Rumour about KOOL on AM!?

[HHalland]

Okay I am not supposed to let this out, but I was delivering a van to that outdoor advertising place on 48th St. (Wait..is that CBS?) and saw a mockup of a bus billboard that said KOOL/1580 AM "Timeless Rock and Roll Classics" What do you make of that??

With so many of these Disney RADIO outlets shutting down it makes sence that KOOL will make the simulcast move to 1580. This may be why they are now making such a big point about KOOL-FM being "FM" huh? The six tower array makes for a sweet signal fer sure, and you can't beat a big 50kw blow torch to snare the billing huh? I guess they'll be inking a deal on the LMA for that 1580 signal in a few weeks. Meanwhile what is up with 94FM? They sound good and all, but why the talk about FM so much on the air? I can see it for the print ads and TV but why on the air? People who hear that are ALREADY listening to FM so they don't need to know that. Chris Abrahms should be spending a lot more time on that fat 1580 signal, and cuing up the Shirelles, and Brenton Wood and Danny and the Juniors records for the new KOOL-AM 1580 Yeah man SWEET fer sure! Man I am stoked on this! Is it true that they will be putting Bill Gardner on 1580?

Howard
Thank You

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

I think you're on to something! I haven't heard about it except for your post, but yes, it makes sense why they are emphasizing "FM" if there soon will be an "AM". That explains it.

I was listening to Dennis Mitchell both Saturday and Sunday mornings. The radio went out Saturday around 12:20 a.m. - 3:45 a.m. and again on Sunday morning 12:15 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. He told me they were working on the tower on South Mountain... I don't know if that could have something to do with an upcoming AM station?

What makes you think Bill Gardner will be on 1580? And if they do have an AM and FM station, do they hire more DJs or would we be hearing the same exact thing on the AM as FM would be playing at the same time?


My personal opinion... I don't understand why we'd go to AM... but I'm new to this radio stuff and most of the posts here go over my head. But I'm learning Lol

 

[oldiesfan6479]

He told me they were working on the tower on South Mountain... I don't know if that could have something to do with an upcoming AM station?

South Mountain is the PHX market antenna farm for most of the big-stick FMs
and full-power TVs. No AMs, as they are scattered about the Valley on
individual sites, with a few instances of diplexing.

The site for KMIK 1580 Tempe is in north central Mesa near the 202 and the
Beeline Y. IIRC, one tall stick and five short sticks.

But a KOOL on AM? It wouldn't seem right unless it was KOOL Gold 960.

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

Thanks for the clarification about the towers. I guess that was an easy mistake for a newbie such as I... ;D

I don't really like the idea of a KOOL station on the AM dial... as much as I love KOOL, music on the AM always sounds bad.

 

[HHalland]

Oh those six towers will spread the gold around here fer sure. With each one having 50 thousand thats like a power of 300 thousand watts. Have you guys seen the ads for that classic car restorer in Flagstaff? He has a neat 1958 Ford Fairlaine...my buddy Rocko today said that they could get one of those and call it the "Number ONE 58 Ford" for "158" on your dial there. Might be Kool to see that car huh? Rocko should get a job advertisng them but he's too fat. Also I found out that Mr Abrahams' name is spelled with a K for Kris. Sorry my friend. Anyway I'll bet that the billboards will be out soon, and everyone will listen to the sounds of KOOL-AM 1580 huh? Wow. Holy Crap.

Some songs we'd like now.

Zoom Baby by the Fabulous Flames without James Brown
My True Story by the Jive Five
Sweet Little 16 by Chuck Berry (and not the one that came out on those awful KTEL records)
Johnny Angel with Shelly Fabres
Scratchy by Travis Whammok
Oooba Dooba by Hank Lyle

There are more, and I will present them later.

Howard
thank you

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

Those songs you listed really would be great to hear! 8)

Also, where did you hear about Bill Gardner going to the 1580 station?

Thanks

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Oh those six towers will spread the gold around here fer sure. With each one having 50 thousand thats like a power of 300 thousand watts.

Um, not exactly.

KMIK is 50 kw DA-N. Daytime, it's 50 gallons. Total. Not 50 from each tower.

Nighttime, while there are a few nulls and their main lobe may push an "ERP"
(typically an FM/TV term, not AM) equivalent of more than 50 in that direction,
it's not going to be an equivalent of 300 gallons.

Paging wattsup--please assist in clarifying/correcting this explanation, as I am
not a radio engineer, I only play one on TV.

And for HH--I thought sure you were in the Bay Area, what with all those KTRB
posts on the SFO board a few months back. Are you really in PHX?

 

[DrAkbar]

Music on AM...what a concept! KOOL Gold 9~Sixty worked so well, too. Heck they even had Lee "Baby" Sims for a while and couldn't get the ratings to budge. But there's so much success with high end AM frequencies, the Nurse and I may be eating crow!

..just love the spelling on "Rumour"...those mother country spellings remind us of that British chap who used to do mornings on Classy 100 a while back!

 

[HHalland]

Hello Oldies Fan..I'm sorry, but I did live near Redwood City in California and that is why I was so upset about KTRB doing that yuk format. I worked for the tower company (Harold Thaxton LLC) before they went out of business and left the Pappas family with about a half of an antenna site. I am not supposed to tell anyone about the personal problems involved as it is quite unusual. Bill and I discussed that.

