KNX onto … 97.1??

[michael hagerty]

KNX isn’t a trademarked brand that ViacomCBS is licensing back to Audacy (which is the only reason why WPHI won’t become KYW-FM, it’s a terribly convoluted licensing agreement). Rather, Audacy owns the KNX trademark outright.

As soon as they can, 97.1 will become KNX-FM.

If they do (and they could just bury KNOU in the ID and go on), the question will be how they handle the streaming tribute station. Will they let it slide and risk (however minor) brand confusion or will they force the online KNX-FM to change?

And...I'd forgotten. There are actually TWO online KNX-FM recreations, one run by former KNX-FM PD Michael Sheehy:

https://www.dailynews.com/2019/06/25/radio-there-are-two-online-knx-fm-recreations/

 

[Marcos_C]

KNX isn’t a trademarked brand that ViacomCBS is licensing back to Audacy (which is the only reason why WPHI won’t become KYW-FM, it’s a terribly convoluted licensing agreement). Rather, Audacy owns the KNX trademark outright.

As soon as they can, 97.1 will become KNX-FM.

In fact, the CBS TV affiliate in Los Angeles went by call sign KNXT from 1951 to 1984. It is now known as KCBS-TV.

 

[KilowattKat]

I think it's impotant that KNX stays available on AM. I live in San Diego, where the 97.1 signal is non existent, and 1070 booms in here as strong as the local AM's. KOGO is mostly talk except mornings. So I do tune into KNX when I need a news fix driving around. I remember relying on their coverage of the big "SoCal blackout" from 10 years ago", it was better coverage and bigger staff reporting than KOGO provided.

 

[michael hagerty]

In fact, the CBS TV affiliate in Los Angeles went by call sign KNXT from 1951 to 1984. It is now known as KCBS-TV.

Right. That call letter change was made possible by the fact that the CBS television station in San Francisco was not a network O&O, but an affiliate owned by Westinghouse, KPIX (it became a CBS O&O when Westinghouse and CBS merged later). It was really kind of a meaningless exercise, driven by the existence of KABC and KNBC TV in Los Angeles. CBS felt the need for the network name on the call letters of the West Coast flagship, mirroring New York (WABC, WNBC, WCBS).

About seven years later, they put the KCBS-FM call letters on 93.1 FM in Los Angeles, leaving the KCBS calls in San Francisco on AM 740, where they originated.

 

[michael hagerty]

I think it's impotant that KNX stays available on AM. I live in San Diego, where the 97.1 signal is non existent, and 1070 booms in here as strong as the local AM's. KOGO is mostly talk except mornings. So I do tune into KNX when I need a news fix driving around. I remember relying on their coverage of the big "SoCal blackout" from 10 years ago", it was better coverage and bigger staff reporting than KOGO provided.

Again, it's likely not going anywhere. Most AM news stations that add an FM still end up with 40% of their audience listening to the AM signal.

 

[only1moore]

KIIS 2,040,000.
Power 1.2 million.

I wouldn’t be surprised if KIIS and KPWR’s cumes go up with KNOU out of the picture.

 

[pjc1961]

I wouldn’t be surprised if KIIS and KPWR’s cumes go up with KNOU out of the picture.

Not as much as you'd think as it is likely that the listeners of 97.1 Now were already listeners (thus in the cume) of KIIS + KPWR.

 

[michael hagerty]

Not as much as you'd think as it is likely that the listeners of 97.1 Now were already listeners (thus in the cume) of KIIS + KPWR.

Right. There's likely very little (if any) exclusive 97.1 listeners who weren't also listening to one or both of the others.

 

[Rusty Muck]

I think it's impotant that KNX stays available on AM. I live in San Diego, where the 97.1 signal is non existent, and 1070 booms in here as strong as the local AM's. KOGO is mostly talk except mornings. So I do tune into KNX when I need a news fix driving around. I remember relying on their coverage of the big "SoCal blackout" from 10 years ago", it was better coverage and bigger staff reporting than KOGO provided.

This could either be a KCBS/WBBM transition where the FM simulcast complements and accentuates the AM, or a WTOP/WIP transition where the FM replaces the AM outright.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter is the case, and Audacy eventually disposes of 1070.

 

[TheBigA]

I predicted Audacy would make a move in LA within less than 6 months. That prediction was roundly ridiculed. Ooops!

I went back and looked at that thread and you said "6 to 9 months." Which I think was a reasonable guess.

https://www.radiodiscussions.com/threads/kroq-billing.742221/page-4

Something was going to happen, but probably not until after the new year. Why do it now and blow up any billings that KNOU had? Maybe they didn't have any. Or do they refund KNOU spots? Shift them to a similar format? There isn't one. This is the 4th quarter! It's supposed to be when radio stations make the bulk of their revenue. Maybe not.

 

[TheBigA]

I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter is the case, and Audacy eventually disposes of 1070.

To whom? Right now there is a glut of AM properties in LA.

 

[bsr92336]

I wouldn’t be surprised if KIIS and KPWR’s cumes go up with KNOU out of the picture.

I don't see cume going up for the reasons already mentioned regarding overlapping listeners, but KIIS should definitely see an increase in TSL.

 

[michael hagerty]

This could either be a KCBS/WBBM transition where the FM simulcast complements and accentuates the AM, or a WTOP/WIP transition where the FM replaces the AM outright.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter is the case, and Audacy eventually disposes of 1070.

Well, let's remember that WTOP-AM was at 1500 on the dial and struggled to cover an increasingly sprawling metro 30 years ago. And moving to 820 was too little, too late. 1070 doesn't have that problem.

 

[davideduardo]

This is the 4th quarter! It's supposed to be when radio stations make the bulk of their revenue. Maybe not.

While some stations bill more in the 4th Quarter, for most it is not hugely different from the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Most do see a first quarter drop, but the better rated stations tend to be limited by inventory and not by available clients.

 

[radiojomo]

My prediction: KNX-FM will be #1 by the end of 2022.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Props to all whom predicted this.

 

[TheBigA]

While some stations bill more in the 4th Quarter, for most it is not hugely different from the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Most do see a first quarter drop, but the better rated stations tend to be limited by inventory and not by available clients.

Ha! Well this was NOT a better rated station. Still, how might they handle make-goods?

 

[TheBigA]

My prediction: KNX-FM will be #1 by the end of 2022.

Hmmm...I don't think they'll be #1 even among non-music stations.

It's a steep hill to beat KFI.

 

[ragazzo-pazzo]

KTWV has a relatively old average listener age, and the format is hard for agency buyers to understand. But it is easy to maintain, with very limited music work done each month and no high-cost, high-maintenance talent.

Are you accounting for the fact KTWV staff is SAG/AFTRA and KNOU staff was not? Seems VERY unlikely, given the lineup on NOW the past six months that KTWV was less expensive to operate.

 

[KilowattKat]

Again, it's likely not going anywhere. Most AM news stations that add an FM still end up with 40% of their audience listening to the AM signal.

KFBK FM doesn't even cover the entire Sac metro with 60 dbu. I know there's an LPFM near downtown on 93.1 that must cause interference. I can see why 40 percent are listening to the AM. In this case still mentioning the AM on air would seem to be a good thing.