KMCQ signed on sometime today

[Scoobyfan1]

I live in Lakewood (outside of Tacoma) and I turned on the station as I was walking home from Wal-Mart, so far the signal sounds good down here. BTW, during the time i've been listening here is a sampling of songs that 104.5 has played:
Wooly Booly-Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs
An Old Fashioned Love Song-Three Dog Night (Playing as I type this)
Black Magic Woman-Santana

 

[Scoobyfan1]

On my way home from work on the bus.... Signal in Redmond was good, especially across the 520 bridge, but started cutting out after the bridge. Got better going up the hill from I-5 to Sea-Tac, all the way home. Here at home in the Kent-Des Moines area, signal was excellent....until they shut off their transmitter ??? . I guess it's not time for their "official" sign-on yet, especially when they are announcing their ID as "KMCQ Covington, Washington". I'd expect more from an official sign-on, such as an ID that sounds like "KMCQ Covington-Tacoma-Seattle" (or something like that), or a moniker, like "The new Oldies 104" or something along those lines...

Although...they probably have some studio churning out some cool jingles for the new station as we speak, along with a voice-over guy doing some work. Charlie Van Dyke's voiceovers would be perfect. Something sounding like Oldies 101 KEYF-FM in Spokane when he did the voiceovers for that station last time I was in that area.

Currently their ID is "KMCQ Covington, The Greatest Hits of the 60's & 70's"

 

[Scoobyfan1]

Must have been a hiccup or something, they're back on and currently playing China Grove by The Doobie Brothers

 

[notalent]

Seattleradiopro is the one who is wrong about Ackerley.

Ackerley Communications which owned the Seattle radio stations and the outdoor businsess was purchased by and is presently operated as a subsidiary of Clear Channel. Look at the address of Ackeley on the KUBE license,,, it says Ackerley, Tulsa Ok.

The Ackerley partners is a local seattle company run by Barrys kids, clearly evidenced when viewing the linked website.

 

[Tribalbeat]

I can hear them easily in Olympia. Does anyone know if they are broadcasting at 100kw testing power or are they now in their 25kw post move-in power range? I'd be interested to know if they'll still be listenable in the Olympia area after they reduce power.

 

[bossbill]

Not only can you not test at a power level above the authorized power, it would be difficult to do so. It would require a much larger transmitter.

 

[Tribalbeat]

Not only can you not test at a power level above the authorized power, it would be difficult to do so. It would require a much larger transmitter.

I thought it rather strange as well. But I was mistaken.... it's not the power they will be altering, it's their antenna height. Their ERP during testing will be 100kw but after they've finished they will lower the antenna reducing their ERP to 25kw. At least that's what their Wiki entry is saying (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMCQ )

 

[Seattleradiodude]

Their ERP during testing will be 100kw but after they've finished they will lower the antenna reducing their ERP to 25kw.

No, Their ERP in Oregon was 100 KW

In Covington, they cannot go above 25 KW, it would violate their CP,
Which by the way, they are coming dangerously close to the expiration.

 

[radiofreqk1]

Gee, I see that someone doesn't read the posts. That's what I said was happening. They most likely will file for the License, via FCC Form 302 and then turn it off until the new C-2 is granted. Not unless the coverage from Enumclaw at 25 KW ERP is enough to continue programming.

 

[bossbill]

Correct, Seattleradiodude. A C3 (which is what KMCQ was downgraded to in the move from The Dalles) can operate 25 kw at 100 meters above average terrain. KFNK is also a C3, but operates at 17kw because they are a bit over the 100 meter limit.

 

[bossbill]

Their Covington CP disappears after September 20. In early August they requested permission to remain silent at their The Dalles site. Assume an Application for License within the next few days if not already, stating that they have completed "equipment tests".

The 60dBu contour does cover Seattle proper and the Eastside, at least on paper.

 

[SeattleObserver]

Reception So far

In my office? Crap. Receivable but buried in electronic interference. (Seattle, east side of downtown)
In my home (west side of Lake Washington)? Surprisingly good. I had to hold the cheap radio "just the right way" but I could hear the station clearly. This is sometimes true for 102.9 and NEVER true for 104.9.
In the car? Mostly clear and the scanner does stop on it. The signal seemed to have a little multipath/quiet static issue around Lake Union - perhaps because of KAFE?

