KSTN Shutting Down

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

Not only One of the VERY best Chief Engineers in the World but One Fine Outstanding and Wonderful person !

KSTN will be back some day soon I am sure !

Paul, it's not good form to post on here under an assumed name...

Bkress is NOT Paul Shinn. Bkress happens to be a good of mine and he used to work with Paul Shinn at KWG/ B101.

I hope you were joking

 

[Tom_KYA1260]

Both stations put significant signals into the Bay Area, had rich and colorful histories, and were the starting place for many careers.

Funny thing is that I live in Stockton and I couldn't pick it up at nights. During the day, it was full of stactic and sounded like a distant radio station. Yet 3 other AM locals (KWG-1230, KWSX-1280 & KCVR-1570) sound crisp and clear like a local should sound like.

For years, they neglected the AM signal. They should junk the whole set-up and install new transmitters a new ground system and new towers.... What else does it say when they brag about having the oldest working transmitters in the country?

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Bkress is NOT Paul Shinn. Bkress happens to be a good of mine and he used to work with Paul Shinn at KWG/ B101.

I hope you were joking

Gee, Michael! Thanks for explaining! It's a good thing we both get the funny, huh? :-*

 

[SFStatic]

Replacing xmtrs is one thing....ground systems quite another. It may simply not make economic sense with what the place can bill.

 

[Madmansam]

Both stations put significant signals into the Bay Area, had rich and colorful histories, and were the starting place for many careers.

Funny thing is that I live in Stockton and I couldn't pick it up at nights. During the day, it was full of stactic and sounded like a distant radio station. Yet 3 other AM locals (KWG-1230, KWSX-1280 & KCVR-1570) sound crisp and clear like a local should sound like.

For years, they neglected the AM signal. They should junk the whole set-up and install new transmitters a new ground system and new towers.... What else does it say when they brag about having the oldest working transmitters in the country?

I remember a time when I could have heard a crystal clear KSTN-1420 throughout the valley. Recently however, I could barely pick them up during the day and never at nights. And I live in Stockton!

 

[sloux]

On the Radio-Info.com Sacramento board (under "KSTN-FM Transmitter Signed On"), I have posted a link to audio with the first KSTN-FM legal ID under the K-Love format ... they are really pushing it as a San Francisco station!

Obviously this is because their penetration of the SF market has been primarily through low power translators for the last two decades, repeating either KLVR Santa Rosa or KLVM Prundale. I know there is some reluctance on the part of many who contribute to these boards to accept a "megabucks" Christian network is taking over a legendary signal, but the notion of actually being able to listen to this network for more than 10 miles without having to change stations two or three times is very cool to me. The SF market is remarkable in that there has never really been a full-power Contemporary Christian station on the air (save a brief stint with Salem Broadcasting's "The Bridge" early in this decade.)

 

[DaveBayArea]

I know there is some reluctance on the part of many who contribute to these boards to accept a "megabucks" Christian network is taking over a legendary signal, but the notion of actually being able to listen to this network for more than 10 miles without having to change stations two or three times is very cool to me. The SF market is remarkable in that there has never really been a full-power Contemporary Christian station on the air (save a brief stint with Salem Broadcasting's "The Bridge" early in this decade.)

There's an interesting article in the latest Radio World on the subject of Christian Broadcasting. Essentially it says what we've all known - that the revenues of the non-comm Christian stations have not fallen as fast as advertising-based stations. KSTN is ideal for a niche format like CCM, because those who are enthusiastic about the format will seek it out despite a weaker signal, and the goal of EMF is to essentially cover everywhere geographically without regard to specific markets. Over on the Sacramento board there was discussion about this station's coverage area, and it was pointed out that the FCC predicted coverage area is not at all accurate. I ran a Longley-Rice prediction using the Canadian government's site and the results are posted here:

http://davencin.users.sonic.net/KSTN_Real_Coverage.JPG

The actual coverage in San Francisco isn't that great, but there isn't any real interference to speak of because there are no adjacent stations on 107.1 or 107.5 running HD, and nothing on 107.3 for well over 200 KM, save an LPFM in Occidental. I fully admit that I'm one of those who are reluctant about the "Megabucks Christian Network". But my feelings stem from the fact that I don't feel this network really falls into the "Non-Commercial Educational" category. They use that privilege to license satellite-fed translators and stations in the 88-92 MHz range, but the programming is not really distinguishable from a commercial station, other than the lack of stop sets. This is compounded by the fact that the translators take up valuable spectrum space (I get K-love at six places on the dial from my home in Newark). If this change proves to be an acquisition and not just an LMA, and 107.3 becomes a permanent outlet for K-love then maybe they'll see fit to abandon some of their other signals, allowing local programming. I see that as a win-win situation for both EMF and other broadcasters.

