While digging through some of my old files the other day, I found a "radio station list" printed in an old "Tacoma News Tribune" newspaper in August of 2008. Although much of the dial looks the same today, it's interesting to see how things have changed over the course of eleven years. It's also interesting to see what they have decided to included in their list, as some of these stations are not Seattle/Tacoma locals.
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Seattle Radio Dial (According to the Tacoma News Tribune) in August, 2008
- Thread starter fordranger797
- Start date
I’m most intrigued by KFNK’s format description:
“Metallic”
Yikes. No wonder that station went down the tubes. Funky Monkey was too bright and shiny!
“Metallic”
Yikes. No wonder that station went down the tubes. Funky Monkey was too bright and shiny!
Unfortunately my browser doesn't like the site, but if it's just a picture it won't do me much good anyway. This is what I remember about the dial from 2008,
88.5 KPLU little changed today.
88.9 French language Victoria station with little change in programming to today from what I understand. Was KMIH on 88.9 yet, and what was the 94.5 translator that now rebroadcasts KTTH doing back then?
89.5 little change to today though they have gotten new imaging.
89.9 KXIR wasn't on the air yet. At that time, I didn't have a good enough radio to pull in KGRG or KASB, both of which I have since gotten. Actually wasn't KASB on 89.3 back then?
90.3 KEXP still as querkey as they were back then and still not a station I listen to.
90.5 has always been CBCV from Victoria.
90.7 KSER, has probably had several schedule changes over the years, but was always the community station.
91.1 KROH not on air yet
91.3 KBCS and CJZN, both still around.
I couldn't get it back then, but 91.7 was KUOW 2.
92.1 CBC Radio 2, which was still mostly classical.
92.5 was KQMV back then but was still Rhythmic AC, something I for some reason have a hard time picturing today.
92.9 has been KISM as long as I can remember, but they've changed voices since then, I think they did that in 2011.
93.3 was KUBE back then and is again. I am honestly not sure if they're more Urban-leaning now than they were back then. I've actually heard KUBE described as a west coast clone of WJMN, is that accurate?
94.1 KMPS country.
94.9 KUOW same station basically.
95.7 KJR-FM Classic Hits, actually branded with the frequency and calls.
96.1 KXXO, pretty much the same station although they haven't replaced much of the imaging that says "soft rock for the great northwest" which makes the current presentation a bit more bland than it was, not that it was ever that interesting.
96.5 KJAQ still around.
I didn't have a good enough radio at the time to get 96.9 KGY, but I believe they were country at the time.
97.3 flipped to KIRO-FM in August of that year.
97.7 KFMY The Eagle., Classic Hits.
98.1 KING-FM classical.
98.5 CIOC from Victoria, seeming to be a much brighter AC today.
98.9 KWJZ smooth jazz.
99.3 KDDS
99.9 KISW
100.3 CKKQ, thought this was a local when I discovered it in 2006.
100.7 KKWF Country Wolf, same as it is today but with new imaging.
101.5 KPLZ sounds very different today but still Star 101.5.
102.5 KZOK still around.
102.9 KNBQ I actually thought this was a pretty good station but was ashamed to admit it because nobody else in my family likes country to this day.
103.7 KMTT The Mountain.
104.3 KAFE, moved to 104.1 in January 2009.
104.5 KMCQ, very interesting listen back then.
104.9 the aforementioned KFNK, did not start listening until 2010 as I didn't have a good enough radio to get it.
105.3 KCMS this was my most listened to station back then, but 2008 was when I started branching out again.
106.1 KBKS, this was the era of KBKS I always reference on this board when I say it's gone downhill.
106.5 KWPZ same station as today.
106.9 KRWM I'm really surprised they abandoned the template they were using back then.
107.7 KNDD I liked their presentation better back then.
Of the AMs, I think only 570, 710, 1090, 1250, 1380, and 1590 have changed formats. I think KVI was actually conservative talk back then as well, but has gone through several changes since. 1090 was progressive talk, went sports in 2013. 710 went sports in 2009 after KIRO moved to 97.3. 1250 was Disney, sold in 2015. KKXA 1520 wasn't on the air yet. KLFE 1590 was religious I think. I have airchecks of several of the fm stations from April of that year.
88.5 KPLU little changed today.
88.9 French language Victoria station with little change in programming to today from what I understand. Was KMIH on 88.9 yet, and what was the 94.5 translator that now rebroadcasts KTTH doing back then?
89.5 little change to today though they have gotten new imaging.
89.9 KXIR wasn't on the air yet. At that time, I didn't have a good enough radio to pull in KGRG or KASB, both of which I have since gotten. Actually wasn't KASB on 89.3 back then?
90.3 KEXP still as querkey as they were back then and still not a station I listen to.
90.5 has always been CBCV from Victoria.
90.7 KSER, has probably had several schedule changes over the years, but was always the community station.
91.1 KROH not on air yet
91.3 KBCS and CJZN, both still around.
I couldn't get it back then, but 91.7 was KUOW 2.
92.1 CBC Radio 2, which was still mostly classical.
92.5 was KQMV back then but was still Rhythmic AC, something I for some reason have a hard time picturing today.
92.9 has been KISM as long as I can remember, but they've changed voices since then, I think they did that in 2011.
93.3 was KUBE back then and is again. I am honestly not sure if they're more Urban-leaning now than they were back then. I've actually heard KUBE described as a west coast clone of WJMN, is that accurate?
