KGRG goes silent

[Kent565]

It seems strange to fire up their transmitter at Green River College just to shut it down for good. Perhaps they were testing it just to see if it was functional. If the license is for sale, it definitely won’t include the transmission site at the school itself.

Nevertheless, if the administrators who handle the budget don’t want to continue operating KGRG, it’s probably done. I was thinking the other day about how much money they must have spent on the leased transmitter space (when they could have operated from the school itself).

They are also no longer streaming on the internet also. They signed off online on June 17th

 

[RF101]

Is there any "real" hope here or just a delay tactic? KGRG-FM filed for a Silent STA today:


Silent STA Request
KGRG-FM 210A Auburn, WA
June 2025
As described in a previous Silent STA Request, KGRG-FM has lost the use of its licensed
transmitter site in June 2024. The station was taken silent, but on June 1, 2025 was able to
resume on-air operation with the technical facility authorized by Engineering STA 0000271730,
using a previously-licensed main facility from 1982, located on the Green River College campus.
The station has now been taken silent again, while the college evaluates prospects to assign the
license to another entity. It is hoped that an assignment application can be filed within the next
few months

 

[boombox4]

From the college's report linked upthread, it appeared they were giving up on KGRG altogether.

Maybe they have a purchaser for the frequency and what's left of the facilities?

 

[fordranger797]

I wonder if they fired up the transmitter at GRCC, only to discover a bunch of technical problems with the aged equipment. As I recall, the GRCC transmitter hadn't been used in some time. Selling may be their best option if they don’t want to sink more money into it.

 

[TheDaChicken]

I hope that if a new entity buys the license that they take good care of it. We don't need another rebroadcast of syndicated programming. What would this new entity be?

We all had a small feeling they weren't gonna last.

 

[K.M. Richards]

I hope that if a new entity buys the license that they take good care of it. We don't need another rebroadcast of syndicated programming. What would this new entity be?

FM channel 210 is 89.9 MHz, and therefore any new entity would have to be a non-profit. "Syndicated programming" implies commercial operation, which cannot be the case here.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

FM channel 210 is 89.9 MHz, and therefore any new entity would have to be a non-profit. "Syndicated programming" implies commercial operation, which cannot be the case here.

I carry syndicated programming typically meant for commercial stations, The Car Doctor With Ron Ananian along with Yacht Rock Radio with Captain Adam.

Cap. Adam does have a non commercial version.

Ron and I worked out a deal where i get the show on tape delay via drop box and i strip out the commercials. I've also over time aired other syndicated shows typically meant for commercial stations on KSKO and my last public station, KIYU (including several MG Kelly shows)

 

[K.M. Richards]

I carry syndicated programming typically meant for commercial stations, The Car Doctor With Ron Ananian along with Yacht Rock Radio with Captain Adam.

Cap. Adam does have a non commercial version.

Ron and I worked out a deal where i get the show on tape delay via drop box and i strip out the commercials. I've also over time aired other syndicated shows typically meant for commercial stations on KSKO and my last public station, KIYU (including several MG Kelly shows)

Paul, as we all know, KSKO is an exception to nearly all the usual rules on programming. You are in a very unique situation which does not apply to KGRG.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Paul, as we all know, KSKO is an exception to nearly all the usual rules on programming. You are in a very unique situation which does not apply to KGRG.

i know, im kinda pedantic and literal sometimes.

 

[K.M. Richards]

i know, im kinda pedantic and literal sometimes.

Pedantic, literal ... but also good at your job.

 

[crainbebo]

It sounds like there is enhancement allowing KSER and KXIR to go further than usual. The same enhancement that would bring crystal clear KUFO (KXL), KINK, and KKCW to the south Snohomish County FM dials before LPFM, rimshots and translators killed those channels. If it was absolutely amazing, KDUK-104.7 would make it in...at 250 miles!

 

[fordranger797]

I hope that if a new entity buys the license that they take good care of it. We don't need another rebroadcast of syndicated programming. What would this new entity be?

We all had a small feeling they weren't gonna last.

I think the biggest challenge here is that the community around the license itself doesn’t seem that suited for a local non-commercial station. Non-commercial radio can work well in certain communities. The Auburn/Kent Valley area isn’t the most upscale, and it’s not particularly “artsy” either. What GRCC was doing with KGRG in the first place was probably as good as it gets.

