I forgot to mention this some time ago, but a new AM station recently came on the air this year in the Mat Valley (Wasilla/Palmer)- 1430 KMBQ AM, 1KW- it finally has it's own programming distinct from its sister station KMBQ 99.7 FM, with a classic country format. It seems KMBQ wants to go up against its valley rival KAYO 100.9 FM in the country classic format. I really don't know why they did that, as the sound and reception with KAYO is much better. So many formats missing, and they choose classic country oldies , which KAYO already does- much better. ???
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New AM station for the Valley
- Thread starter AZJoe
- Start date
The AM format was chosen and promoted quite a bit before Morris Communications settled on what they were going to do with their FM. I believe there were advertisers pre-sold on the format so it made no difference though, at some point, it might suggest a format change.
Meanwhile, the AM signal comes off a fiberglass whip type antenna (to get around NIMBY objections) and does not reach nearly as far as you'd hope for from a kiloWatt.
On the other hand, Morris' FM is operating off a short pole on the side of Lazy Mountain and, though it's not bad, it's not up to the potential that could have been realized but for the Luddite mentality that prevails on Lazy Mountain --- the place where old hippies go instead of dying when they get old.
Meanwhile, the AM signal comes off a fiberglass whip type antenna (to get around NIMBY objections) and does not reach nearly as far as you'd hope for from a kiloWatt.
On the other hand, Morris' FM is operating off a short pole on the side of Lazy Mountain and, though it's not bad, it's not up to the potential that could have been realized but for the Luddite mentality that prevails on Lazy Mountain --- the place where old hippies go instead of dying when they get old.
Well, Velvet - I guess the cat's out of the bag as to WHERE you're a traffic manager...LOL.
For one, the AM format was absolutely not promoted prior to the launch of the classic country format. See the KTUU story where Klap states that the station will simulcast KMBQ-FM until they figure out what to do with it. KMBQ-AM's format is nothing more than a last ditch effort to throw off their new Valley competitor who HAD previously announced what the new station was to be to everyone in the media community - nice try. To that point - how arrogant do you have to be to throw up a copycat format on a poorly engineered 1kW AM station in an attempt to go up against...a 50kW FM station that broadcasts from a freakin mountain?
You believe there were advertisers pre-sold on that format? You're the traffic manager so no one would no better than you - but can't we all agree that trade and value added don't count?
For one, the AM format was absolutely not promoted prior to the launch of the classic country format. See the KTUU story where Klap states that the station will simulcast KMBQ-FM until they figure out what to do with it. KMBQ-AM's format is nothing more than a last ditch effort to throw off their new Valley competitor who HAD previously announced what the new station was to be to everyone in the media community - nice try. To that point - how arrogant do you have to be to throw up a copycat format on a poorly engineered 1kW AM station in an attempt to go up against...a 50kW FM station that broadcasts from a freakin mountain?
You believe there were advertisers pre-sold on that format? You're the traffic manager so no one would no better than you - but can't we all agree that trade and value added don't count?
Hey Guys:
I know what they could do with KMBQ 1430. Put on a 50's and 60's (1955-1965) Oldies format. Live and local. What kind of Oldies format is Kool 97.3?
T.J.
I know what they could do with KMBQ 1430. Put on a 50's and 60's (1955-1965) Oldies format. Live and local. What kind of Oldies format is Kool 97.3?
T.J.
Sorry to disappoint, but wrong-o on where I work in traffic.
Mom lives in The Valley and sends me the local newspaper (Frontiersman) which, last summer, was running print ads for the new AM that was coming to Wasilla....with a country format.
Of course they might have been just blowing smoke or testing the water with those ads but ain't it amazing that's what they ended up doing?
Mom lives in The Valley and sends me the local newspaper (Frontiersman) which, last summer, was running print ads for the new AM that was coming to Wasilla....with a country format.
Of course they might have been just blowing smoke or testing the water with those ads but ain't it amazing that's what they ended up doing?
Do you have a copy of that print ad you could scan? I'm going to have to call pre-emptive BS on that one until you can...
akradiozjs said:
Sorry, but I seem to have a different hobby than you - I don't collect old copies of newspapers. It really is immaterial since the station can't be heard much beyond a couple of miles from the flagpole it passes off as an antenna. Definitely not worth arguing over as the signal dooms the whole project, regardless of format, to less than gold-mine status.
A
AKtech
Guest
And at that frequency, power and antenna height, the coverage is actually better than expected. When I herd about it my first thought was why didn't they just buy the 1020 site and build out that.
AKtech said:
Regardless of site, The Mat-Su Borough government is in the hands of Luddites who are doing their best to prevent any tower construction. Fortunately the "flagpole" for this venture skinned by just under the existing maximum before requiring elaborate hearings and near automatic denial. If in doubt, consider the Morris Communications fiasco for their FM.
The only hope is the election next week in which the presence of a sales tax proposal on the same ballot may result in an attitude adjustment.
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