Now here's the real question - how to get people off their presets and how do you drive them to the Web for at work listening? Oh... I bet this station will not end up doing any of that. Seeing as explained here previously they are operating off diesel generator power only. Eep!

 

[Stephen_TheMCO]

Anyone notice that although they are putting out a stereo signal, they aren't actually in stereo??   Hopefully they fix this.  Also, I noticed on the sides of the 104.5 frequency on a couple radios I have, is what appears to be noise that could indicate an HD radio sub-carrier, unless it's coming from KAFE and/or KFNK...

Now here's the real question - how to get people off their presets and how do you drive them to the Web for at work listening? Oh... I bet this station will not end up doing any of that. Seeing as explained here previously they are operating off diesel generator power only. Eep!

Hopefully the money that was meant for moving to Cougar (now that it appears that idea is dead), could be put to use for running power up to Radio Hill.  Doesn't seem too hard to run some AC up that hill.  Maybe even a translator or booster for Downtown Seattle, to make up for limitations of broadcasting off of Radio Hill.  If they can sweet talk Entercom into selling off their KMTT Translator on 103.3 in Downtown Seattle for KMCQ's use, and boost the power as far as they can, that might help with coverage. I've never really seen the point of KMTT having that translator in the first place, as I think it was something left over from the days KMTT was broadcasting off of 3-Sisters Mountain.

 

[radiofreqk1]

I am surprised. Very surprised. I would have thought that there would have been more radio geeks in Seattle that knew what's going on in the "Inside" of Seattle radio. One guy rants about Clear channel and another about Bonnevville, and yet another about what they "think" is going on at 104.5. The only one that knows anything is Mr Wolfenberger. Format or programming doesn't count. The owners only care about getting past the FCC deadline. KMCQ will file the Form 302 and remain "silent" until the C2 on Cougar Mtn is granted. The application is still pending and has not been rejected. As far as future programming, it will be up to the operators of KMCQ -- Bustos Media. Not Bonneville or Entercom or CBS or Clear Channel. Bustos Media which owns KMCQ. As was posted, KMCQ has filed a request to remain silent.

 

[IndigoCoyote]

Sam-

I think you know something the FCC doesn't know. When did Amador Bustos buy KMCQ? This would be news to the feds, if my database search through their records is accurate. I don't see a transfer of ownership anywhere. You seem awful sure of this fact. What was the purchase price? When will we see the transfer of ownership in the public records?

Sam, I am surprised. Very surprised. The rest of us on this board are speculating about ultimate format, ownership, location of tower, whether a station can make it from Radio Hill, etc. It's just speculation. It's fun. We may be wrong- actually, statistically we almost all WILL be wrong! But we're not stating guesses as "fact." They're just guesses. When you call into question the collective intelligence of the board members here, then you'd better have your facts straight. And it appears that you don't. Which is unfortunate. Because it seems like you have a lot to add to the discussion. But when you state opinion as fact, the other statements you make have to be taken by the rest of us with a grain of salt.

Show us something, today, that shows Bustos owns KMCQ...and I will stand corrected. Far as I know, a bunch of bankers own it, which is why this whole discussion is delicious. We don't know what they are going to do. THEY don't know what they are going to do...plan A blew up in their faces, but they probably do have a plan B. I would be willing to bet not one soul on this planet KNOWS how this will all play out in the end. I still think the original plan A was to use their Forks property as the move-in, but The Dalles became much more feasible.

My opinion is that they will figure some way to be on another mountain. WHat we are currently hearing is just a needle wiggler to get to the next legal step. I think that is what you are saying as well.

 

[Stephen_TheMCO]

Why let 104.5 remain silent?  If they can run a somewhat-decent format on the station with some advertising, at least they'd be making some money somewhere.  But I doubt the station is going to be sold to anyone anytime soon, with their current transmission site and signal.

