And with KKDV, its signal will be where it needs to be. Almost everywhere outside of The City.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
KBAY Flips to Country
- Thread starter atthestars
- Start date
With KBAY being more of a rhythmic friendly station for the past few months before the flip, I think KOSF would benefit more than the rock leaning KITS.
I agree what a smart move by Alpha Media to jump in and do a country music format flip on KBAY. I heard they are going to call themselves “Bay” country. Nice move with the geographic coverage that extends towards into the city of San Francisco and also heard KKDV will have country music on 92.1 which covers their geographic coverage gap in the East Bay. Finally the Bay Area does have a country music station. Welcome back and thank you Alpha Media!
KBAY has a 60 dbu that covers almost the double of that of the "old" country station. And that makes them more than a San Jose suburban station to ad buyers.
David I guess this answers my previous wish of a country music return...
Unfortunately, there will be some gaps when it comes to coverage. Looks like Marin county, Western part of San Francisco (Sunset, Richmond, Park Merced, West Portal, Ocean View neighborhoods), Western Fringe of San Mateo County (Pacifica, Half Moon Bay), Western Contra Costa County Berkeley to Vallejo wont be able to hear 94.5 neither 92.1 (92.1 Coverage is only covers Diablo Valley Central/Eastern Contra Costa County).
...and they all said it couldn't or wouldn't be done.. b'cuz it woudn't work .. ?
Perhaps KEZR, but still doing well in the demos in the South Bay. So highly unlikely at the moment, but time will tell.
Speaking from personal experience, 94.5 can be picked up in Berkeley (but if you're not near a window expect more scratches than music) - rather surprising considering that Berkeley has a 94.1 transmitter in the hills.
94.5 comes okay in Richmond but when you head to Pinole Valley that's when the signal totally fringes. Similar signal reach as for South Bay KBRG 100.3. But not too bad compared to KBAY.
Last edited:
And this one could be successful in getting full market buys as it covers a much higher percentage of the total market area. Another advantage is in being the only station in the format... that means it can run economically with limited staff salaries, minimal promotional expense and the like.
Look at the country station in LA as an example. It is economically run because it has a well defined and exclusive format and there is little to gain by spending more money.
It does miss all the northern market market counties of San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma either entirely or significantly. That is about 35% of the total market population, but when you include shadow areas in the hills and valleys of the East Bay counties, it is more like 40% to 45% that don't have a good in-car and indoor signal.
Still, it is vastly better than the prior country signal and it can overcome the objection of being "just" a San Jose station that kept the format off full market buys in the past.
Another factor that non-technical management often ignores is the willingness of music fans of a format that is very attractive to be more tolerant of signal deficiencies. Even in the era of streaming alternatives, the passion of country listeners can compensate for a more limited signal.
My one criticism at this early juncture -- that new logo. It is sterile and ambiguous. Looks like a logo for a bus line or commuter rail line. Difficult to discern that it is the emblem for a radio station. FM frequencies should be added to it, and it should be redesigned.
The East Bay areas where terrain shadowing is problematic, where feasible, should be given boosters. Doesn't KUFX have boosters out that way?
The East Bay areas where terrain shadowing is problematic, where feasible, should be given boosters. Doesn't KUFX have boosters out that way?
Good question!
Since it appears that the KRTY staff was not hired for the new format, I'm skeptical of their interest in promoting a station that does not include them.
The format change has already happened. If TV were to cover it, the window of opportunity has already passed and it is "old news" now.
- Status