KOFY

[Chuck]

So what is with KOFY? I thought its license was deleted. Visiting the FCC’s CDBS, there is a letter on file dated September 2005 from the Commission to the license holder saying that the station’s license had expired, no renewal had been filed, and therefore the license has expired. It further said that the call letters had been deleted and any further broadcasting must stop immediately. That was last fall. I was in Tyler today, and noticed that they are broadcasting a carrier, but no audio. The carrier was strong enough to stop my car radio in the “search” mode in both downtown Tyler and downtown Kilgore. Although there was some background noise, it seemed to be a reasonably full power signal. Did they get the license back and it just isn’t showing up on the FCC’s database?Legal ramifications aside, all that dead air is a good way to run up a big electric bill. It is 10,000 watts daytime, isn’t it? I wouldn’t be surprised to find that it is on at night too. It seems like a tragic waste of a good signal.

 

[nuzguy]

Probably their way of snicking their teeth at the Cookie Company.

 

[LABreeze]

Funny that you mentioned that. I was in East Texas around the last week of March and found out that KOFY was simulcasting with KZEY. I don't know if the so-called company called Community Broadcast Group was at all aware that their license had expired on them. Perhaps they haven't been paying too much attention to the ruling that they can be fined in a very expensive way. Jerry Russell need to give up the radio business and go run for mayor of Tyler or something. The Station With The Flava Has No Savor....MRS Ventures, surrender your position as broadcasters, NOW!!!!I doubt that they can read that statement! ;D

 

[C414B]

Funny you mention running for Mayor of Tyler....There was a gentleman that ran against the two-term incumbent. The challenger had his tail handed to him on a platter. Seems the incumbent won by about a 9-to-1 margin or something like that. Don't worry though...the incumbent mayor is limited to three consecutive terms and he's outta there.

 

[billyg]

It just shows what happens when Idiots run a radio station. KOFY was overmodulating distorted noise for a couple months and now its just running dead air even at night. I'm still amazed KOFY on the air and that the FCC hasn't come over to the transmitter (on the farm road north of the Country Tavern BBQ) knocked down the door and confiscated all the equipment. KZEY is still functioning but its been running on low power (92 watts) for over a year now, not even enough to cover Tyler.Where are the KZEY/KOFY studios now - are they still in the old KZEY building?? Has anyone dropped by? I read here a few months ago that property was auctioned off. What a mess!Billy G.KHYM 1060 Gilmer DJ (1989-90) KROZ 92.1 Tyler DJ (90-91)KWRD/KGRI Henderson DJ (93-94)

 

[C414B]

Where are the KZEY/KOFY studios now - are they still in the old KZEY building?? Has anyone dropped by? I read here a few months ago that property was auctioned off. What a mess!

Saw a sign ("KZEY AM-690" and a "FLAVA" sticker on a mailbox) outside a door to a building in the 100 block of E. College Street in downtown Tyler today. IIRC, it's the same place I saw it a few months ago.My question is this: if the XMTR and stick were on the property that was auctioned off, is it still there or did it all get moved?And I'm with y'all...how he's kept a 10kW AM that's about as legal as speeding on the air without being shut down is just about miraculous. ESPECIALLY if it's still on the air at night. Can we say "flagrant"?

 

[Chuck]

Where are the KZEY/KOFY studios now - are they still in the old KZEY building?? Has anyone dropped by? I read here a few months ago that property was auctioned off. What a mess!Billy G.KHYM 1060 Gilmer DJ (1989-90) KROZ 92.1 Tyler DJ (90-91)KWRD/KGRI Henderson DJ (93-94)

The old studios have been abandoned for at least a year. The last I looked, they were just rotting away. It looks like it was quite a place at one time, but it would take a superhuman effort (or a bulldozer) to fix it now. The antenna farm is out back with the transmitter located in one of those little wooden storage sheds they sell at Home Depot or Lowes. As far as I know, they are only using one tower, which might have something to do with the low power.There was supposed to be a Sheriff's sale on the property a while ago, but I never heard what happened. Anyone know?

 

[LABreeze]

Saw a sign ("KZEY AM-690" and a "FLAVA" sticker on a mailbox) outside a door to a building in the 100 block of E. College Street in downtown Tyler today. IIRC, it's the same place I saw it a few months ago.My question is this: if the XMTR and stick were on the property that was auctioned off, is it still there or did it all get moved?And I'm with y'all...how he's kept a 10kW AM that's about as legal as speeding on the air without being shut down is just about miraculous. ESPECIALLY if it's still on the air at night. Can we say "flagrant"?

Wait....let me get this straight......the Lake Park Drive location is abandoned leaving the the lone tower there? And all of a sudden they moved their operation to East College Street? Wierd. I wondered as to how they can survive with the minimal of spots and the smallest support from Russell's circle of friends? Billy G, I understood that the Lake Park Drive location is up for grabs, but I, too have been wondering about that myself. From a reliable source, I've been told that Jerry Russell is in hiding somewhere. Where he's at, I don't know. I just wish someone would file a complaint to the FCC about Russell's pirate simulcast of KZEY through KOFY (or is it the other way around). Like i said on my previous post, I was visiting East Texas the final week of March (my brother called me that my older sister passed away 3/26) and I have done a lot of channel surfing. I was in Longview at the time and noticed KOFY's overmodualted mess. Sunday, I was heading to Henderson to attend church and also did some channel surfing. Scanned to KOFY and I was not surprised. Gospel programming was on at the time and the reception was far, far away from improvement. Now you know why they killed KWRD-AM until the new owners made improvements there.

 

[billyg]

It sounds like both stations have been abandoned like KWRD was, but with both stations running on auto-pilot. From what I remember the KZEY building was originally built in the 50's as a small narrow cinderblock building with just the air studios and a small office. Then the front offices were added on sometime in the early 70's when they added KROZ (now KDOK-FM). The inside steps into the studio area were right at the front of the original building. The building was in rough shape in 90-91 from all the use, I bet its in horrible shape now from all the neglect.Great place for a AM stick, horrible for a 3K FM. I remember trying to listen to KROZ one morning only 8 miles from Tyler with Shreveport's 92.1 (then running oldies) cutting in. I wish KOFY/KZEY and all Community Broadcast Group properties were put up for sale.

 

[LABreeze]

I'm wishing the same way. The only thing I can do with KZEY, if any new owner gets interested in buying it was first of all, hire me as their program director and allow me to make the station an R&B oldies format like that of KKDA-AM in Dallas. That would be the missing link that needs to be filled. KOFY can be broadcasted as an urban talk format. BUT the power of 10,000 watts needs to be reduced in half to avoid conflict with New Orleans AM station that's also on 1060. I also learned that there is really no conflict of putting KOFY's reduced power there. So with that it goes both ways and wishful thinking of such that can work.