I still don't think Bustos has any interest in the station.  I don't think anyone has any interest at all, be it Entercom, Bonneville, Saudusky, Clear Channel, Salem, or Bustos.  I think these are all just run-away rumors, IMO.  This is a new station, that has been just brought into the market.  I don't think anyone would have any interest in the station, unitl it has fully matured, even from it's current site at Radio Hill.  I won't say that all these companies aren't watching the station.  I'm sure they are right now, but just to see how it does, listener-wise.   If any bid on 104.5 were to take place, I think it would take at least a couple more years.  In the meantime, I think 104.5 is going to be staying put where it's at, with it's current format, and have advertisers and DJs eventually.  No doubt the other companies are watching the station though, but I think they'll want to take some time to see the station actually do something beneficial with their current signal, before one of these mentioned companies starts making bids for the station.  A 60 dbu contour will never tell what kind of people will be able to listen, or be listening to 104.5, in a hilly-type environment like the Puget Sound area.  And as I said in a previous posts... Maybe getting transmission lines up to Radio Hill, and getting a booster station or a translator station within the Seattle area, might be the only ways to attract potential buyers, if they can't ever get the station to Cougar Mountain.  And also, don't count out the idea, that 104.5 can be bought by another major broadcaster, as a starting point into the Seattle Market, such as Citidel or Emmis.

 

[Stephen_TheMCO]

I had some other things to add to this post....

Until KMCQ has a buyer... I think the station should go all-out and try to be a major station in the market.  Bring back some of the people from KBSG, and even KJR.  Have Fastlane or Robin and Maynard do mornings or afternoons at the station, and have Norm Gregory do the afternoons or evenings.  I think KMCQ could have a good station here (well...if they don't change their call-letters that is), with the right people, and even if the station was bought out by someone else.  I heard Norm Gregory will NEVER work for Clear Channel, so there's that.  With CC's downsizing though, I don't think CC will have any interest in 104.5.   Let's hope the future of 104.5 is bright, and goes in the right direction....

 

[radiofreqk1]

Just pull up the FCC application and -- read -- the exhibits that shows what Bustos owns. I am just like everyone else on this board. It's nice to speculate. And I sure don't know everything that's going on in the Market. But 104.5 was always planned as a C-2. The very first Rulemaking requested a C-2. But they settled on a C-3 and Covington --- just to be able to move out of Oregon -- and overtake the other dozen inter-connected Rulemakings that included Walla Walla and Prairie City, Oregon and nine 0r ten other channels and allocations. The Enumclaw site has no full time electric. KMCQ had to protect the C-3 CP - so they had to build out the 25 KW C-3. Why spend any more money --- than required --- if you plan to soon move to Cougar Mtn ?? Just file a FCC Form 302 to become a licensed station and then "go dark" until you can move to Cougar Mtn. I'm sure that a few broadcast stations still own towers on Cougar Mtn. I use the old KRAB tower for my two-way radio site. It's the last Quarter of the year. That's when radio makes 80% of the money. KMCQ has already lost any third Q ads / profit. Why remain on the air with no one making money. Wait until the economy gets better and KMCQ can operate from Cougar Mtn. that's why I saw that any speculation about any type of format is "premature at this point in time". Forks was purchased to make room for the Bellingham move. The 103.9 in Forks blocked the Bellingham move to 104.1. Now that the Forks FM has been moved to a new channel, it's for re-sale. Everything done has a reason. I also was behind to 104.9 drop in to Eatonville. Brian Lord requested a small town closer to Puyallup. I countered to protect the future use of 104.5 near Kent. as for a format. Does it really matter ?? Seattle has almost two of everything possible, except for a station that serves the local community.

 

[KentMcN]

Sam,Bustos does not own KMCQ. First Broadcasting has a controlling interest in Bustos Media. The move to Cougar Mountain is dead because KAFE cannot move to 104.1 because of a new station in Vancouver BC. My feeling is KMCQ will remain the same,I agree with Stephen on that one.We need a format that KMCQ is now doing. KMCQ cannot go C-2 due to the fact KAFE cannot move now. That's why it took so long to get on the air they were waiting to sign on at Cougar Mountain,but when the CRTC approved a new station in Vancouver at 104.1 KAFE could not move,so KMCQ had no choice but to keep the Enumclaw site.

 

[radiofreqk1]

IF the C-2 is dead, someone should tell the FCC. The C-2 application is still pending. Bustos is the unit that will program 104.5. You say things are down. I say they are UP. Time will tell.