I know this barely makes the California board since Stateline Nevada is next door, but KTHO 590 has recently droped standards for classic rock under new owner Darrell (Wayne) Wampler. Today a sale of FM translator K241BK from Radio Assist to Darrell was filed at the FCC. So it looks like KTHO will also be on 96.1 up there too.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
KTHO S.LAKE TAHOE
- Thread starter jonbruce
- Start date
Newsperson responds:
KTHO is licensed to South Lake Tahoe, CA. so it definetly fits on this board.
Since 2006 KTHO has run more of a soft or pop oldies and not adult standars.
I have tried several times to pick up 96.1 at Lake Tahoe and it is not on the air. KYMX 96.1 from Sacramento does come in well. The site listed is the same site of 92.7 an FM translator for Immaculate Heart Radio which is on the air and I can receive that well around South Shore.
KTHO will most likey have to build the translator at a different sie. The owners of the translator (Radio Assit) should have reproted K241BK as silent to the FCC except they have not.
Has any ever heard K241BK on the air?
I will look for your responses.
Newsperson
KTHO is licensed to South Lake Tahoe, CA. so it definetly fits on this board.
Since 2006 KTHO has run more of a soft or pop oldies and not adult standars.
I have tried several times to pick up 96.1 at Lake Tahoe and it is not on the air. KYMX 96.1 from Sacramento does come in well. The site listed is the same site of 92.7 an FM translator for Immaculate Heart Radio which is on the air and I can receive that well around South Shore.
KTHO will most likey have to build the translator at a different sie. The owners of the translator (Radio Assit) should have reproted K241BK as silent to the FCC except they have not.
Has any ever heard K241BK on the air?
I will look for your responses.
Newsperson
Newsperson responds:
Wow time flies there has been a couple of operators since Chris Kidd. One ran a lot of sports and the last was running timeless favorites from ABC. It's really more of a pop oldies format. McDonalds would always play KTHO in their store at the drive-through.
The ownership is still Live Wire Media Partners and they haven't paid any attention to the station in a couple of years. Darrell is under an LMA now and the owernship is expected to change to International Aerospace Solutions soon.
I heard from George Alm from KRLT/KOWL and they are in disbelief about the music they play. He says that a lot of the classic rock songs are not well known. However the morning show is very localized - almost too much as they haven't paid any attention to the North Shore yet(which they cover).
The FM translator at 96.1 will have some co-channel interference from KYMX-Sacramento so it's unknown if it will work well. As I said in the earlier post I tune in 96.1 when I am at South Shore and I always receive KYMX. This translator is certainly not on the air now although Radio Assist has not reported it as silent.
There are other better FM translators at South Lake Tahoe that Darrell could buy, mainly ones that don't have a co-channel interference problem. With a clean frequency you can get listeners way beyond your 60dbu contour.
Yes George was surprised about the FM translator.
Has anyone heard KTHO lately? Let's hear your comments.
Newsperson
Wow time flies there has been a couple of operators since Chris Kidd. One ran a lot of sports and the last was running timeless favorites from ABC. It's really more of a pop oldies format. McDonalds would always play KTHO in their store at the drive-through.
The ownership is still Live Wire Media Partners and they haven't paid any attention to the station in a couple of years. Darrell is under an LMA now and the owernship is expected to change to International Aerospace Solutions soon.
I heard from George Alm from KRLT/KOWL and they are in disbelief about the music they play. He says that a lot of the classic rock songs are not well known. However the morning show is very localized - almost too much as they haven't paid any attention to the North Shore yet(which they cover).
The FM translator at 96.1 will have some co-channel interference from KYMX-Sacramento so it's unknown if it will work well. As I said in the earlier post I tune in 96.1 when I am at South Shore and I always receive KYMX. This translator is certainly not on the air now although Radio Assist has not reported it as silent.
There are other better FM translators at South Lake Tahoe that Darrell could buy, mainly ones that don't have a co-channel interference problem. With a clean frequency you can get listeners way beyond your 60dbu contour.
Yes George was surprised about the FM translator.
Has anyone heard KTHO lately? Let's hear your comments.
Newsperson
When KTHO was sold to Paradise Broadcasting in 2006, the company paid 650K for it, according to FCC records. When the station was sold this year, the new owners paid 125K for it, according to Inside Radio's "Transaction" page.
Admittedly, I have no idea as to the station's finances or management history but, unless KTHO is a special case, this dramatic drop in price does not bode well in terms of the valuation of AM stations.
Of course, this may not be such a bad thing as this trend (if it is a trend) can bring radio station ownership down to a level that makes it achievable to minorities and women.
C5
Admittedly, I have no idea as to the station's finances or management history but, unless KTHO is a special case, this dramatic drop in price does not bode well in terms of the valuation of AM stations.
Of course, this may not be such a bad thing as this trend (if it is a trend) can bring radio station ownership down to a level that makes it achievable to minorities and women.
C5
Carmine5 said:When KTHO was sold to Paradise Broadcasting in 2006, the company paid 650K for it, according to FCC records. When the station was sold this year, the new owners paid 125K for it, according to Inside Radio's "Transaction" page.
Admittedly, I have no idea as to the station's finances or management history but, unless KTHO is a special case, this dramatic drop in price does not bode well in terms of the valuation of AM stations.
