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KOFY-98.9 The Spirit of San Francisco.

A

allisonmarie

Guest
Anybody remember this station? Which station did it replace? Who owned it?
 
> Anybody remember this station? Which station did it replace?
> Who owned it?
>
Jim Gabbert owned 98.9 FM during the late '80s and early '90s. The previous station on that frequency had been KKCY, 'The City', with its 'eclectic mix' of world music and news features.
KOFY-FM had what might now be called a 'Classic/Progressive Rock' oldies format, with a lot of obscure album cuts alongside the usual mix of '60s and '70s hits.
Gabbert was forced to sell the station after a relatively brief period of ownership-anyone else have the details of this?
 
>> KOFY-FM had what might now be called a 'Classic/Progressive Rock' oldies format, with a lot of obscure album cuts alongside the usual mix of '60s and '70s hits.<<

Sounds like what The Drive was trying to do for awhile, sprinkling a few prog-FM obscurities amongst the over-researched "classics".
 
> >> KOFY-FM had what might now be called a
> 'Classic/Progressive Rock' oldies format, with a lot of
> obscure album cuts alongside the usual mix of '60s and '70s
> hits.
>
There was a lot of pressure, perhaps even contratual, to keep a format similar to "The City" on 98.9 after Gabbert took over. Gabbert's heart and expertise, I don't think, were consistant with an eclectic laid back format. He was always better with things like reruns of I Dream of Jeannie introduced by someone's family pet.
 
> > >> KOFY-FM had what might now be called a
> > 'Classic/Progressive Rock' oldies format, with a lot of
> > obscure album cuts alongside the usual mix of '60s and
> '70s
> > hits.
> >
> There was a lot of pressure, perhaps even contratual, to
> keep a format similar to "The City" on 98.9 after Gabbert
> took over. Gabbert's heart and expertise, I don't think,
> were consistant with an eclectic laid back format. He was
> always better with things like reruns of I Dream of Jeannie
> introduced by someone's family pet.
>
Hopfully he's part of a group thats bidding on KGO AM. I'd loathed a company taking over.
 
format roulette on 98.9?

I just happened to stumble onto this board...Have never been in SF, but somehow I recall KOFY-FM (and 98.9), having gone through a string of unsucessful formats in the 80s-early 90s, one which I think was a clone in some form of KYSR in LA, another, under the KOFY-FM calls, and that one involved either a jockless or automated Top 40 format?? Again, I'm no expert in the market and am just going on vague memories here.
 
Re: format roulette on 98.9?

Since 1989, here's what I remember.

1989 - 90: KOFY-FM
1990 - 93: KDBK "Double 99FM" (Rock AC, simulcast on 99.1 with the KDBQ calls)
1993 - May 1994: KSRY "Star FM" (Hot AC that was all over the map, simulcast on 99.1 KSRY. 99.1 became a simulcast of Wild 107.7 in March 1994.)
May 1994 - August 1996: KSOL (Urban AC, 99.1 returns as a simulcast in early 1996.)
August 1996 - April 1, 2002: KSOL "Estereo Sol" (Regional Mexican)
April 1, 2002 - January 1, 2003: KEMR "Amor" (Spanish AC. KSOL moves to 105.7)
January 1, 2003 - Present: KSOL "Estereo Sol" (Returns to Regional Mexican, 105.7 becomes KEMR "Amor.")

The Golden State Radio Guide
http://goldenstate.radiobb.com/

> I just happened to stumble onto this board...Have never been
> in SF, but somehow I recall KOFY-FM (and 98.9), having gone
> through a string of unsucessful formats in the 80s-early
> 90s, one which I think was a clone in some form of KYSR in
> LA, another, under the KOFY-FM calls, and that one involved
> either a jockless or automated Top 40 format?? Again, I'm no
> expert in the market and am just going on vague memories
> here.
>
 
Re: format roulette on 98.9?

> Tim Fang's information seems dead on correct. A little more background on 98.9 - "The City" (KKCY)was not highly rated, but had a small vocal following...a lot of ex counter-culture types who missed the glory days of K-San and KMPX (which was also on 98.9 for awhile. They petitioned to the FCC to stop the sale to Gabbert, who wanted to get back into radio a few years after selling K-101 to buy TV20. He was finally allowed to purchase the station when he agreed to keep The City's eclectic format. It didn't take long before he reniged on the deal. I don't remember that he was "forced" to sell the station, so I'm not sure what the circumstances were. Prior to The City, 98.9 was "the Quake" for a few years (no relation to the current Air America talk station on 960 AM) - another attempt to return to the glory days of "free form" radio. Alex Bennett was their only big draw.


