KMCQ 103.3 Oak Harbor on the air

[fordranger797]

Speaking of 98.5 KNBQ, is it STILL putting out "Jingle Bells," "The Christmas Song" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"? Or is it off the air now? Would be interesting to have a Q103.3/98.5 simulcast with country. Maybe a lighter AC to compete against KXXO and KSWW, and geared towards coast residents. I could even see an AAA station there. Too many ideas for the South Sound.

It seems odd to me that it's been stunting for such a long time. But the last time I checked, the owner of KNBQ AND KMCQ is also the owner of KSWW, and I'm betting he probably wants to hold onto it so no format can pull listeners away from any of his other stations. That's just my amateur analysis, though.

 

[bobdavcav]

That was the case last time I checked as well, though Ford's check is probably more recent than mine. I can receive KMCQ quite strongly here in Edmonds, not even able to null it for the KHTP translator.

 

[bossbill]

It seems odd to me that it's been stunting for such a long time. But the last time I checked, the owner of KNBQ AND KMCQ is also the owner of KSWW, and I'm betting he probably wants to hold onto it so no format can pull listeners away from any of his other stations. That's just my amateur analysis, though.

Three different ownerships.

 

[IndigoCoyote]

With the impending move of KNBQ to Cap Peak; the strategic move for K-Love is to buy both 103.3 and 98.5. Almost perfect overlap with the current 104.5. Between the 3 you easily cover 85% of the western WA population.

 

[crainbebo]

So you are saying 103.3 is placeholder ala KMCQ? I don't think country fans in NW WA will be happy to hear "Positive Encouraging K-LOVE" as quickly as Q103.3 came in. They'll probably fire up a translator on top of a Seattle FM if they want to serve NW WA.

 

[IndigoCoyote]

That is the suggestion, yes.

A stand alone Skagit CO and OH FM doesn't make as much sense financially (I am guessing here) as something that extends a weak signal up into that neck of the woods. I just think that the logical situation here is that a King county signal that wants to be a western WA signal could do worse than buying the North Sound and South Sound signals. Could be any King county signal...maybe the folks at 1250 would want them. Or someone else. EVERY station is for sale if the price is right. But the guys at K LUV spent 8 Large for 104.5 when no one else would; I am sure they could come to a price for the two rimmers.

 

[KXA]

With the impending move of KNBQ to Cap Peak; the strategic move for K-Love is to buy both 103.3 and 98.5. Almost perfect overlap with the current 104.5. Between the 3 you easily cover 85% of the western WA population.

Don't encourage the beast!

 

[Radio-X]

Hey, let 'em take it for Air1...

Sell 88.1 to KEXP, KSER, or NWPR (legit idea...not much for NPR on the peninsula) for improved coverage!

If you can't pick up CBC Radio 1 due to it, may as well make it something worth listening to...

Radio-X

 

[crainbebo]

There are a couple of NWPR repeaters on the peninsula (90.1 KNWP, and a translator in Forks I believe?) - plus 100.9 for KPLU's translator in Aberdeen which reaches Westport and Ocean Shores. Don't think anyone in Humptulips would be interested in All Things Considered, Morning Edition and classical music.
It's too bad that US stations cannot relay Canadian networks...it would be interesting having a CBC Radio 1 affiliate based in WA.

 

[Radio-X]

There are a couple of NWPR repeaters on the peninsula (90.1 KNWP, and a translator in Forks I believe?) - plus 100.9 for KPLU's translator in Aberdeen which reaches Westport and Ocean Shores. Don't think anyone in Humptulips would be interested in All Things Considered, Morning Edition and classical music.
It's too bad that US stations cannot relay Canadian networks...it would be interesting having a CBC Radio 1 affiliate based in WA.

Only thing is NPR is kinda difficult to get on the peninsula. I've never understood why Grays Harbor has basically no NPR news source (For the sake of argument, KPLU is a jazz station with about 5 hours/day of news). One would think KUOW, NWPR, KMUN, or something similar would want a translator or one of those class A reserved band stations barely hanging on in that neck of the woods.


As for a hypothetical CBC station outside of Metric-land, I don't think the feds would have a single issue with it...

The problem would be our Canadian friends who would feel we are getting a "free ride" from an American station that cannot be anywhere near self-sustaining due to the way CBC is funded.

Perhaps if a station owner with a moribund AM station just wanted to keep the lights on, CBC might give the go-ahead...or they may not even give a single hoot, since its a different country and such...they really don't get a lot of say!

This happened in a couple of instances where U.S. station owners chose to run BBC World Service 24/7. The Beeb didn't charge them to use the feed. Obviously, it was a money-losing operation...but a great placeholder format for an AM.

Radio-X

 

[crainbebo]

KMUN would be a good choice. They have three satellites down the Oregon Coast, and it would be interesting to have a coastal FM. KMUN's signal was very weak at the coast on 91.9, but I heard them. KYAO-LP was off the air on 89.5 the last time I was on the coast (2011) and I got their KTCB Tillamook signal, although even worse than KMUN, at 380w. Did not hear KCPB due to KVTI.