Goodbye K-LUV, Hello The Spot (98.7)

[LibertyNT]

KSPF: "Spot Fm"?...

That makes the most sense, or they have an easy bailout plan to call it Sunny.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

That makes the most sense, or they have an easy bailout plan to call it Sunny.

Not that it makes any real difference, but it seems like Audacy could have thrown a few grand at the owners of the little graveyard AM in Idaho, and used the FM side of KSPT.

 

[Ryan Williams]

My first thought was "SPot For..." but they are not really using that phrase in the imaging.

 

[pjc1961]

SPF = Sun Protection Factor (used in sunscreen products)
"A measure of how much solar energy (UV radiation) is required to produce sunburn on protected skin."
"A measure of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays."

An SPF of 98.7 should be very effective; Audacy can only hope!

 

[neosolbrudda]

Not that it makes any real difference, but it seems like Audacy could have thrown a few grand at the owners of the little graveyard AM in Idaho, and used the FM side of KSPT.

Someone said earlier that those calls were available, (was it you?). They would make more sense than KSPF IMO....

 

[Deleted member 108832]

Someone said earlier that those calls were available, (was it you?). They would make more sense than KSPF IMO....

It was not me, but a quick search of the call shows it to be currently in use by AM 1400 Sandpoint, Idaho. That particular station is off the air and, according to the STA, lost its tower site which is why the Silent Notification was filed. I don't know anything about the state of affairs up there in Sandpoint, but KSPT may very well become available in the short term. Looks like it has been silent for awhile now. May be a case of Audacy settling for KSPF until KSPT becomes available, without having to pay for the right to use the FM side of the calls. I'm not sure they even care, because if you look at the twin in Houston, they never bothered to change it at all, after "Hot Hits 95.7" (KKHH) became "95.7 The Spot" 6 years ago.

 

[neosolbrudda]

It was not me, but a quick search of the call shows it to be currently in use by AM 1400 Sandpoint, Idaho. That particular station is off the air and, according to the STA, lost its tower site which is why the Silent Notification was filed. I don't know anything about the state of affairs up there in Sandpoint, but KSPT may very well become available in the short term. Looks like it has been silent for awhile now. May be a case of Audacy settling for KSPF until KSPT becomes available, without having to pay for the right to use the FM side of the calls. I'm not sure they even care, because if you look at the twin in Houston, they never bothered to change it at all, after "Hot Hits 95.7" (KKHH) became "95.7 The Spot" 6 years ago.

The only reason they're doing it here is because of the EMF situation.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

The only reason they're doing it here is because of the EMF situation.

Exactly right. if Audacy really wanted to use KSPT they could get it. Instead, they have taken the somewhat similar KSPF, and even though the former set would fit better, or as you said make more sense, they likely won't obtain them, if at all, until they suddenly find that they are unused by anyone else.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Interesting that the KLUV call will be parked on an unbuilt station elsewhere. Would seem to indicate the call will return to DFW, otherwise why wouldn’t EMF place it on another big market station they already have?

More pieces to fall in place, I would think…keep an eye on 93.3. Their sister WDRQ in Detroit was sold to another religious broadcaster, and RadioInsight reported it as part of a multi market deal for Cumulus.

Question for radio pros and/or intellectual property experts: As reported, EMF cannot use the “K-Love” name in Los Angeles for any branding outside the actual on-air product, due to Univision controlling the trademark. If the KLUV call had been transferred to EMF’s 100.3 in LA, would they be able to promote “KLUV 100.3” while still not using the actual “K-Love” branding for print, billboards, and other visual media?

 

[davideduardo]

If the KLUV call had been transferred to EMF’s 100.3 in LA, would they be able to promote “KLUV 100.3” while still not using the actual “K-Love” branding for print, billboards, and other visual media?

I'm quite confident that all contingencies of the name usage were covered in the EMF deal.

Back about 15 years ago, EMF tried to claim that KLVE in LA had not used the "Kay-love" name prior to EMF's first usage on its first station elsewhere in CA. Fortunately, on some radio history website there was a K-Love 107.5 rate card from the late 70's, quashing that argument. The EMF folks were very, very aggressive until that point.

 

[Ryan Williams]

Question for radio pros and/or intellectual property experts: As reported, EMF cannot use the “K-Love” name in Los Angeles for any branding outside the actual on-air product, due to Univision controlling the trademark. If the KLUV call had been transferred to EMF’s 100.3 in LA, would they be able to promote “KLUV 100.3” while still not using the actual “K-Love” branding for print, billboards, and other visual media?

This is not a question for a radio program but one for an IP lawyer, which I am not, but I would say this would likely not work due to KLUV being phonetically identical to K-Love.

In North Texas, Audacy didn't actually hold a service mark for "K-Love" as far as I am aware, but for the phonetically identical "K-Luv". Since both are for the category of radio service, the test of would it cause confusion to consumers seems certain, opening up the non-holder to litigation/damages.

I'm pretty sure K-Love (EMF) had billboards in LA at some point.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I'm quite confident that all contingencies of the name usage were covered in the EMF deal.

I figured that…but hypothetically could Univision really prevent EMF from using the FCC issued call as just letters (spoken as Kay-El-You-Vee and not the specific “K-Love“ name) for promotion/branding purposes in LA? Not a phonetic match.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

I figured that…but hypothetically could Univision really prevent EMF from using the FCC issued call as just letters (spoken as Kay-El-You-Vee and not the specific “K-Love“ name) for promotion/branding purposes in LA? Not a phonetic match.

