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Washington KXLE-FM downgrade

It is 2/16/24, and KXLE seems to be at the new Manastash site now. Easily audible but a little spotty in Selah. A wild picket-fencing mess in much of Yakima with KXLE and K237GY slopping over each other...KXLE gets better around the Ahtanum and Wiley City area.
Also NEW TOH IDs, sweepers, NBC News Radio at TOH.

AM 1240 went classic country quite a while ago, BTW.

I can't see how they gain any Yakima advertisers, except for maybe a Selah business or two. 95.3 mHz in Yakima is a solid mix of Luke Combs singing about a 'fast car', and singing/praising Jesus in Spanish.
Intriguing that 1240 went Classic Country. 1470 KBSN did the same at the beginning of last year and just gained a translator on 107.7 after they purchased K296BP 107.1 and modified it.

KXLE comes in decently in Moses Lake and down Hwy 17 going toward Othello/Pasco. Once you reach Othello, 95.3 becomes a mix between KXLE, U-Rock, K237GY and KPND, then U-Rock takes over by the time you cross into Franklin County just south of town.
 
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So the Storq doesn't overfill the hour with songs? I ask because the FM WAS on WWO Storq. The Wegener receiver handed off to a Rivendell automation for the breaks. I ask because previous management indicated there were some songs on the Rivendell.
When the station i was at was running the AC PUre format on Storq, if the 50 after break was under 91 seconds.. Storq would play an optional song after the 50 after break.. it would come from storq.. like the optional song that you heard on satellite if you didnt fill a local breakj
 
When the station i was at was running the AC PUre format on Storq, if the 50 after break was under 91 seconds.. Storq would play an optional song after the 50 after break.. it would come from storq.. like the optional song that you heard on satellite if you didnt fill a local breakj
Seems like maybe Storq was great back in the day, but as a part of WWO satellite programming not so great a fit in today's world. Satellite feed has one advantage, as evidenced yesterday when the On-Air workstation for our one station that still uses WWO shut down. We were still on the air except for liners and local commercials until we put a new workstation on the job. In the LRN world, we would have no programming...
 
New modification application for KXLE - this time a frequency change to 105.7, swapping with KRSE. This should be interesting if the FCC doesn't throw it out.

 
This is part of a sweeping chess game that ultimately gives KJET a C0 signal from South Mountain into the Seattle area. Someone on the PDXradio board highlighted the changes. (I copy them for your entertainment and education.):

* KRHR. Hood River/Odell. 95.1. Downgrades from C3 to A
* KXLE Ellensburg. Stays C3. Goes from 105.7 to 95.3
* KJET Union. Upgrades from C3 to C0 on 105.7. (slight site change too)
* KRSE Yakima. Stays C1 but is forced to move to 95.3 from 105.7.

Let the lawyers, accountants, and engineers fight this one. The FCC must order KRSE to move as part of the strategy. All the mods were filed today.

If you have been watching the Puget Sound area airwaves the groundwork started a few months ago with a little Sedro-Woolley station (KZGI) changing from 105.7 to 96.9, clearing the way for the bigger boulders to roll now.
 
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This is part of a sweeping chess game that ultimately gives KJET a C0 signal from South Mountain into the Seattle area. Someone on the PDXradio board highlighted the changes. (I copy them for your entertainment and education.):

* KRHR. Hood River/Odell. 95.1. Downgrades from C3 to A
* KXLE Ellensburg. Stays C3. Goes from 105.7 to 95.3
* KJET Union. Upgrades from C3 to C0 on 105.7. (slight site change too)
* KRSE Yakima. Stays C1 but is forced to move to 95.3 from 105.7.

Let the lawyers, accountants, and engineers fight this one. The FCC must order KRSE to move as part of the strategy. All the mods were filed today.

If you have been watching the Puget Sound area airwaves the groundwork started a few months ago with a little Sedro-Woolley station (KZGI) changing from 105.7 to 96.9, clearing the way for the bigger boulders to roll now.
I figured there was something more to the KJET move. A move from Raymond to Union as a C3 just didn’t make enough financial sense to justify it as something for bossbill to get behind.
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t most of these moves be the responsibility of the petitioner (KJET/bossbill) to compensate? There’s at least three stations that may need a modified antenna, possibly a new transmitter, and very likely new signage/promotional materials.

That being said, a person well-versed in engineering can reduce those costs. And I suppose taking a station worth (at best) $500k in Olympia to a Seattle rimshot worth 4-5x that amount would mean an additional $1-200k in moving costs for distant stations would be worth it for the payoff when it’s sold to Bustos/VCY/whomever
 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t most of these moves be the responsibility of the petitioner (KJET/bossbill) to compensate? There’s at least three stations that may need a modified antenna, possibly a new transmitter, and very likely new signage/promotional materials.

That being said, a person well-versed in engineering can reduce those costs. And I suppose taking a station worth (at best) $500k in Olympia to a Seattle rimshot worth 4-5x that amount would mean an additional $1-200k in moving costs for distant stations would be worth it for the payoff when it’s sold to Bustos/VCY/whomever

@seattlesarchiebunker
bossbill owns two of the stations moving.. KJET that wants the big upgrade and KXLE thats also changing frequency in this.
 
