Even though it was just the translator. I am pretty disappointed
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KGRG goes silent
- Thread starter valvashon
- Start date
When I ran a high school FM, it was to serve as a pipeline to local stations for board op opportunities. We would develop the work ethic to impress small local owners. Team building was stressed, along with giving kids that far too often fell through the cracks. I could say so much more, but you get the idea.
Correct, 500w days (and 26 screaming wattts at night!)
You'd be lucky to hear 26 watts nighttime on 1330 kHz two miles away! The only saving grace is it not being 10 kHz up the dial at that nighttime power or you probably couldn't hear them at the base of the tower! Remember the old KKNW/KKZU 1510 Mountlake Terrace in the mid 1980s? I sat at the bottom of that tower during their nighttime testing. They were playing Kool & The Gang. But all I was hearing was Loretta Lynn from then 50,000 watt co-channel flamethrower KGA Spokane. (KGA's nighttime signal was actually that strong this side of the mountains)
But back to the subject. I take the Summer/Lake Tapps translator loss as an ominous warning sign. It sounds like Green River really doesn't have much interest in keeping this KGRG thing going.
But did it really have to go out the way it did? It was a near perfect indie-leaning Active Rock format, with not much crossover with KISW. It was unique on its own. Then one day, POOF! And everyone shrugs.
It's sad. But it really doesn't look good for KGRG.
But did it really have to go out the way it did? It was a near perfect indie-leaning Active Rock format, with not much crossover with KISW. It was unique on its own. Then one day, POOF! And everyone shrugs.
It's sad. But it really doesn't look good for KGRG.
Thanks, Internet! Spotify, Apple Music, YT Music, all killing the FM radio dial in the 18-34 demographic. There are teens and college students who have grown up with very little FM exposure in their entire lifetime. And that includes college and HS radio. It's a wonder that KASB is STILL operating at Bellevue HS. KAHS-LP still lives on at Aberdeen HS as well but they have a CP to go to 107.9 from their old 106.5, due to the new KLMN Raymond.
Stepping into the role of armchair station manager for a second.
I think their best strategy would have been to eliminate the AM a long time ago and save that expense, while also consolidating the FM. I’m not sure what it costs to lease their tower space, but from my perspective, it would have made more sense just to broadcast from the Green River campus and call it good. Sure, their signal would have suffered a bit, but it would have been much more cost effective.
With that being said, maintaining a focus on alternative rock and classic alternative rock made more sense (as they had many listeners who streamed the station online). This is what KGRG did better than anyone, and messing with that formula was a bad call. The level of interest in a CHR on a low powered signal was very low.
There’s also the major element of interest in broadcasting classes (and the expense of running such a program). As I’ve said before, I’m of the opinion that any sort of college radio station doesn’t need to be (and probably shouldn’t be) a structured program. When I was a student at Western Washington University, there was no real structure to the student radio station. It was just something for fun. Some people took it more seriously than others, but it wasn’t meant to be anything too complicated. Does it really need to be anything more than that?
I think their best strategy would have been to eliminate the AM a long time ago and save that expense, while also consolidating the FM. I’m not sure what it costs to lease their tower space, but from my perspective, it would have made more sense just to broadcast from the Green River campus and call it good. Sure, their signal would have suffered a bit, but it would have been much more cost effective.
With that being said, maintaining a focus on alternative rock and classic alternative rock made more sense (as they had many listeners who streamed the station online). This is what KGRG did better than anyone, and messing with that formula was a bad call. The level of interest in a CHR on a low powered signal was very low.
There’s also the major element of interest in broadcasting classes (and the expense of running such a program). As I’ve said before, I’m of the opinion that any sort of college radio station doesn’t need to be (and probably shouldn’t be) a structured program. When I was a student at Western Washington University, there was no real structure to the student radio station. It was just something for fun. Some people took it more seriously than others, but it wasn’t meant to be anything too complicated. Does it really need to be anything more than that?
