Final Report & Order/KMCQ 104.5 Mhz coming to Seattle!

[FMSteve]

Today the FCC released it's final order on the allocation of Class C station KMCQ to move antenna sites to Enumclaw with a downgrade of power to a C3, on frequency 104.5 FM. This gives them a service contour covering about 1/2 of the Seattle-Tacoma Urbanized Area. To make way for this allocation, KMIH 104.5 on Mercer Island will be moving to 88.9 Mhz (CP), and Bellevue High Schools' station KASB (CP) will move to 89.9 Mhz.

We note that First Broadcasting, the proponent of this allocation scheme, holds the license to the Forks, WA. channel, and also has an agreement in principal for KAFE, Bellingham to move to 104.1 mhz. This will enable the 104.5 FM frequency to upgrade in power and put their xmit site on Cougar Mountain, 248 kilometers from the Dalles, Oregon. When this happens, 104.5 will be a contender in this market, and we believe Clear Channel will be broadcasting Sports Radio or The Funky Monkey on this channel. Therefore, we think Entercom must jump the gun immediately and throw a KIRO simulcast on 107.7 Mhz.

Enjoy reading: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-160A1.pdf

8)

 

[radioplayer]

".....Therefore, we think Entercom must jump the gun immediately and throw a KIRO simulcast on 107.7 Mhz."

Whoa! While FM Steve's report is accurate and this story is the biggest thing to hit the Seattle market in at least 10 years, I'd say that FIRST....there needs to be a resubmission or modification of the CP at Enumclaw for KMCQ, BEFORE anything further can happen. That will take at least 6 months, so Seattle probably won't see a new 104.5 FM till next year at this time. Subject to FCC approval, there would also need to be an approved CP for KAFE with a move to 104.1 and a modification of their antenna or power reduction, depending on what ultimately comes out of the consulting engineer's office computer for this change.

What will be programmed on this station and the alleged idea of "local Covington news" will be interesting to watch!

I'm not holding my breath.......

 

[yoyo205]

What local news is going to come out of Covington?? Oh the new Kohl's opened up.. Some kid from Kentwood High was playing hookie.. what the heck!? Highly doubt 104.5FM is going to be Covington local news, maybe South Sound talk.. I see Clear Channel buying it and moving it in with their South Sound Studios in Tacoma. We'll see.

 

[airwaver]

KMCQ 104.5 Mhz coming to Seattle

What local news is going to come out of Covington?? Oh the new Kohl's opened up.. Some kid from Kentwood High was playing hookie.. what the heck!? Highly doubt 104.5FM is going to be Covington local news, maybe South Sound talk.. I see Clear Channel buying it and moving it in with their South Sound Studios in Tacoma. We'll see.

Yeah, RIGHT ON the $$ Yoyo....BRAVO!

 

[FMSteve]

So we know that the Commission relaxed the provision for the studio to be outside the City of License (COL) several years ago. The main broadcast studio may be 80 miles out. I've said all along here that this station will originate down on Elliott Ave., and leave Covington out to pasture. 104.9 down in Yelm has been a thorn in Clear Channels' foot because it's a rather weak rimshot, but does not give them market dominance, so I see a divesture of 104.9 to some unknown party, and 104.5 to be The Funky Monkey's new channel, beating up on KISW & KNDD.

Funky Monkey is superior, programming-wise, so Entercom loses. The reason I feel Entercom must do something with KNDD is because given the two stations, KISW & KNDD, KISW is the most established and is most definately a heritage station. By going to a KIRO simulcast, it forces Clear Channel to go to the Monkey, not Sports Radio as they likely would want to do. We could never have two news/sports FM stations in town. Entercom needs to spoil Clear Channels' evil master plan.