This one is actually the one you wantâ-the Verne âChris Edwardsâ White origin story from 2006, which starts with Verne passing himself off as KYA veteran jock Chris Edwards and then the story collapsing, with some of the most inept excuses and explanations youâll ever read:
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KSCO(AM), Santa Cruz, CA Whoops
- Thread starter Frequency1
- Start date
Ouch! So, the *quote* to do a job like that would probably be that $50k value.
This station, however, seems to be - different - in that regard, as has been mentioned, much of that DA system sits in a lagoon.
I'd like to think that $6M figure would be a value that a buyer might actually be able to do *something* with the land that much of that DA sits on.
It's California. The [municipality | county | state] is certainly going to have a say on just *what* would be allowed with that land (if much) once that DA is removed.
Someone like @fybush might have a bit of insight in the matter if other stations in a similar environmental location (lagoon, swamp, etc.) turned into yet another of those "land is worth more than the station" situations.
It being Northern California, it wouldn't surprise me if the $6 mil was only for the land the building sits on. The lagoon itself belongs to the Santa Cruz County Parks Department and I'd be surprised if the station owns the tower sites---likely some lease agreement that nobody objected to in 1947, but that you'd probably never get approved today.
This is in reference to the request filed November 15, 2022, on behalf of Zwerling Broadcasting System, Ltd. ("ZBS"). ZBS requests special temporary authority ("STA") to operate station KSCO(AM) with a reduced power non-directional facility during nighttime hours. In support of the request, ZBS states that KSCO(AM) is licensed to operate at 10 kilowatts daytime using a non-directional antenna, and 5 kilowatts nighttime using a three tower directional antenna. However, the three tower directional nighttime antenna is nonfunctional and so the station has hired a firm to prepare an application on Form 301 for permanent nondirectional nighttime operation. While the application is being prepared, the station is requesting an STA to operate non-directionally at night from the daytime tower. Operation is proposed with a reduced power of 28 watts. No changes are proposed to the daytime operation. Section 73.1680 of the Commissionâs rules provide for operation with emergency antenna facilities. In particular, Section 73.1680(b)(1) states that AM stations may use a horizontal or vertical wire or a nondirectional vertical element of a directional antenna as an emergency antenna. AM stations using an emergency nondirectional antenna or a horizontal or vertical wire pursuant to this section, in lieu of authorized directional facilities, shall operate with power reduced to 25% or less of the nominal licensed power, or, a higher power, not exceeding licensed power, while ensuring that the radiated field strength does not exceed that authorized in any given azimuth for the corresponding hours of directional operation. Accordingly, the request for STA IS HEREBY GRANTED. Station KSCO(AM) may operate non-directionally during nighttime hours with a reduced power of 28 watts. No changes are proposed to the daytime operation. It will be necessary to further reduce or cease operation if complaints of interference are received. KSCO(AM) must use whatever means are necessary to protect workers and the public from exposure to radio frequency radiation in excess of the Commissionâs exposure guidelines.
So, if I read this right, Zwerlingâ-after 30 years of illegal nighttime operationâ-is asking the FCC to consider allowing it to continue under rules it has for emergencies.
Dude is a piece of work.
Someone in M onterey has said KSCO isnt shutting down at sunset nor is it loweinrg power
The article said he was shutting down and shifting the nighttime programming to 1340. But it wouldnât surprise me if he was inconsistent, either.
Well, apparently hes not shutting 1080 down at all, it seems like the person on FB implied 1-080 is staying on full bore
This a listing at the MCH website,.. sounds like it... The office building is the giveaway..
CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY AM WITH TRANSLATOR: Co-brokered with Kozacko Media Services. Asking for the two stations is $850,000 and there is a CLASSIC, retro office/studio building available for $750,000. Sales are good and cashflow is good. Contact MCH Enterprises for a presentation.
CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY AM WITH TRANSLATOR: Co-brokered with Kozacko Media Services. Asking for the two stations is $850,000 and there is a CLASSIC, retro office/studio building available for $750,000. Sales are good and cashflow is good. Contact MCH Enterprises for a presentation.
Cashflow is good..? I thought he was losing money?
I don't think so. Santa Cruz isn't really "wine country", and this is for an AM with translator, not two AMs plus whatever FM translators Zwerling has.
There are still a handful of old radio studios and offices in California, and $750,000 suggests it ain't much to look at. I'd guess KUKI in Ukiah, but there's a full-signal FM in addition to 1400 AM.
This is more like it, though Luna was aiming a lot lower than $650,000 in his offer, and these stations are in a modern facility:
Aaaannnd....got it. Almost certainly KPRL, Paso Robles.
kprl.com
The irony in this is KPRL is essentially doing the kind of radio Zwerling is, they're just (they say) making money at it. Zwerling's advantage is that piece of land next to the lagoon. Worth a chunk.
Home - KPRL Radio 1230AM & 99.3FM
kprl.com
The irony in this is KPRL is essentially doing the kind of radio Zwerling is, they're just (they say) making money at it. Zwerling's advantage is that piece of land next to the lagoon. Worth a chunk.
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Right. That's what the article I linked to says. But those aren't the listing you posted. I'm pretty sure KPRL in Paso Robles is.