Of course, this may not be such a bad thing as this trend (if it is a trend) can bring radio station ownership down to a level that makes it achievable to minorities and women.
C5
I thought I remembered something about this station being sold on ebay, and sure enough I found this:
http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/Tahoe61/?action=view¤t=644828f6.flv
Seems like maybe the auction was the start of this string of ownership, happening back in 2003.
Dave B.
DaveBayArea said:Carmine5 said:When KTHO was sold to Paradise Broadcasting in 2006, the company paid 650K for it, according to FCC records. When the station was sold this year, the new owners paid 125K for it, according to Inside Radio's "Transaction" page.
Admittedly, I have no idea as to the station's finances or management history but, unless KTHO is a special case, this dramatic drop in price does not bode well in terms of the valuation of AM stations.
Of course, this may not be such a bad thing as this trend (if it is a trend) can bring radio station ownership down to a level that makes it achievable to minorities and women.
C5
I thought I remembered something about this station being sold on ebay, and sure enough I found this:
http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/Tahoe61/?action=view¤t=644828f6.flv
Seems like maybe the auction was the start of this string of ownership, happening back in 2003.
Dave B.
Thanks for finding that news clip. Maybe eBay should handle CP auctions as well, instead of the FCC. They would sure be a lot more comprehendible. The FCC's auction process is a convoluted puzzle which only a lawyer could love.
But in spite of whatever greatness KTHO once had, it seems apparent that no recent management has been able to restore the station's stature, which is a shame.
C5
Newsperson responds:
Carmine5;
If you look through the FCC Webb site the records show that the Commission itself transferred KTHO back to Kidd Communications who later sold it to the last owner. This was for the license only and not the land.
The brand new owner just purchased the license and equipment and leases the towers from a new tower company. The lower price reflects the fact that the new owner will have to pay rent into perpetuity.
KTHO's main problem today is that they have to go out and establish new advertising relationships. The last owner Live Wire Media Partners stopped making any effort in selling advertising over 2-years ago. They had decided to sell the station and only accepted advertising if someone beat down the door to buy it. This did happen with local political advertising.
Has anyone heard the new format of KTHO? I don't live in the area and last time I heard it they were playing an unusual mix of lesser known classic rock.
Hi BayareaDave;
I remember the stations for sale on eBay. As we all know it is just hype because someone cannot legally buy a radio station on eBay because of FCC approval and all the other details that need to be worked out. If you want press about your station for sale, put it on eBay, but you'll never sell it that way. Personally to me it really lowers the value of a station by placing it on eBay. Whatever happened to confidentiality?
Remember this posted started out about an FM translator? It was the 96.1 translator that has not been on the air for more than a year. Has anyone else tried to tune in 96.1 at Lake Tahoe? Can you receive anything else beside KYMX from Sacramento?
Newsperson
Carmine5;
If you look through the FCC Webb site the records show that the Commission itself transferred KTHO back to Kidd Communications who later sold it to the last owner. This was for the license only and not the land.
The brand new owner just purchased the license and equipment and leases the towers from a new tower company. The lower price reflects the fact that the new owner will have to pay rent into perpetuity.
KTHO's main problem today is that they have to go out and establish new advertising relationships. The last owner Live Wire Media Partners stopped making any effort in selling advertising over 2-years ago. They had decided to sell the station and only accepted advertising if someone beat down the door to buy it. This did happen with local political advertising.
Has anyone heard the new format of KTHO? I don't live in the area and last time I heard it they were playing an unusual mix of lesser known classic rock.
Hi BayareaDave;
I remember the stations for sale on eBay. As we all know it is just hype because someone cannot legally buy a radio station on eBay because of FCC approval and all the other details that need to be worked out. If you want press about your station for sale, put it on eBay, but you'll never sell it that way. Personally to me it really lowers the value of a station by placing it on eBay. Whatever happened to confidentiality?
Remember this posted started out about an FM translator? It was the 96.1 translator that has not been on the air for more than a year. Has anyone else tried to tune in 96.1 at Lake Tahoe? Can you receive anything else beside KYMX from Sacramento?
Newsperson
Newsperson responds:
Carmine5;
Your last post hit while I was typing mine. Once again eBay is a joke for selling any broadcast property whether it's a CP or station you cannot be legally bound.
On the other hand an FCC auction for CPs does take your money and you are legally bound where they may come after you if you don't pay and keep your deposit.
The other thing about FCC auctions is buyer beware, if the permit does not work out your money is gone. However there is a new case where a bidder paid a few million and could not obtain a tower site. They have asked for their millions back so we'll see what happens.
Speaking of auctions, the FCC is holding a new FM auction in September. Anyone want to bid?
Newsperson
Carmine5;
Your last post hit while I was typing mine. Once again eBay is a joke for selling any broadcast property whether it's a CP or station you cannot be legally bound.
On the other hand an FCC auction for CPs does take your money and you are legally bound where they may come after you if you don't pay and keep your deposit.
The other thing about FCC auctions is buyer beware, if the permit does not work out your money is gone. However there is a new case where a bidder paid a few million and could not obtain a tower site. They have asked for their millions back so we'll see what happens.
Speaking of auctions, the FCC is holding a new FM auction in September. Anyone want to bid?
Newsperson
- Status
- This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.