Ryan is absolutely right. You would need to consult an attorney to get the straight answer to a question like this, but I would assume that such a scenario was likely considered by Univision, when the deal was made to allow the branding of EMF's K-Love to exist in the market, and would be considered a breach of the original agreement. At the very least, it would be in extremely bad taste for EMF to push the envelope like that with the current L A. market agreement in place.

I would assume, like you, the calls are being parked until an acquisition within the Metroplex can take place.

 

[Ryan Williams]

I would assume, like you, the calls are being parked until an acquisition within the Metroplex can take place.

I would not assume that. More than likely the calls were part of the service mark transaction, but not necessarily for the DFW market. Remember that "LUV" has a long history in the DFW market not only associated with "oldies", but with Southwest Airlines (it's there stock symbol) which is itself a playful reference to Dallas Love Field.

More than likely EMF just doesn't want confusion and doesn't want to give any other broadcaster any ideas (in or outside of North Texas) so they moved those calls far outside of the area, where they can control and keep them tied up.

 

[AceBiscuits]

I would not assume that. More than likely the calls were part of the service mark transaction, but not necessarily for the DFW market. Remember that "LUV" has a long history in the DFW market not only associated with "oldies", but with Southwest Airlines (it's there stock symbol) which is itself a playful reference to Dallas Love Field.

More than likely EMF just doesn't want confusion and doesn't want to give any other broadcaster any ideas (in or outside of North Texas) so they moved those calls far outside of the area, where they can control and keep them tied up.

To expand, it probably would be unlikely that they would reuse the KLUV calls in Dallas, as it would only cause confusion.

 

[Kent]

Remember that "LUV" has a long history in the DFW market not only associated with "oldies", but with Southwest Airlines (it's there stock symbol) which is itself a playful reference to Dallas Love Field.

LUV is the airport code for Love Field. Prior to DFW, that was how you flew into Dallas. My dad always preferred Love Field to DFW because it was less busy and was easier to get around. He liked Southwest because it flew between Love and Hobby, which meant he didn’t have to deal with IAH either.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

To expand, it probably would be unlikely that they would reuse the KLUV calls in Dallas, as it would only cause confusion

I understand the perspective you and Ryan have, but I have to disagree. I lean with Mediafrog's assessment on the calls merely being parked, because a typical Metroplex listener is not going to be confused when a set of calls suddenly reappear on the Metroplex dial. 98.7 wasn't K-L-U-V to your average listener, instead, it was always 98.7 "K-Luv". The confusion will happen the moment, if and when EMF purchases a 2nd DFW signal, that the K-Luv/K-Love branding is relaunched in the market.

Let's use 93.3 as a hypothetical here, since a few of the members have mentioned it as a possible future acquisition for EMF. The average listener is going to find themselves looking around the dial, when their own station of habit is in a long commercial break, or running public affairs programming, or what have you, and by chance suddenly hears "Positive and encouraging, K-Love" as the seek stops on 93.3. "Oh, hey! K-Luv is back!" they think to themselves. So, they stick around and listen for a bit. Suddenly, that listener realizes "Hey, wait a minute. This isn't the music K-Luv used to play.", and become utterly disappointed, confused, maybe even a little jilted, and then moves on up or down the dial. That is where the confusion will take place, not with just the mere KLUV call sign being mentioned at the TOH. That confusion is going to happen, regardless if the KLUV calls are associated with the K-Love brand or not. Given the nearly 40 year history of the brand residing in the Metroplex, and the recognition that is associated with it, EMF would have to think the area would absolutely be the best place to return them, for any DFW signal that they would potentially acquire. As stated, the airport code for Dallas Love Field is LUV, and you have a longstanding association with the city, the brand, and the calls, all in one place.

Of course, all of this is based on an assumption that EMF has any intent on acquiring another signal in DFW. We have no idea of that is even a certainty. Good discussion, gentlemen. Love getting to debate our varying perspectives.

 

[101tm]

The question is, where in DFW would EMF go? I highly doubt iHeart or Cumulus are willing to let anything go. 93.3 looks like it underperforms but I have a feeling Cumulus keeps it for some kind of cluster strategy. Audacy needs cash the most and as we’ve seen recently they are willing to let heritage brands go for it.

The fact 98.7 went with the “Spot” branding instead of “BIG” tells me either 100.3 or 107.5 will eventually be unloaded. 100.3 would eliminate JACK and open the lane for 98.7 to go full adult hits. 107.5 being sold would likely result in the regional Mexican format going to 100.3, also opening a lane for 98.7 to go full adult hits.

Another thought - doesn’t look like KRLD (AM) will be getting an FM simulcast like Audacy has commonly done with their news and talk stations, especially if they unload an FM.

 

[JustinT]

LUV is the airport code for Love Field. Prior to DFW, that was how you flew into Dallas. My dad always preferred Love Field to DFW because it was less busy and was easier to get around. He liked Southwest because it flew between Love and Hobby, which meant he didn’t have to deal with IAH either.

As stated, the airport code for Dallas Love Field is LUV

The airport code for Dallas Love is actually DAL, but based on this thread maybe they have a branding problem

 

[Deleted member 108832]

The airport code for Dallas Love is actually DAL, but based on this thread maybe they have a branding problem

You are right, and a laughable gaffe on my part. It's the stock symbol for Southwest Airlines, not the code for their hub. I'm embarrassed! 😳 🤦‍♂️