I am amazed at the KSCO story ( picking the power they want to use at night . . . on their own . . . for 30 years !!! ) . . . this may have been brought up before here but when they complained about the fact that the night DA system doesn't even make it 1 mile to the east . . . well it has been that way since the station went on the air with that DA . . . maybe they should have built that DA more inland from the beginning!
If I were KSCO I'd fix the DA and go back to 5 kw night, the nightime signal covers to the north and south (Monterey) pretty good, along the coast, the 3 tower site they have is on the coast but in abit, on the Monterey Bay.
They got FM translators in the area of concern, that kind of covers those areas ( that the nightime signal ) doesn't make it more then 1 mile east.
Putting that AM signal back to 5 kw night and directional would help the listeners to the north and south along the coast ( including in Monterey ) at night in areas that don't have FM translator reception.
Gee - had they put this site more inland years ago they could have sold it today for development and make megabucks . . . but nope they put the site in an area right on the water, an area that looks like you could never develop it, that looks like you could never build on
This has got to be the strangest story I have read about the FCC and a broadcaster.
here is the KSCO transmitter site looking west . . . that is the Pacific Ocean out in the distant . . .
I lived in this area, north of it ( SF Bay Area ) for over 40 years, I remember this site well.
www.google.com
Al
If I were KSCO I'd fix the DA and go back to 5 kw night, the nightime signal covers to the north and south (Monterey) pretty good, along the coast, the 3 tower site they have is on the coast but in abit, on the Monterey Bay.
They got FM translators in the area of concern, that kind of covers those areas ( that the nightime signal ) doesn't make it more then 1 mile east.
Putting that AM signal back to 5 kw night and directional would help the listeners to the north and south along the coast ( including in Monterey ) at night in areas that don't have FM translator reception.
Gee - had they put this site more inland years ago they could have sold it today for development and make megabucks . . . but nope they put the site in an area right on the water, an area that looks like you could never develop it, that looks like you could never build on
This has got to be the strangest story I have read about the FCC and a broadcaster.
here is the KSCO transmitter site looking west . . . that is the Pacific Ocean out in the distant . . .
I lived in this area, north of it ( SF Bay Area ) for over 40 years, I remember this site well.
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
Al
Al, the trouble is they built the station in 1947 in a small town. Two parcels of land versus one. And the signal was probably fine at the time.I am amazed at the KSCO story ( picking the power they want to use at night . . . on their own . . . for 30 years !!! ) . . . this may have been brought up before here but when they complained about the fact that the night DA system doesn't even make it 1 mile to the east . . . well it has been that way since the station went on the air with that DA . . . maybe they should have built that DA more inland from the beginning!
If I were KSCO I'd fix the DA and go back to 5 kw night, the nightime signal covers to the north and south (Monterey) pretty good, along the coast, the 3 tower site they have is on the coast but in abit, on the Monterey Bay.
They got FM translators in the area of concern, that kind of covers those areas ( that the nightime signal ) doesn't make it more then 1 mile east.
Putting that AM signal back to 5 kw night and directional would help the listeners to the north and south along the coast ( including in Monterey ) at night in areas that don't have FM translator reception.
Gee - had they put this site more inland years ago they could have sold it today for development and make megabucks . . . but nope they put the site in an area right on the water, an area that looks like you could never develop it, that looks like you could never build on
This has got to be the strangest story I have read about the FCC and a broadcaster.
here is the KSCO transmitter site looking west . . . that is the Pacific Ocean out in the distant . . .
I lived in this area, north of it ( SF Bay Area ) for over 40 years, I remember this site well.
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
Al
By the time the current owners bought it, 30 years ago, a second plot of land and construction of a new directional array would have been prohibitively expensive. And from all appearances, it was all Zwerling could do (with a chunk of his parents' money) to just buy the thing. If he couldn't afford to fix the existing directional array, he sure couldn't have afforded a new site.
Someone's got a cute little sports car there.
Anywho, he's also got that 1340 KOMY on those towers. Is he not selling that?
Anywho, he's also got that 1340 KOMY on those towers. Is he not selling that?
If you go to the post about the sale, itâs included (KOMY, not the Miata).
Mike,
Good points.
I also am surprised that the translators don't really cover "well" the deep null they have toward Dallas, TX, the info I have is that the AM puts out about 5-15 watts in that direction at night and that null seems to go right over Watsonville.
They have three FM translators per radio-locator.com . . . two are licensed for Watsonville but none are located in Watsonville, it seems none have a lobe that really goes over Watsonville.
There are about 52,000 people there and that is just Watsonville.
I am sure they figured this all out, two of the translators do hit Morgan Hill and Gilroy it seems, per radio-locator.com. That is good.
since the AM does cover those areas daytime, but not at night
take care,
Al
Good points.
I also am surprised that the translators don't really cover "well" the deep null they have toward Dallas, TX, the info I have is that the AM puts out about 5-15 watts in that direction at night and that null seems to go right over Watsonville.
They have three FM translators per radio-locator.com . . . two are licensed for Watsonville but none are located in Watsonville, it seems none have a lobe that really goes over Watsonville.
There are about 52,000 people there and that is just Watsonville.
I am sure they figured this all out, two of the translators do hit Morgan Hill and Gilroy it seems, per radio-locator.com. That is good.
since the AM does cover those areas daytime, but not at night
take care,
Al
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