heard they blew up kbsg.

[Steenman]

Wow that was fast, KIRO just called me. Yikes, I guess people do read this! Good luck to everyone involved in the change.

 

[PSAIRCHECKS]

The Russ Cimber voiced ID on KBSG now says "97.3fm and HD2". The "2" is the interesting part. Not owning an HD radio, I can't check, but would assume KIRO is now HD1 and perhaps the oldies format will live on on HD2? I don't know how many HD radios are out there, but they do need some kind of content for that second channel and so perhaps we are now hearing that "feed"? So KBSG may well live on, in a fashion, at least the music.

I have one and just checked. KBSG had an urban AC type format on the HD-2 but right now it is off and only the KBSG 97.3 HD-1 channel is available.

 

[AQH]

Excuse me? Nail in the Coffin at KOMO? Far from that...expect KOMO to tweak it's format to a hard New/Talk format...combine the heritage of KVI and success of KOMO into a re-energized News/Talk station.

What KVI "heritage?" The golden age of KVI in the 1990s when they ran Dean Edell and Rush Limbaugh re-airs into the ground?

 

[AQH]

Not unexpected but still always a surprise when a station flips. KIRO simulcast makes sense to save dollars and then stay with the News/Talk while Seahawks and Mariners games are on AM. Will KIRO then go all sports on the AM? If that is the case Clear Channel won't be all smiles.

Doubtful. While sports is not cheap to run, it's a little cheaper than all-news or news/talk. I don't think the sales dollars would allow that to happen.

While KJR-FM gets a boost with KBSG gone, KJR-AM would be in deep trouble with a full sports station on 710.

Bonneville's specialty is news, not sports. Bonneville's answer back in the day to KJR was poaching Dave Grosby, which didn't work out. KIRO would have to do a lot more than simply poach more KJR talent to go sports. Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I don't think the dollars and sense aspect is there to go all-sports. KIRO would be better off waiting to see how KOMO will do with their all-news format when the Mariners leave.

Wonder if KOMO moves their product to KPLZ in a simulcast. Seems unlikely Fisher would blow up KPLZ because they make money, but so did KBSG and Bonneville made the move.

As you well know, KBSG did not make as much money as KPLZ does. Bonneville is thinking long-term here, which is an odd concept in today's radio.

One move creates all kinds of what-ifs for KJR, KJR-AM, KOMO, KPLZ and KVI. One the sales side of things KIRO will get some additional dollars with the simulcast, but no where near what KBSG and KIRO made together. If KPLZ becomes KOMO-FM it will get some dollars too, but no where near what KOMO and KPLZ made. I wonder if the KIRO move was pre-emptive against a potential KOMO/KPLZ simulcast. Once KOMO lost the Mariners it may have been their plan. One thing is for sure: Bonneville, Fisher and Clear Channel will be in upheaval.

Bonneville has opened itself up, no question. Fisher, to me, is just trying to reduce overhead to make itself attractive to a buyer. Keeping music on 101.5 (and its revenue stream) is the best move for Fisher, KOMO-FM would be way too costly in so many ways. Clear Channel is simply weathering the economical storm right now. If KJR-FM does anything, it'll have to do with music scheduling than anything else. I don't think KJR-FM is able to hire any of the KBSG talent right now, anyway.

The biggest winner in all of this is WARM. The station shared a large amount of its cume with KBSG. They already looked strong and now they have lost one of their main competitors. KMPS must be smiling too. It isn't just KJR-FM that benefits from the loss of KBSG.

Well said there.

 

[semoochie]

HD1 is always a simulcast of the main analog channel. It sounds like they have switched the HD2 to the same thing and plan to keep it there when the other 2 start simulcasting KIRO.

 

[notalent]

As mentioned above KBSG HD2 is currently turned off. there is only an HD1 simulcast and no multicast. It would make sense for them to put the current format on the HD2 (after they turn it back on) when they begin the simulcast...

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

One thing that confuses me about their ID....maybe things have changed with HD dual ID's (but I don't think so).

They id as "KBSG-FM Tacoma/Seattle". Since they were originally licensed as an FM, usually the suffix is not required; but that MAY have become mirky when they added the 1210-AM simulcast (perhaps calls amended to KBSG-FM?). But the AM went away...so there is really only ONE AM/FM entity, so I would assume calls go back to KBSG Tacoma/Seattle.

Only reason I'm so "anal" about this is we got our wrist slapped by FCC @ KYYX, because we had "KYYX-FM" in the ID (emphasizing the FM because Top-40 FM's were novel at that time), and FCC demanded we "CHANGE IT", as legally we were only "KYYX/Seattle".

KRTH had their TOH jingles resung ... and THEY only identify as "KRTH/Los Angeles, KRTH-HD/Los Angeles". Most other CBS, I think, use the "HD1 suffix" in their legals.

Anyone have the scoop on how all that is supposed to work?

Given the FCC commissioners may not even KNOW they have radio stations in their care, this may not even matter any more....but hard to believe SOME bureaucrat isn't wrapped around the axle on this minutia.

 

[CorporateSuit]

Excuse me? Nail in the Coffin at KOMO? Far from that...expect KOMO to tweak it's format to a hard New/Talk format...combine the heritage of KVI and success of KOMO into a re-energized News/Talk station.

What KVI "heritage?" The golden age of KVI in the 1990s when they ran Dean Edell and Rush Limbaugh re-airs into the ground?

