About that new logo...Lotus does realize the signal limitations of 97.7 FM. Even though the 97.7 FM is in slightly larger print, the AM 1000 is on top of it. They are making sure not to abandon the AM identity.
-
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
Pondering The UnKNWN....
- Thread starter Bongwater
- Start date
...in a very cheap and unattractive way.
I think that Lotus could easily brand 1000 as “Newsradio 1000” or “News 1000” if they really wanted to. The “Northwest News” branding would have also been fine, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep over a competitor beating them to the punch to use that branding. The station was already branded in a similar fashion at one point. With that being said, I’m sure they want a name that will also encompass 97.7.
Another thing that they COULD have done was borrow the call letters KVI from 570. I believe this has already been discussed, but that would have brought over a simple set of recognizable calls that could eliminate the need to come up with a unique branding or focus too heavily on the AM or FM frequency. Lotus probably didn’t want to do this, as it’s probably better for them to stay as close as possible to the KOMO branding.
Another thing that they COULD have done was borrow the call letters KVI from 570. I believe this has already been discussed, but that would have brought over a simple set of recognizable calls that could eliminate the need to come up with a unique branding or focus too heavily on the AM or FM frequency. Lotus probably didn’t want to do this, as it’s probably better for them to stay as close as possible to the KOMO branding.
One note about using KVI calls for any "new" branding ... I saw one nostalgia post about the "original" (1960's/1970's) version of KVI and how it's gone ... and there were responses from people who assumed the "current" KVI was gone -- and they offered comments about the loss of "KKK-vi", etc. Not sure any news (or other) operation would ever want to start a marketing campaign around that kind of baggage....
Erik Lacitis covers the impending change in the Seattle Times. As I had speculated, they have a content agreement with KOMO4 to continue to repackage television reports and weather forecasts.
So long, ‘KOMO Country’: KOMO Radio sold, gets new name – The Seattle Times
So long, ‘KOMO Country’: KOMO Radio sold, gets new name – The Seattle Times
I wonder why Sinclair wouldn't allow Lotus to let them keep it as "KOMO"? It would make sense to allow it if they are doing a content agreement. If they were worried what might happen down the road, say a format change, or an ending of the content agreement, they could have an agreement put in place that would require losing the KOMO calls and branding if that were to happen.
For TV4 it's like losing free advertising whenever "KOMO" is said on air.
Now that radio no longer will have the KOMO calls, the tv station has the rights to them and anyone who wanted them would have to ask permission and likely pay.. not that anyone else would likely have a use for the KOMO calls there.
But it makes an angle if the TV people ever do radio again to put the calls back on radio.. they dont have to ask anyone for permission and theres no chance the calls cant be used cuse some other AM/FM has them
If KOMO-TV retains the call letters, no other radio station would be able to use them.
I *think* a radio station could request permission too and KOMO TV could make them pay
It is complicated. Some stations need their classic calls for identity. Seattle may be the best example of this. Other big markets identify by network and channel. In fact this is more prevalent than using actual calls. Abc7, Nbc4, Cbs2 are much more common these days. With the channel numbers interchangeable.
And then you have situations from a TV/radio divorce, like in Albuquerque KOB-TV and KKOB radio. New York WWOR-TV and WOR radio. I don't know if that was agreed upon in the sale. Or since it was a 3 letter call originally, one of them was lucky enough to just add a second K or W to keep their identity mostly intact.
For some reason Seattle tv has always identified by calls. As I posted earlier this is somewhat unique, but not completely unusual. You still see a lot of small markets do this. But larger markets tend to identify with network and channel number. There may be a reason why Seattle, and perhaps Portland still do this, but not exactly sure why. Perhaps because their call signs are so catchy? KING, KIRO, KOMO? If you can spell them out into a word I guess you are golden!
Last edited:
I think calls that you can say as a word I.e. KING become so engrained in the minds of people, it's how they are identified, and changing it would be almost sacrilegious. Even with 3 letter calls, those are hard to give up.
KOMO/KING-KONG/KIRO
Love it. Also, prior to 2021, *Q13*. Not FOX 13... *Q13* or *Q13 FOX*.
KCTS and KBTC also go by their callsigns and KSTW puts their callsign in its logo.
Portland: KATU, KOIN 6, KGW 8 and the only generic one: FOX 12 but its FOX 12 Oregon so I guess it works for me. Plus, *FOX 12 Plus* for KPDX and I guess the only generic one there is KRCW with *Portland's CW*.
Sinclair just isn’t in the business of owning radio stations. It’s not like CBS, which saw a golden opportunity to make a sweetheart brand licensing deal when they gave up a whole bunch of radio stations but kept the call letter trademarks.
https://news.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=b16934
February 2nd is the date when KOMO Radio becomes KNWN.
Somehow I doubt that deal would be considered "sweetheart". There was a reason CBS shed CBS Radio. Aka: They saw little future in owning a news radio network.
Komo probably needs to rebrand as ABC 4. I think this is the future of branding. The sooner they do it the better the ratings. Then watch KING and KIRO follow.
Last edited:
- Status