The FCC today granted the STAX, the six-month extension for KGRG-FM to return to the air.
The clock continues to tick through June 16th:
"The station was taken silent again on June 16, 2025, and granted a Silent STA. An extension of that
Silent STA is requested, so that the college can continue efforts to assign the license to another entity.
It is hoped that an assignment application can be filed within the next few months. The college
understands that the station must be returned to the air under an authorized operation no later than
midnight on June 16, 2026."
The clock continues to tick through June 16th:
"The station was taken silent again on June 16, 2025, and granted a Silent STA. An extension of that
Silent STA is requested, so that the college can continue efforts to assign the license to another entity.
It is hoped that an assignment application can be filed within the next few months. The college
understands that the station must be returned to the air under an authorized operation no later than
midnight on June 16, 2026."
It was an absolute gong show that they changed the format the way they did. KGRG broke many bands as an alternative rock station well before any other station in the region and was also one of the top 5 college radio stations back in the day, ever since their previous GM stepped away, the station went downhill. They hired a new guy who had no knowledge whatsoever of the heritage of the station, decided to change the format to supposedly cater to the campus student body (big mistake) and then GRC decided to shut it down less than a year into that experiment; which tells you that experiment was a colossal failure. They should've hired a former DJ or Program Director of the station as a new GM, refine the station, dump the AM (which was a mistake to buy in the first place, that money could've been initially used to update and modernize the broadcast facilities in their building to get jocks job ready). And focus on the streaming and podcasting online and on demand.
I talked with someone who wanted to turn it into a nonprofit and get it away from GRC's thumb. That should still be viable. GRC, either turn in the license or give it to someone who actually cares about the community, the format, and the legacy. We'll keep it going from there. This is purposeful mismanagement or just blatant incompetence.
It was my understanding that the AM was donated to GRC by Barbara Geesman.
And in what world is GRC not a non-profit?
Say they do "give" you the station, what then? Do you have the resources to find a place to put the tower, or rent a space somewhere? Do you have the finances to pay the music licensing? The utilities? Studio rental? I mean, they are probably looking for someone with a few bucks to take it off their hands. Make them an offer! You sound like you have the passion- make it into a reality. It's going to take a lot of work, though.
The fact that it’s non-commercial is a huge liability to boot. If someone can potentially make money off of it, sure, there could be a case to be made for selling it off. But I would be very surprised if there were many interested parties who could afford to keep the operation afloat (while also relying on donations). There’s a reason why so many non-commercial radio stations are religious. Religious programming is one of the few non-com formats that can generate enough money to be sustainable.
For anyone that IS interested in trying to buy KGRG (and resurrect its legacy), developing a following of loyal listeners who are willing to donate won’t be easy. I absolutely respect the vision but this sounds far too risky to be a sound business decision.
You miss all shots you don't take my friend, I could do it if I could [legally] get the cash/buy-in from former staffers. I'd figure it out somehow. Make it a fully community run station. Bob Rivers had ties to the station, if he were still around, he'd be able to throw money to save it and get it off their hands. I wished someone would've also purchased the 104.9 frequency when iHeart dumped it for $320k (a steal). GRC and their administators haven't given a flip about the station for years, turn it over to people who do care.
Wouldn't be hard to get basic equipment, stations have outdated crap all the time, why trash it when a smaller station could reuse it. It was how KGRG got some of its equipment. Their board in one of the studios came from the old KZOK-AM (Damn, I still remember Z Rock lol) Antenna would be the bigger challenge though I'll admit.
Surprise! KGRG AM 1330 has returned to the air. It can be heard on several Puget Sound SDRs. Per the FCC filing:
"Notice of Resumption of Operations KGRG 1330 kHz Enumclaw, WA Mar 2026
On March 10, 2026, KGRG resumed on-air operation with its licensed technical facility at full power."
No word yet on KGRG-FM.
"Notice of Resumption of Operations KGRG 1330 kHz Enumclaw, WA Mar 2026
On March 10, 2026, KGRG resumed on-air operation with its licensed technical facility at full power."
