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BurntOutRadio said:
http://www.seatacradio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/1966-SeaTac-Radio-Log.jpg
Wish I were around when KLAY 106.1 FM was playing THIS. I missed something.......
Bongwater said:
Agreed; I feel the same way about KTAC, KTNT, KMO, etc. I was born in the mid 80s so I was only a kid when all those stations were either in the latter stages of their time in Tacoma or getting ready to sell out and switch formats, move to Seattle, etc.
Thankfully at least there's some audio of KTAC at least available online that I can listen to hear what I missed by not being around back then. Although I think it would have been much more fun to be around then and being able to listen to all those great stations.
Unfortuntely most of those stations are no longer around, but at least their memories live on online and in aircheck form and via sites like SeaTac Radio.
yep, great websight!! very informative, and even has current info. i will be hitting this seatacradio.com weekly.
very proffesional as well. unlike that off kilter leftwing screw ball radio websight, with the foul language from seattle.
i look forward to exploring some of the old KAYO country stuff. interesting story how KAYO panicked when KMPS went on the FM. KAYO mistakingly overthunk the situation, and adjusted their country format, to a more contemporary model. which in turn, turned off all their dedicated long time country listeners, and killed KAYO.
interesting to see this old advertisement: KBLE 93.3(pre KUBE), was playin country in 1967, as KABLE FM, "seattles country giant, has a new slant on country and western programming, the nashville sound"
very proffesional as well. unlike that off kilter leftwing screw ball radio websight, with the foul language from seattle.
i look forward to exploring some of the old KAYO country stuff. interesting story how KAYO panicked when KMPS went on the FM. KAYO mistakingly overthunk the situation, and adjusted their country format, to a more contemporary model. which in turn, turned off all their dedicated long time country listeners, and killed KAYO.
interesting to see this old advertisement: KBLE 93.3(pre KUBE), was playin country in 1967, as KABLE FM, "seattles country giant, has a new slant on country and western programming, the nashville sound"
scott salvatori said:
The Grand Ol' Opry was a regular Saturday night feature on the old KBLE-FM. And with all that, plus FM. KBLE-FM couldn't TOUCH KAYO on AM. After KMPS-FM came on, they floundered around until some former KJR guys stopped by and made them an offer they couldn't refuse.......
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BurntOutRadio
Guest
some former KJR guys stopped by and made them an offer they couldn't refuse.......
Close, but not quite right. The Alaska Native Corporation was the one that bought it. Later, they decided to get out of the broadcast business and started selling their stations. Three guys that worked for them, got some financing and bought it. Later they sold it to Ackerley for a handsome profit.
Close, but not quite right. The Alaska Native Corporation was the one that bought it. Later, they decided to get out of the broadcast business and started selling their stations. Three guys that worked for them, got some financing and bought it. Later they sold it to Ackerley for a handsome profit.
B
bobmathers
Guest
Bongwater is somewhat on target with the 'KJR guys' observation. In late 1982, Hank Mann and Chet Rogers left KJR and teamed up with four investors including Wally Christensen and a fellow named Simpson who then bought the station. The former KAYO was then known as KSPL. The new owners changed the format from the 'Unforgettable' standards format to a Gold-based AC sound.
Chris Clausen consulted the 'new' KSPL from Boston and gave the station a unique (for Seattle that is) 'East Coast' sound. The jingles were re-sings of the old WABC Musicradio 77 from the late 70's. Real rapid-fire stuff that sizzled.
The station came from nowhere in 12 + to a .7 and then in the next book hit a 1.2. KSPL could have made more inroads save for the fact that internal challenges and a decision to loosen the format structure eventually blunted the station's momentum.
Chris Clausen consulted the 'new' KSPL from Boston and gave the station a unique (for Seattle that is) 'East Coast' sound. The jingles were re-sings of the old WABC Musicradio 77 from the late 70's. Real rapid-fire stuff that sizzled.
The station came from nowhere in 12 + to a .7 and then in the next book hit a 1.2. KSPL could have made more inroads save for the fact that internal challenges and a decision to loosen the format structure eventually blunted the station's momentum.
B
BurntOutRadio
Guest
Yes, I believe it was Cook Inlet.
Bob Mathers you are talking about KAYO, not KBLE FM which became KUBE FM.
Bob Mathers you are talking about KAYO, not KBLE FM which became KUBE FM.
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bobmathers
Guest
Yes, you are right B-O-R. I now see where the comments referenced the sale of 93.3 FM rather than 1150 AM. Sorry about that, Cap'n. Somehow the KAYO mention got my memory bank all fired up. Boy did I get off topic on this one.
Couple-of-friends who worked at KSPL during "those days" nicknamed it "K-Spleen" which I always found amusing!
