made a solemn promise to one day have a station in the Bay Area, one way or the other. Where's Phil Kane when we need him?.....

I think the bankruptcy has something to do with it also, Harry and Jim had to sell their main stations including KMPH FOX 26 and KFRE 59 and 12 other TV stations, KBOS was sold years ago.
I really don't see having a Greek background has any thing to do with it.

Rotten shame!!! Now I have go back and listen to Michael Savage on that crappy signal 105.5 The Truth. Hiss..Hiss.

Someone was mentioning something about being Greek? Imagine if they were Armenians? WHOA! Ha Ha. ;D

 

[Madmansam]

Just gave KWSX a listen. They apparently replaced the KFBK Afternoon News with KFIV's Afternoon Drive Show with host, Dave! Diamond. At least that is a good thing.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Central Valley Business Times reports:

Apparently (KMPH's) owner, Pappas Radio of Modesto LLC, is in talks with a Catholic radio network to program the frequency while Pappas retains ownership. Pappas Radio is owned by Harry Pappas of Reno, Nev., according to the station’s Federal Communications Commission file. Mr. Pappas is a veteran Central Valley broadcaster.

If that's true, it would fill in a substantial coverage gap for Immaculate Heart Radio.

The full article is at http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=16120

KSTN (AM and FM) is also mentioned in the article, with a slight error in noting that the FM is airing Catholic programming. I understand, however, that the LaRues are in final negotiations to fully transfer ownership of KSTN-FM to EMF.

 

[MarioMania]

I could get KMPH..but I couldn't get it in my room

 

[travisl5678]

Comes in great here at night, Is someone gonna roll tape? I'm sure the folks at KJZN are happy, maybe It would help if they told listeners to tune into 105.5 before sign off on 840

 

[Madmansam]

I'm sure the folks at KJZN are happy, maybe It would help if they told listeners to tune into 105.5 before sign off on 840

Unless you are a listener in the Modesto/Stockton area and can only receive Smooth Jazz KRVR-105.5.

 

[MarioMania]

How long will KMPH going to stay off for??

 

[kenrayc]

I'm sure the folks at KJZN are happy, maybe It would help if they told listeners to tune into 105.5 before sign off on 840

Unless you are a listener in the Modesto/Stockton area and can only receive Smooth Jazz KRVR-105.5.

I was thinking the samething for Modesto/Stockton, but for Merced and South, KJZN 105.5 could be a replacement station,being that even though they are on the valley floor in Kerman with 25kw ERP, they are in mono for talk radio, which makes it easier to here.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Listening to KMPH/840 right now (7:30 AM) and they are saying they will be simply turning the station off at 9 AM -- no mention of switching formats to I-Heart Radio. I'm wondering if that means there'll be a transition period before the Catholic programming begins.

The KMPH website (http://840thepatriot.com) has a message from morning host Rob Johnson, along with this listing for today's programming:

Tuesday

Sign off - 9:00 a.m.​

 

[BossRadioDJ]

And KMPH chief engineer Jerry Moore just let the morning team know that the station will continue broadcasting until midnight tonight.

 

[MarioMania]

Why are they shutting down at Midnight now??

 

[Roachley]

Contractual obligations through the end of the month?

Or... a repeat "hoax" from the KTRB Modesto days?

Firing Hoax To Boost Ratings - Modesto Radio Museum​

KTRB listeners got an earful on Friday October 19, 1990 when a carefully planned drama played out on the air. Listeners were led to believe that the station's new manager Jon Bellizzi had decided to fire popular DJ Fred Hunter. Fellow DJ, J.W. Ford, informed listeners of the situation and his alleged outrage of the supposed move. Once the listeners were brought into the plan, daily reports on the air resulted in calls and letters to the station in support of Hunter and Ford. The spoof all came to a head, as planned, while J.W. Ford was on the air Friday morning. Listeners were led to believe they were hearing Bellizzi physically removing a defiant Ford from the control room and forcing him off the air. Everyone involved at the station insisted the events were real. They weren't according to our sources. The hoax was designed to boost ratings for the station.

Maybe? Maybe Not?​

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Contractual obligations through the end of the month?

Or... a repeat "hoax" from the KTRB Modesto days?

KTRB listeners got an earful on Friday October 19, 1990 when a carefully planned drama played out on the air.Listeners were led to believe that the station's new manager Jon Bellizzi had decided to fire popular DJ Fred Hunter. The hoax was designed to boost ratings for the station.

Bet on (a) contractual obligations. Perhaps nobody in the building realized those folks paid for their spots and brokered hours through the end of the month.

Who might they be dramatically dragging from the studio at midnight? There (probably) won't be any member of the current airstaff there.

Heck, this morning at 9 AM, they had so little control over the situation that the automation took over and played the news from the satellite automatically while they were in the middle of a listener call, and apparently nobody could override the automation until the system was released at the end of the news feed.

Meet you back here at 11 PM...

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Just past 11 PM. Trying to stomach some dry boring absolute orifice named Mark Levin until some real human beings come on and provide The Patriot 840 with the sweet release of death ... a death it doesn't deserve, a death that could have been forestalled by intelligent management and creative programming.

But I digress.

I understand, from first-hand information provided by A Person Who Shall Go Unnamed, that there will be a few words spoken over the body -- errr, I mean over the air -- 'round midnight before somebody puts out the big light and KMPH goes quietly into this good night.

Quietly, that is, perhaps for only a short time...