From where I’m standing, it’s a bit of a tough sell unless an ownership group has an idea that would be attractive to the local audience in the Kent Valley. Either that, or they find a way to locate the transmitter site on the west side of the valley, which would provide stronger coverage to other attractive areas. The signal wasn’t terrible from their previous site near Algona, but if a stronger signal could be put into Puyallup, Tacoma, Browns Point, Burien (and other communities near the sound), it would stand a better chance for success. That would be pretty challenging, with other co-channels out there. But this is where your potential donors are more likely to be located.

 

[TheDaChicken]

FM channel 210 is 89.9 MHz, and therefore any new entity would have to be a non-profit. "Syndicated programming" implies commercial operation, which cannot be the case here.

Not necessarily. Religious stations is a victim of that. (EMF buying a ton of stations recently). EMF does have Air1 and K-Love in Seattle but the converge isn't the greatest in surrounding areas. That's if there is a point in buying it. I don't even know if there would be anyone willing to buy it.

For all we know, they could do the same thing as KVTI. It's still owned by the college. They are broadcasting Northwest Public Broadcasting. Though: Why another one though near by?? That doesn't seem likely?

The signal wasn’t terrible from their previous site near Algona

I didn't think it was terrible either. My first year of university, I saw good signal of KGRG-FM with HD bands in Tacoma. I wasn't super interested at the time. I never looked at it. Once I realized what that station was, it was dead.

From where I’m standing, it’s a bit of a tough sell unless an ownership group has an idea that would be attractive to the local audience in the Kent Valley

Urban format???? Probably not sadly as much as I want a good urban format. CHR?? Why another one? AC? whyy?

 

[K.M. Richards]

FM channel 210 is 89.9 MHz, and therefore any new entity would have to be a non-profit. "Syndicated programming" implies commercial operation, which cannot be the case here.

Not necessarily. Religious stations is a victim of that. (EMF buying a ton of stations recently). EMF does have Air1 and K-Love in Seattle but the converge isn't the greatest in surrounding areas.

You misinterpreted my post. Ask most people in the business, and the phrase "syndicated programming" brings with it the implication of commercial operation. That isn't always the case, but I did correctly use the word "implies".

I would not call what EMF does "syndicated". They operate national feeds for all of their stations, which they also own. They do not sell it to outside station operators, which would fit the definition of the word.

 

[RF101]

Green River College today (9/18) filed for an extension on their "Silent STA" for the AM:

KGRG(AM) 1330 kHz Enumclaw, WA
Silent STA Extension Request
September 2025
On March 21, 2025, KGRG(AM) experienced an equipment failure at the transmitter site, and
the station has been off the air since that time, while the college evaluates prospects to assign the
license to another entity. It is hoped that an assignment application can be filed within the next
few months.


(Of course, no updates yet on the FM license.)

 

[bigmouth]

The new GM for the stations is probably pissed he's going to be out the door.

I say buy the license, KGRG had reach even in downtown Seattle without much interference, not bad for an old 250 watt blowtorch. I would've tried to boost the power or when they had KBTC's signal buy that off since it had bigger reach. Bob Rivers was also a contributing part of KGRG, it's sad that he's now gone. Dammit, this is truly an era ending.

As for jounalism itself, I expect journalism to be forced more underground due to current events. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Buy it!!

 

[RF101]

Remember, KGRG 1330 got an upgrade to 770 watts day / 210 watts night (non-directional) when Portland's AM 1330 closed down. (What was it before? I assume 500 watts day but nighttime ?)

 

[ZooMan7777]

Buy it!!

I want to, I need to find (legal) ways to get whatever they would sell it for. There's people I knew who did their time at KGRG and they don't want to see it fade out like what Green River is doing. The administration there is a gong show.

 

[RF101]

Unlike Green River, Bellevue College actively supports their radio station - KBCS.

Here's a very recent story (9/28) about KBCS:

Preserving Public Radio, A KBCS Feature

Bellevue College has a radio station! The station, KBCS, is located in one of the small houses on campus and its occupants are warm and welcoming. The studio is alive with the voices of volunteer s…

thewatchdogonline.com

 

[valvashon]

The FCC today cancelled the license of K207AP 89.3 Sumner/Lake Tapps. They cite being off the air with no filed STA since June 18, 2024.