LITTLEBOYBLUE said:
If memory serves, KSPL 1150, began in 1982 as a competitor to KIXI, as "Seattle's SPeciaL Radio Station". Didn't last long. Within months, you could gradually hear the format get "hotter" until by mid-1983, they were almost a full blown CHR (Hot AC? I'm not sure, but do remember a few Loverboy songs and "Shadows Of The Night" Pat Benetar being played on "Musicradio 1150 KSPL")
KSPL didn't make it through 1984. I think Vic Streidke (pardon me if I messed up his name) wrote an article in the Times about the station's struggle to keep on the air As I remember, Joe Michaels and Steve Nicholet were almost begging for sponsors "We don't like to hang our dirty laundry out over the air like this" I recall Joe Michaels saying one morning. The station began a 6pm sign off.
Then one morning soon after, KSPL simply disappeared from the airwaves. Then returned as religious KGNW.
I think other KSPL airstaff (including Steve Nicholet) went to KBRO 1490, which at the time had a similar format to KSPL.
KGNW would operate on 1150 until December of 1986, a VERY radio-active time of changes as I recall, (KQKT 96.5 was stunting towards it's flip to KXRX, KCMU moved to 90.3 and upped their power, KZOK was adrift in the aftermath of it's "Quality Rock" experiment and KHIT had revamped as "Power 106.9 K-H-I-T") and KGNW simulcasted on the old KQIN frequency, telling everybody to make the switch to 820. I remember that night KGNW signed off 1150 and KEZX (AM) came on 1150 (in the middle of "Russians" by Sting.)
At first, it was an AM/FM simulcast, but broke off in late 1987 to become "1150 The Oasis" (during the daytime, still simulcasting KEZX-FM by night), with a virtually all New Age music format (perhaps to counter KNUA's infusion of light jazz and AC with their occasional Kitaro, George Winston or Andreas Vollenwieder track.)
Never understood what people were thinking of this "new age" stuff. I remember my high school counselors playing and recommending this music in their offices (as well as giving me healing crystals and charts illustrating where my tantric chakras were back in 1985. That seemed to be when this whole New Age thing really peaked.)
But it was dead on arrival by 1987 when radio stations in Puget Sound attempted to make a format out of this music. And my old high school counselors had long went back to KVI or KLSY..
1150 AM itself flipped back to KEZX-FM simulcast briefly, then relaunched as a business station.
I could go on, but that pretty much summed up 1150 AM back in the '80s......
B
bobmathers
Guest
Pretty good recall Bongwater. Here's a few clarifications on your post from one who was there at the beginning and stayed for most of the run.
The original full time on-air lineup when KSPL switched from it's KIXI-type format to AC/Oldies was.....
Joe Micheals (Colleen Patrick News) 6 - 10 AM
Chet Rogers 10 AM - 2 PM
Steve Nicolet 2 PM - 7 PM
Ron Hansen 7 PM - Midnight
Joe Sargent Midnight - 6 AM
Joe Micheals (his spelling) left before the end of 1983. Chris Murray (formerly with KJR) took over mornings from Joe and stayed almost up to the end.
As stated in an earlier post, the high-energy east coast sound at the beginning of the format allowed KSPL to go from a flat zero to a 1.2 in 12+ and knocked a similar share away from KJR. I still have the Arbitrons from the Spring '83 book. Sure, we're talking early 1983 and AM was going away from music but Seattle was one of the last in the majors to keep it going on the medium well into the 80's.
What really killed KSPL's audience growth was a decision in mid-summer '83 to expand the AC currents. As a result, a lot of future stiffs ended up on the station. The gold was also expanded and likewise featured marginal songs.
Another challenge was the working capital for the new owners. Although station officials promised a 'lean and mean' operating budget at the start, the expenditures were actually quite salty for a station with not much revenue on the books at the beginning. Unfortunately, when the sales started picking up...the funds were drying up.
The two managing partners left the station late in the summer of '83. In September, Bill Simpson and his fellow owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
I was on the air in the Spring of 1984 doing middays (having picked up those duties after starting in sales) when Ed Atsinger and Stu Epperson from Salem Broadcasting came walking through the studio to check out the facility. They of course operate Salem Broadcasting and would eventually buy 1150 to begin what is now known as KGNW (since moved to 820 AM).
I left a month later to take a gig doing mornings in Baltimore but stayed in touch over the years with a number of former KSPL colleagues.
Finally, at 10:30 AM on August 12, 1984....the final song played ('The Long & Winding Road' by the Beatles) and KSPL concluded its broadcast day and existence.
Great memories.
The original full time on-air lineup when KSPL switched from it's KIXI-type format to AC/Oldies was.....
Joe Micheals (Colleen Patrick News) 6 - 10 AM
Chet Rogers 10 AM - 2 PM
Steve Nicolet 2 PM - 7 PM
Ron Hansen 7 PM - Midnight
Joe Sargent Midnight - 6 AM
Joe Micheals (his spelling) left before the end of 1983. Chris Murray (formerly with KJR) took over mornings from Joe and stayed almost up to the end.