Dave B.

 

[DavidKaye]

The SF market is remarkable in that there has never really been a full-power Contemporary Christian station on the air (save a brief stint with Salem Broadcasting's "The Bridge" early in this decade.)

Uh, you're forgetting the first Jesuscaster of them all, KEAR? They've been in this market for 50 years. While they've played a variety of music they have had shows that feature what you call "contemporary Christian" programming.

 

[whonigs]

Uh, you're forgetting the first Jesuscaster of them all, KEAR? They've been in this market for 50 years. While they've played a variety of music they have had shows that feature what you call "contemporary Christian" programming.

Contemprorary? Hardly. They had a VERY brief period from around 1969-1973 when you could have called what Family Radio was playing as contemporary. For the most part the music on Family radio is OLD! When I worked at Hegenberger Rd they had just started to digitize the old Vinyl library.

The big difference between EMF and Family Radio is that someone is actually listening to Air 1 and K-LOVE.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

The big difference between EMF and Family Radio is that someone is actually listening to Air 1 and K-LOVE.

That's because they essentially run their stations like commercial "mass appeal" music stations WITHOUT COMMERCIALS.

Family broadcasts some music, but they are mostly a "talk" station. I don't think Cavalry or the other "preach and teach" stations get many listeners either.

Family Radio's audience is OLDER. It's small and loyal.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

I don't think Cavalry or the other "preach and teach" stations get many listeners either.

What surprises me is how many of those blue Catholic Radio (1260 and 1230) bumper stickers I see on cars, both in the Bay Area and in the Valley.

I know the stations give them away, but are they giving them away at Mass on Sundays, too? (...asks the lapsed Catholic.)

http://www.ihradio.org/bumperstickers

Clearly they're doing some promotion to get those peel'n'sticks on so many cars. I see more for Catholic Radio than any other station(s) around here. You?

 

[Hunkey Snarkey]

Im still waiting for KYA1260, and Gary Mora to take that frequency back!!!!!!!!! And put on Tall Tom Campell 6-10 nights,,,,,,,,, and wake up with Chrissy Edwards,, (the original 1968 Chris Edwards) !!!!!!!!!!!!! Todays my birthday, at 57, Im hoping theres change before i get hard of hearing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kenny in Concord!!!!!!!!!

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Damn it. Oh, well. I guess since I brought it up, I have to throw back a shot.

I hate playing the "You Know What Happens Next When You Mention Either 610/KFRC or 1260/KYA Drinking Game."

I thought I'd get away with it because I mentioned "1260" in the context of Catholic Radio. Bottoms up!

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

I don't think Cavalry or the other "preach and teach" stations get many listeners either.

What surprises me is how many of those blue Catholic Radio (1260 and 1230) bumper stickers I see on cars, both in the Bay Area and in the Valley.

I know the stations give them away, but are they giving them away at Mass on Sundays, too? (...asks the lapsed Catholic.)

http://www.ihradio.org/bumperstickers

Clearly they're doing some promotion to get those peel'n'sticks on so many cars. I see more for Catholic Radio than any other station(s) around here. You?

I'm a recovering Catholic myself...

I guess it's some sort of "don't want to be seen without one"...kind of a Catholic guilt thing :-\

 

[BossRadioDJ]

I guess it's some sort of "don't want to be seen without one"...kind of a Catholic guilt thing :-\

You took the words right off of my ... errr, keyboard.

I'm going to order up a couple of those bumper stickers right now. You know, just in case...

 

[LKellerIII]

There's a huge billboard for Catholic Radio 1260 near my house on Cesar Chavez St in San Francisco - It's been there for over a year. The billboard is owned by Clear Channel and the former long-time advertiser was 98.1 Kiss-FM. A conspiracy between the forces of Satan (CC) and the Catholic Church? Hmmmmmm....

 

[BossRadioDJ]

There's a huge billboard for Catholic Radio 1260 near my house on Cesar Chavez St in San Francisco - It's been there for over a year. The billboard is owned by Clear Channel and the former long-time advertiser was 98.1 Kiss-FM. A conspiracy between the forces of Satan (CC) and the Catholic Church? Hmmmmmm....

And you don't find it ironic that the billboard (owned by Clear Channel Outdoor) is advertising a competing radio station? Their own local stations couldn't use the ad space?

Of course, that's why CC Outdoor is making money and the radio division ain't.

Note to CC: have you thought of flipping KKGN or KNEW to brokered religion? Just spit-ballin'...

 

[SFStatic]

They will probably flip 960 to all infomercial. A sales manager has pushed for that for 4-5 years over there.