Kabc really has been ticking me off with there infomercials

[Uncle Rob]

If the variables indicate there is growth potential for KFWB, then a cash infusion to improve the station may make good business sense. On the other hand, if the station has already reached its peak, then the best course of action is to leave it as is and simply dispose of the property.

And that is the case. There is no viable English language position in the market that is not on a better signal, and CBS is not known for doing any non-English programming except on FMs where they have a handful of Spanish language ones. And Spanish on an AM is likely even less viable than what they are doing now. Of course, the signal is not full market, so it makes sense to hold, like so many homeowners are doing, until the market improves. I wonder if they have written this one down as an impaired asset?

Just wondering ...... would they be able (either KFWB or KABC) to petition the FCC to increase power? During the day or perhaps day and night? Or is the market to saturated to do that?

 

[emailfailed]

In KFWB's case there was talk of upper the power to 10kw, but there has been the long standing problem of 990 AM in Santa Barbara.

In the late go-go 1990s there was talk up increasing KFWB's power to 50kw and working out some kind of deal to basically buy 990 AM and silence it, or simulcast it. This talk came about when CBS bought/acquired KFWB and was trying to make it look attractive to potential buyers. One of those potential buyers was Clear Channel, which at the time owned 990 AM in Santa Barbara.

As for KABC's case the power upgrade would have to be very limited as there is a station operating on 790 AM in Fresno.

If KFWB had remained all news the signal bump to 10kw might have helped a little, especially with car listeners, but any signal adjustment for KABC isn't really going to help unless it's a major upgrade, which cannot happen.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

In KFWB's case there was talk of upper the power to 10kw, but there has been the long standing problem of 990 AM in Santa Barbara.

In the late go-go 1990s there was talk up increasing KFWB's power to 50kw and working out some kind of deal to basically buy 990 AM and silence it, or simulcast it. This talk came about when CBS bought/acquired KFWB and was trying to make it look attractive to potential buyers. One of those potential buyers was Clear Channel, which at the time owned 990 AM in Santa Barbara.

As for KABC's case the power upgrade would have to be very limited as there is a station operating on 790 AM in Fresno.

If KFWB had remained all news the signal bump to 10kw might have helped a little, especially with car listeners, but any signal adjustment for KABC isn't really going to help unless it's a major upgrade, which cannot happen.

Maybe the Fresno station can buy KABC and simulcast their programming on it.

;D

 

[davideduardo]

In the late go-go 1990s there was talk up increasing KFWB's power to 50kw and working out some kind of deal to basically buy 990 AM and silence it, or simulcast it. This talk came about when CBS bought/acquired KFWB and was trying to make it look attractive to potential buyers. One of those potential buyers was Clear Channel, which at the time owned 990 AM in Santa Barbara.

KFWB had a CP to increase to 50 kw... in other words, approved engineering and permission to build. It would convert the non-directional operation to directional, requiring a considerable investment. I don't recall if they were going to diplex into the KLAC towers, or would have moved to a new site or added towers at Chez KLAC. In any case, they decided not to build.

The 990 in Santa Barbara was not a problem. They could have simply pushed the power over the LA basin to the west, like stations such as KTNQ and 1150 and 830 do. It would have dramatically improved the in-building penetration.

As for KABC's case the power upgrade would have to be very limited as there is a station operating on 790 AM in Fresno.

No problem for protection (800 in Bakersfield or 800 in Tijuana are bigger issues). Directional operation would push a signal west from the Pomona - Eastern SGV area... the Cienaga site would not work, and getting permits would be very hard, and the land very costly.

If KFWB had remained all news the signal bump to 10kw might have helped a little, especially with car listeners, but any signal adjustment for KABC isn't really going to help unless it's a major upgrade, which cannot happen.

The KFWB upgrade would not have helped in-car in the metro, but would have helped in buildings. 10 kw is not much of an increase... it takes 4 times the power to double coverage. KABC could upgrade, but at so much cost it might not be worth it... it would take years for permits at minimum.

KABC's dial position and transmitter location make it quite a bit better than KFWB's higher dial position and poorer conductivity. But the issue for KABC is the time and expense needed to relocate.

 

[davideduardo]

Just wondering ...... would they be able (either KFWB or KABC) to petition the FCC to increase power? During the day or perhaps day and night? Or is the market to saturated to do that?

I detailed this in the previous post, but KFWB had a permit to go to 50 kw, directional. The issue is cost and permits and land values.