I have a relative in Phoenix and in Mesa, and I was delivering a custom Sprinter van to a customer in Scottsdale who asked me to stop at this outdoor advertising place to pick up a check for my boss. That's when I saw the billboard in the back area where they project themm on a big white wall to see what they will look like.

I almost had given up on AM radio, but the thought of hearing The Rightous Brothers, and The Skyliners made me excited again, and Kris Abrahams is one who can do this you see.

Howard
thank you

 

[50kguy]

I like this conjecture, but the idea of a format switch on our 1580 blowtorch makes little sense. Where does Radio Disney go? Disney recently sold all of its radio properties- EXCEPT Radio Disney & ESPN Radio (which are 24/7 promoters of their sister cable operations). I can't imagine ABC leaving a market with an ever-increasing number of kids.

Unless: Disney has another frequency (860?) lined up.

Historical conincidence: As for KOOL on AM, remember that 960 was just the Phoenix frequency of a satellite-delivered format that originated here as was, ironically, Real Country on 1580 KCWW.

 

[kivatheatre]

Hmmmm.

Is that why Del Hull was spotted in the lobby snack bar of the CBS building buying corn nuts???

 

[davideduardo]

I like this conjecture, but the idea of a format switch on our 1580 blowtorch makes little sense.

1580 is hardly a blowtorch... the daytime signals of 550 or 620 cover nearly triple the territory, and KMIK at night has so many nulls and defects in the metro that it is not a viable signal for anything mass market. Remember, 1 kw on 550 covers more than 50 kw on 1500 (given identical antenna efficiency, ground confuctivity, etc.)

 

[thirdtickket]

"KMIK is 50 K DA-N, Daytime its 50 gallons"............

Hmmm, the Disney folks must have "upped" the nighttime pattern ? Back when Buck Owens took then-KNIX-AM 1580 24 hours in 1980, the pattern was 50K daytime non-directional, <10K DA-night time.>

The station did have deep nulls and narrow nighttime pattern, it hit San Diego at night like a local station, but had to protect KDAY-1580, Los Angeles at night.
Here in the valley the signal barely made it above Thomas Road at night as I recall at 10K directional.

 

[50kguy]

David- I am well aware of the shortcomings of a signal on 1580, but it is the only full-time 50k (my defintion of blowtorch) this city's got.

Actually, it's a crying shame no station owners in the 50's tried to get a 1-B license for Phoenix. There are big sticks in ABQ, Las Vegas, Fresno, Sacramento, Salt Lake, Denver and even Window Rock.

Does anyone know if there was ever an application for big signal in this town?

 

[KeithE4]

David- I am well aware of the shortcomings of a signal on 1580, but it is the only full-time 50k (my defintion of blowtorch) this city's got.

Actually, it's a crying shame no station owners in the 50's tried to get a 1-B license for Phoenix. There are big sticks in ABQ, Las Vegas, Fresno, Sacramento, Salt Lake, Denver and even Window Rock.

Does anyone know if there was ever an application for big signal in this town?

In 1950, the Phoenix metro area (read: Maricopa County) had a population of about 330,000 people (less than Mesa today). It was double that in 1960. Phoenix didn't become a major metro area until 1980, when the metro population hit 1.5 million. We were in the same class as Madison WI or Harrisburg PA - a minor-market state capitol - in the 1950s.

There was no reason whatsoever for any AM station to run more than 5000 watts back then since 90% of the population of the county lived within 20 miles of downtown Phoenix. It's too late to get a big signal now, and even if it were possible it isn't necessary since (IMNSHO) there is no need whatsoever for 50 kW AM stations anymore.

 

[pberger]

In a way, it's too bad that there isn't a single AM station that could be heard throughout most of the state. New Mexico has KKOB, Colorado has KOA, and Utah has KSL. We don't have a single station that can be picked up in all major cities of the state. If we did, hopefully we would be better informed on statewide issues, and more familiar with problems in Tucson, Flagstaff, or Yuma. Just think what a statewide signal could do for the major sports franchises.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

In a way, it's too bad that there isn't a single AM station that could be heard throughout most of the state......just think what a statewide signal could do for the major sports franchises.

You mean the Giant 580 is not "heard all over Arizona"?

 

[Saladressing]

So if Oldies leave 94.5, what format would take its place?

My guess would be AAA.

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

So if Oldies leave 94.5, what format would take its place?

My guess would be AAA.

I don't think there would be a format change for 94.5, there already was one a couple of weeks ago. Oldies and 70's rather than just oldies.

The impression I get of the 1580 AM rumor, which I kind of have my doubts, is that its format would be more along the lines of "Klassic KOOL". A little bit more of the stuff we don't always hear... maybe like the Beau Brummels, Link Wray, all that good stuff. 8)

 

[oldiesfan6479]

I don't think there would be a format change for 94.5, there already was one a couple of weeks ago. Oldies and 70's rather than just oldies.

The slight '70s bump up may have been a smokescreen as KOOL seems to have
bumped it back down. Yeah, you hear the occasional 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
but where are the likes of Escape (The Pina Colada Song) or We Don't Talk Anymore?