As stated in an earlier post, the high-energy east coast sound at the beginning of the format allowed KSPL to go from a flat zero to a 1.2 in 12+ and knocked a similar share away from KJR. I still have the Arbitrons from the Spring '83 book. Sure, we're talking early 1983 and AM was going away from music but Seattle was one of the last in the majors to keep it going on the medium well into the 80's.
What really killed KSPL's audience growth was a decision in mid-summer '83 to expand the AC currents. As a result, a lot of future stiffs ended up on the station. The gold was also expanded and likewise featured marginal songs.
Another challenge was the working capital for the new owners. Although station officials promised a 'lean and mean' operating budget at the start, the expenditures were actually quite salty for a station with not much revenue on the books at the beginning. Unfortunately, when the sales started picking up...the funds were drying up.
The two managing partners left the station late in the summer of '83. In September, Bill Simpson and his fellow owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
I was on the air in the Spring of 1984 doing middays (having picked up those duties after starting in sales) when Ed Atsinger and Stu Epperson from Salem Broadcasting came walking through the studio to check out the facility. They of course operate Salem Broadcasting and would eventually buy 1150 to begin what is now known as KGNW (since moved to 820 AM).
I left a month later to take a gig doing mornings in Baltimore but stayed in touch over the years with a number of former KSPL colleagues.
Finally, at 10:30 AM on August 12, 1984....the final song played ('The Long & Winding Road' by the Beatles) and KSPL concluded its broadcast day and existence.
Great memories.
Do you have any "tape" of the station? An aircheck would be awesome to hear.
VIC STREDICKE posts "As Hard As Steel" re: Tracy Steel [KVI-KZOK] on http://SeaTacRadio.com
Seatac Radio site is great of course and I am not just saying that because we are located in Seatac as well ;D Or because back in November of last year we got a blurb or two... http://www.seatacradio.com/blog/?p=2342 :
It's because they really like radio in all formats and are not scared to talk about it or offer up their .02 cents in most debates... Great site!!!!
It's because they really like radio in all formats and are not scared to talk about it or offer up their .02 cents in most debates... Great site!!!!
Hi,
I just visited the SeaTac area this past June so I've started looking at, on an irregular basis, this area of the radio-info website.
It was with great interest I started looking at the seatacradio website, but as I looked at all of the great information on there I was wondering what was "NEW" about it. It looks like it has been around awhile.
Have I missed something that was new?
thanks.
I just visited the SeaTac area this past June so I've started looking at, on an irregular basis, this area of the radio-info website.
It was with great interest I started looking at the seatacradio website, but as I looked at all of the great information on there I was wondering what was "NEW" about it. It looks like it has been around awhile.
Have I missed something that was new?
thanks.
S
searadiofreak
Guest
No, what is new is really old. And this applies to radio in Seattle as well. If you have an interest in Seattle radio, all you really have to know is stations here tend to hire few outsiders, like to keep their heritage, and when they do venture outside the box, they fail. This perhaps is not the blame of Seattle radio stations, but the city itself, which can be very insular and provincial. Maybe the management and programming of these stations recognize this. I can't think of an example that doesn't reflect these realities, especially one who is doing well. So perhaps it isn't Seattle radio, but it is just Seattle in general. Difficult words for this Seattle native, but I believe there is some truth here.
Okay, thanks. I'm not looking for a job, but I liked what I saw on seatacradio history wise. I enjoy looking at old radio and TV schedules and learning about the history of some of the stations in the "good ole days."
For example, I ran across some information about an announcer by the name of Del Only (spelling?). The reason the name sounds familiar to me was because he was one of the two announcers/personalities on IGM's programming service (BPI?-Broadcast Programming International?) IGM-International Good Music. The names escape me after all these years.
Anyway, I enjoy the seatacradio site, and although the Seattle board of r-i won't mean much to me perhaps a few of the subscribers will discuss something that used to be.
Which brings to mind, when my wife and I visited Seattle we, naturally, had to go to the top of the Space Needle. There are two sets of directional antennas due south of the Needle with a lot of people living close by. We're the antennas there first and civilization crept in, or what?
Thanks.
Mike
For example, I ran across some information about an announcer by the name of Del Only (spelling?). The reason the name sounds familiar to me was because he was one of the two announcers/personalities on IGM's programming service (BPI?-Broadcast Programming International?) IGM-International Good Music. The names escape me after all these years.
Anyway, I enjoy the seatacradio site, and although the Seattle board of r-i won't mean much to me perhaps a few of the subscribers will discuss something that used to be.
Which brings to mind, when my wife and I visited Seattle we, naturally, had to go to the top of the Space Needle. There are two sets of directional antennas due south of the Needle with a lot of people living close by. We're the antennas there first and civilization crept in, or what?
Thanks.
Mike
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