Since 1989, here's what I remember.
>
> 1989 - 90: KOFY-FM
> 1990 - 93: KDBK "Double 99FM" (Rock AC, simulcast on 99.1
> with the KDBQ calls)
> 1993 - May 1994: KSRY "Star FM" (Hot AC that was all over
> the map, simulcast on 99.1 KSRY. 99.1 became a simulcast of
> Wild 107.7 in March 1994.)
> May 1994 - August 1996: KSOL (Urban AC, 99.1 returns as a
> simulcast in early 1996.)
> August 1996 - April 1, 2002: KSOL "Estereo Sol" (Regional
> Mexican)
> April 1, 2002 - January 1, 2003: KEMR "Amor" (Spanish AC.
> KSOL moves to 105.7)
> January 1, 2003 - Present: KSOL "Estereo Sol" (Returns to
> Regional Mexican, 105.7 becomes KEMR "Amor.")
>
> The Golden State Radio Guide
> http://goldenstate.radiobb.com/
>
> > I just happened to stumble onto this board...Have never
> been
> > in SF, but somehow I recall KOFY-FM (and 98.9), having
> gone
> > through a string of unsucessful formats in the 80s-early
> > 90s, one which I think was a clone in some form of KYSR in
>
> > LA, another, under the KOFY-FM calls, and that one
> involved
> > either a jockless or automated Top 40 format?? Again, I'm
> no
> > expert in the market and am just going on vague memories
> > here.
> >
>
 
Re: format roulette on 98.9?

> > Tim Fang's information seems dead on correct. A little
> more background on 98.9 - "The City" (KKCY)was not highly
> rated, but had a small vocal following...a lot of ex
> counter-culture types who missed the glory days of K-San and
> KMPX (which was also on 98.9 for awhile. They petitioned to
> the FCC to stop the sale to Gabbert, who wanted to get back
> into radio a few years after selling K-101 to buy TV20. He
> was finally allowed to purchase the station when he agreed
> to keep The City's eclectic format. It didn't take long
> before he reniged on the deal. I don't remember that he was
> "forced" to sell the station, so I'm not sure what the
> circumstances were. Prior to The City, 98.9 was "the Quake"
> for a few years (no relation to the current Air America talk
> station on 960 AM) - another attempt to return to the glory
> days of "free form" radio. Alex Bennett was their only big
> draw.

> What about The Lobster????? He was also on KLIV too before they went to Standards in the early 80"s
>
> Since 1989, here's what I remember.
> >
> > 1989 - 90: KOFY-FM
> > 1990 - 93: KDBK "Double 99FM" (Rock AC, simulcast on 99.1
> > with the KDBQ calls)
> > 1993 - May 1994: KSRY "Star FM" (Hot AC that was all over
> > the map, simulcast on 99.1 KSRY. 99.1 became a simulcast
> of
> > Wild 107.7 in March 1994.)
> > May 1994 - August 1996: KSOL (Urban AC, 99.1 returns as a
> > simulcast in early 1996.)
> > August 1996 - April 1, 2002: KSOL "Estereo Sol" (Regional
> > Mexican)
> > April 1, 2002 - January 1, 2003: KEMR "Amor" (Spanish AC.
> > KSOL moves to 105.7)
> > January 1, 2003 - Present: KSOL "Estereo Sol" (Returns to
> > Regional Mexican, 105.7 becomes KEMR "Amor.")
> >
> > The Golden State Radio Guide
> > http://goldenstate.radiobb.com/
> >
> > > I just happened to stumble onto this board...Have never
> > been
> > > in SF, but somehow I recall KOFY-FM (and 98.9), having
> > gone
> > > through a string of unsucessful formats in the 80s-early
>
> > > 90s, one which I think was a clone in some form of KYSR
> in
> >
> > > LA, another, under the KOFY-FM calls, and that one
> > involved
> > > either a jockless or automated Top 40 format?? Again,
> I'm
> > no
> > > expert in the market and am just going on vague memories
>
> > > here.
> > >
> >
>
 
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