And by doing that, we buried KING AM and then beat KIRO, not once but twice. It was all smoke and mirrors, but, wow what a ride!!!!

 

[cartman2]

I think this just sucks big time, and it is a sad day for seattle radio indeed. I will truly miss KBSG as I was a long time loyal listener of that station for many many years. But thankfully i have my xm and sirius radios where I know will have to turn to hear this format of music. I just don't see how this will benefit KIRO at all. thankfully I gopt to hear alot of their last totally 70's sunday including AT40. But I can still hear them on XM Yeaaa.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Legal ID is now "KIRO-FM Tacoma/Seattle..."

 

[RadioRon]

and pretty soon it will be ESPN 710!

 

[Bongwater]

and pretty soon it will be ESPN 710!

ESPN 710...I shudder to think....

I was listening to KBSG most of last night. TALK ABOUT YOUR JUKEBOXES! It's pretty much wall to wall music, with just a jingle or female announcer ("B97-3") every few songs. Not a commercial or PSA anywhere (and I swear, not even a top hour ID some hours!) No announcements of the impending format change, just nothing but music

I was especially surprised at the early '80s content, gave me serious KNBQ flashbacks.

And just now, I just hard a legal ID..."KIRO-FM Tacoma-Seattle"

It's official....

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

And just now, I just hard a legal ID..."KIRO-FM Tacoma-Seattle"
It's official....

Scroll back one page, buddy!
You have GOT to start buying better weed!!!

 

[semoochie]

Apparently, KBSG didn't apply to change back to KBSG after dropping the AM calls and are still(or were) KBSG-FM. Call letters are official and unless they're officially changed, you still have them.

 

[SeattleObserver]

I was listening to KBSG most of last night. TALK ABOUT YOUR JUKEBOXES! It's pretty much wall to wall music, with just a jingle or female announcer ("B97-3") every few songs. Not a commercial or PSA anywhere (and I swear, not even a top hour ID some hours!) No announcements of the impending format change, just nothing but music

I was especially surprised at the early '80s content, gave me serious KNBQ flashbacks.

And just now, I just hard a legal ID..."KIRO-FM Tacoma-Seattle"

It's official....

BW, how is reception in Bellingham for 97.3 anyway? I have seen the ratings for that area (only 2 of the 4 books include Bellingham) and the Seattle AMs are in there... not so much the FM's.

One of the selling points of this change is something about this being one of the best FM signals in the market and reaching a broader audience.

I know I can hear KIRO 710 from beyond Centralia up into Vancouver but I can't get 97.3 at a "listenable" quality.

 

[Grindlfan]

The idiotic programming decisions at KIRO drove me to progressive talk AM 1090, and I am not even a progressive. My music station was KBSG. KIRO is a terrible station and it won't be any better in FM. This is all because they got the stink ball Mariners back for a few years. Well, listen up CBS Radio, now is the time to blow up boring Jack FM in Seattle and make it a good oldies station sans any 80s crap and complete with live DJs round the clock.

 

[pbf1]

The idiotic programming decisions at KIRO drove me to progressive talk AM 1090, and I am not even a progressive. My music station was KBSG. KIRO is a terrible station and it won't be any better in FM. This is all because they got the stink ball Mariners back for a few years. Well, listen up CBS Radio, now is the time to blow up boring Jack FM in Seattle and make it a good oldies station sans any 80s crap and complete with live DJs round the clock.

KIRO terrible? Check the ratings...others seem to disagree.

Doubt you'll hear oldies on 96.5, given the poor results in the money demographics. Besides, Jack runs cheaply.

 

[Grindlfan]

The idiotic programming decisions at KIRO drove me to progressive talk AM 1090, and I am not even a progressive. My music station was KBSG. KIRO is a terrible station and it won't be any better in FM. This is all because they got the stink ball Mariners back for a few years. Well, listen up CBS Radio, now is the time to blow up boring Jack FM in Seattle and make it a good oldies station sans any 80s crap and complete with live DJs round the clock.

KIRO terrible? Check the ratings...others seem to disagree.

Doubt you'll hear oldies on 96.5, given the poor results in the money demographics. Besides, Jack runs cheaply.

Jack may run cheaply but the ratings aren't good. The format change would fill the void when KBSG goes bye bye and bring them a larger audience. We need a 60s and 70s station in Seattle. KJR FM doesn't count. A station playing 60s & 70s and a station playing 80s and early 90s would be perfect, but don't mix the two.

 

[SeattleObserver]

The idiotic programming decisions at KIRO drove me to progressive talk AM 1090, and I am not even a progressive. My music station was KBSG. KIRO is a terrible station and it won't be any better in FM. This is all because they got the stink ball Mariners back for a few years. Well, listen up CBS Radio, now is the time to blow up boring Jack FM in Seattle and make it a good oldies station sans any 80s crap and complete with live DJs round the clock.

*Maniacal laughter* A company that is selling off 50 "underperforming" stations and is under pressure from shareholders to pull in more $$$ is in no way going to try anything like that. :-(

But, I sure wish they would. Although, 96.5's signal is so tough for me to receive in Seattle. Does anyone else have that issue?

 

[pbf1]

Jack may run cheaply but the ratings aren't good. The format change would fill the void when KBSG goes bye bye and bring them a larger audience. We need a 60s and 70s station in Seattle. KJR FM doesn't count. A station playing 60s & 70s and a station playing 80s and early 90s would be perfect, but don't mix the two.

25-54 is what matters, and the ratings would be worse doing 60's-70's.