I ran an LPFM channel finder for UW-Bothell factoring in 105.7 now being occupied.. I could not find an open frequency. So I guess UW-Bothell has to be paid off to seal the deal in Puget Sound for the KJET expansion.

I thought full power stations have to find a solution for the "losing" LPFM operator.
 
I ran an LPFM channel finder for UW-Bothell factoring in 105.7 now being occupied.. I could not find an open frequency. So I guess UW-Bothell has to be paid off to seal the deal in Puget Sound for the KJET expansion.

I thought full power stations have to find a solution for the "losing" LPFM operator.
No. LPFMs are a secondary service like a translator. They can be bumped, but could also file a displacement application to any open frequency.
 
No. LPFMs are a secondary service like a translator. They can be bumped, but could also file a displacement application to any open frequency.
In order for an LPFM station to be bumped, the appropriate interfering contour (e.g. 40 dBu or 54 dBu) must overlap into the 70 dBu contour of the subsequently filed full-service FM facility (for NCE reserved band, this can also include the interfering contour reaching the community of license). The displacement is not automatic. The full-service station would have to file a complaint to have the LPFM station removed. Where a complaint is not done or otherwise not allowed, the LPFM station will be plagued with increased incoming interference.

I discuss a recent incident of such displacement at the REC Website.
 
In order for an LPFM station to be bumped, the appropriate interfering contour (e.g. 40 dBu or 54 dBu) must overlap into the 70 dBu contour of the subsequently filed full-service FM facility (for NCE reserved band, this can also include the interfering contour reaching the community of license). The displacement is not automatic. The full-service station would have to file a complaint to have the LPFM station removed. Where a complaint is not done or otherwise not allowed, the LPFM station will be plagued with increased incoming interference.

I discuss a recent incident of such displacement at the REC Website.
Kind of a lengthy read, but worth the effort for anyone interested in LPFMs and their status vs. translators and full FM licensees.
 
I have been listening to KXLE a lot more and have been enjoying the quantity of '00s songs that I am hearing. Some '90s as well. Heard a local sports report/update the other day, so perhaps this station will improve even more as time goes on!

This new move to 105.7 sounds a lot like the KAFE-CHHR-KMCQ craziness 15 years ago. '95.3 the Hawk'? '105.7 KXLE'? So...another "what's down is up" type of situation? And what is a possibility for KJET's format if they want to target Seattle proper?

If KRSE *were* to move to 95.3, would they stay at 100,000 watt power? The 105.7 signal does OK into Kittitas County, at least in certain pockets. Likewise, is KXLE stuck at 1.7KW from Manastash on 105.7? KRSE would also have to bump K237GY off the air in Prosser to avoid major picket-fencing in the Lower Valley (Zillah, Granger, Sunnyside).
 
I'd expect the 105.7 move in to be sold to whichever religious operator isn't in the market and has the cash, just like 93.7, 98.5 and 104.5.

(I'm not saying this as being against religious broadcasters or their right to operate, just saying I'm doubting 105.7 will bring something surprising to the market or be a commercial competitor long term.)
 
Great way for Positive Life Radio to cash in and take over the South Sound, I'm guessing? They recently expanded to 104.5 Portland and KPLP White Salmon, along with 90.5 Astoria. It could also be a more conservative Christian format like VCY...which Seattle just doesn't need, obviously.
 
I have been listening to KXLE a lot more and have been enjoying the quantity of '00s songs that I am hearing. Some '90s as well. Heard a local sports report/update the other day, so perhaps this station will improve even more as time goes on!

This new move to 105.7 sounds a lot like the KAFE-CHHR-KMCQ craziness 15 years ago. '95.3 the Hawk'? '105.7 KXLE'? So...another "what's down is up" type of situation? And what is a possibility for KJET's format if they want to target Seattle proper?

If KRSE *were* to move to 95.3, would they stay at 100,000 watt power? The 105.7 signal does OK into Kittitas County, at least in certain pockets. Likewise, is KXLE stuck at 1.7KW from Manastash on 105.7? KRSE would also have to bump K237GY off the air in Prosser to avoid major picket-fencing in the Lower Valley (Zillah, Granger, Sunnyside).
No if... KRSE will move to 95.3 and will maintain current licensed power and coverage. No change other than frequency.
 
They will have to kick K237GY off the frequency, as KRSE makes it to the Lower Valley. And there might be some type of contour that protects KPND, even though it's 3 hours driving distance from Yakima. They are also 100,000 watts.
 
I'd expect the 105.7 move in to be sold to whichever religious operator isn't in the market and has the cash, just like 93.7, 98.5 and 104.5.
I'm putting my money on a 24/7 TVW simulcast a-la 91.7 before BBN…then I can keep up with parole hearings. See if my uncle will ever leave the city that’s so nice, they named it twice!
 


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