No word yet on KGRG-FM.
I wonder if the ousting of the Green River president had anything to do with this.
Oh wtf?? I didn't expect that at all
In today's pre-sunset hour, I can hear KGRG weakly up here in Lake Stevens as other stations try to fade in on 1330 kHz. Nice that it's back on the air.
I did not realize the actual KGRG-FM license was place up for sale on the college website, ironically under the "Get Involved" banner:
Follow this link ... "www.greenriver.edu/students/get-involved/radio-stations.html"
Here's an extract:
KGRG-FM (89.9 FM) - Auburn, WA
Green River College is offering for sale the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Non-Commercial Educational (NCE) FM Broadcast License for station KGRG-FM in the Puget Sound region.
The Offering: License Asset ONLY
This sale is strictly for the FCC License (Facility ID 25168).
NO physical broadcast assets are included:
No Transmitter, Antenna, or Tower.
No Real Estate or Studio Facilities.
The successful buyer will be solely responsible for building and licensing all new physical facilities.
Key License Specifications
Call Sign: KGRG-FM
Frequency: 89.9 MHz (NCE Reserved Band)
Licensed City: Auburn, Washington
Class: A
Previously Authorized Power: 250 Watts (ERP)
Current Status: Silent (under FCC-granted STA, silent since June 2025)
License Expiration: February 1, 2030
Previously Authorized HAAT: 112 meters (367 ft).
.....
Contact for Inquiries
For details regarding the state auction process and to express interest, please contact:
Craig Bush
Director of Purchasing
Green River College
Email: [email protected]
Office: (253) 833-3301
Follow this link ... "www.greenriver.edu/students/get-involved/radio-stations.html"
Here's an extract:
KGRG-FM (89.9 FM) - Auburn, WA
Green River College is offering for sale the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Non-Commercial Educational (NCE) FM Broadcast License for station KGRG-FM in the Puget Sound region.
The Offering: License Asset ONLY
This sale is strictly for the FCC License (Facility ID 25168).
NO physical broadcast assets are included:
No Transmitter, Antenna, or Tower.
No Real Estate or Studio Facilities.
The successful buyer will be solely responsible for building and licensing all new physical facilities.
Key License Specifications
Call Sign: KGRG-FM
Frequency: 89.9 MHz (NCE Reserved Band)
Licensed City: Auburn, Washington
Class: A
Previously Authorized Power: 250 Watts (ERP)
Current Status: Silent (under FCC-granted STA, silent since June 2025)
License Expiration: February 1, 2030
Previously Authorized HAAT: 112 meters (367 ft).
.....
Contact for Inquiries
For details regarding the state auction process and to express interest, please contact:
Craig Bush
Director of Purchasing
Green River College
Email: [email protected]
Office: (253) 833-3301
Buyer Requirements & Deadlines
- Critical Silent Deadline
The station went silent in June 2025. The recipient of the license must return the station to the air prior to June 2026 to prevent the automatic forfeiture of the license under FCC rules (the 12-month silent rule).
Below is the narrative for the latest KGRG 1330 outage from a just filed STA. Bad luck but it at least explains the return-to-silence"
KGRG(AM) 1330 kHz Enumclaw, WA
Silent STA Request April 2026
KGRG(AM) was recently returned to the air on its licensed facility at full power, as documented
in the March 11, 2026 notification of resumption.
The transmitter, however, has not been operating properly. So on Sunday March 29, 2026 the
station was shut down again so that the transmitter can be returned to Nautel for repair. A full
six-month Silent STA is requested.
KGRG(AM) 1330 kHz Enumclaw, WA
Silent STA Request April 2026
KGRG(AM) was recently returned to the air on its licensed facility at full power, as documented
in the March 11, 2026 notification of resumption.
The transmitter, however, has not been operating properly. So on Sunday March 29, 2026 the
station was shut down again so that the transmitter can be returned to Nautel for repair. A full
six-month Silent STA is requested.