94.1 KMPS country.
94.9 KUOW same station basically.
95.7 KJR-FM Classic Hits, actually branded with the frequency and calls.
96.1 KXXO, pretty much the same station although they haven't replaced much of the imaging that says "soft rock for the great northwest" which makes the current presentation a bit more bland than it was, not that it was ever that interesting.
96.5 KJAQ still around.
I didn't have a good enough radio at the time to get 96.9 KGY, but I believe they were country at the time.
97.3 flipped to KIRO-FM in August of that year.
97.7 KFMY The Eagle., Classic Hits.
98.1 KING-FM classical.
98.5 CIOC from Victoria, seeming to be a much brighter AC today.
98.9 KWJZ smooth jazz.
99.3 KDDS
99.9 KISW
100.3 CKKQ, thought this was a local when I discovered it in 2006.
100.7 KKWF Country Wolf, same as it is today but with new imaging.
101.5 KPLZ sounds very different today but still Star 101.5.
102.5 KZOK still around.
102.9 KNBQ I actually thought this was a pretty good station but was ashamed to admit it because nobody else in my family likes country to this day.
103.7 KMTT The Mountain.
104.3 KAFE, moved to 104.1 in January 2009.
104.5 KMCQ, very interesting listen back then.
104.9 the aforementioned KFNK, did not start listening until 2010 as I didn't have a good enough radio to get it.
105.3 KCMS this was my most listened to station back then, but 2008 was when I started branching out again.
106.1 KBKS, this was the era of KBKS I always reference on this board when I say it's gone downhill.
106.5 KWPZ same station as today.
106.9 KRWM I'm really surprised they abandoned the template they were using back then.
107.7 KNDD I liked their presentation better back then.
Of the AMs, I think only 570, 710, 1090, 1250, 1380, and 1590 have changed formats. I think KVI was actually conservative talk back then as well, but has gone through several changes since. 1090 was progressive talk, went sports in 2013. 710 went sports in 2009 after KIRO moved to 97.3. 1250 was Disney, sold in 2015. KKXA 1520 wasn't on the air yet. KLFE 1590 was religious I think. I have airchecks of several of the fm stations from April of that year.
KRXY "Medley of hits"
Sounds like one of those old Drake-Chenault automated formats.
I used to get KRXY in Mount Vernon. In fact, I was listening to KRXY there in 2002 when suddenly, in the middle of a Sheryl Crow song - FWIP! "Gin And Juice" Snoop Dogg breaks in.....from the brand new CFBT which had just launched, completely wiping out KRXY....For 710 watts, KRXY had a hell of a signal. Before CFBT, I always got them better than 104.5 at 10x that much power.
Sounds like one of those old Drake-Chenault automated formats.
I used to get KRXY in Mount Vernon. In fact, I was listening to KRXY there in 2002 when suddenly, in the middle of a Sheryl Crow song - FWIP! "Gin And Juice" Snoop Dogg breaks in.....from the brand new CFBT which had just launched, completely wiping out KRXY....For 710 watts, KRXY had a hell of a signal. Before CFBT, I always got them better than 104.5 at 10x that much power.
Ahh yes...2008 the golden era of radio! 
No it wasn't directed at anybody. Just thought an 11-year old listing as "retro" was funny. Especially since this was not a great era in radio, Seattle, or anywhere.
However, when I started getting nostalgic about radio in the 80's, I thought the early 70's were fun to revisit. So your point is well taken. I guess my disconnect is that radio in the 60's through 80's changed dramatically, and I don't think we are experiencing anything like that today. Surely, due to the less importance of the medium today. And it certainly has to do with age...I am 60 and don't think 2008 is that long ago...funny how the decades become smaller as you age. But I appreciate the listing for those who are younger and may appreciate the changes. Sorry for the sarcasm. Just how I was feeling when I read the post.
I can see your point. After finding that clipping in a batch of old newspapers, I figured that I might as well share it rather than toss it out. Some things have changed since then, some have stayed the same. Either way, I enjoyed the 11 year rewind.
No you did good. Thanks for sharing.
That's quite true. I really felt radio changed dramatically about the time I was born. Before then, it seemed you had stations using mostly jingles, then about 1990 or so stations started using imaging like you hear today, at least that's what I've been able to gather from airchecks I've heard. No 2008 doesn't seem that long ago, but when I think about how much really does change in that period of time, it does. That was the year I started high school. Can't believe I've been gone from that school for seven years.
KRXY is a Medley of Hits...how come they didn't just use 'adult hits'? You mentioned big signal...used to hear them all over the place, especially on the coast. They rarely showed up at the old Bothell house, mostly due to the White Center translator and CFBT.
Interesting how KAPS-660 was included in the radio guide. I doubt their signal wasn't that strong in Tacoma. They were steady and semi-local strength in Bothell/Mill Creek in 2008...maybe a little bit above CBU in signal.
I believe KLDY-1280 was already Spanish by then. Talk about a *weak* signal. KIT-AM Yakima would punch them out in winter, even at noon. KGY-1240's format was at least somewhat true. But their signal was awful the farther north from Olympia. Where I lived, I'd be lucky to hear half of a song all crunched up by KWYZ splatter.
KPLZ - '80s and '90s? Puleeezzeee. They were Hot AC then, Hot AC now. They had the '80s Lunch Hour and the '90s at 5 however. Interesting how they included KSWW 102.1 and KXXK 95.3, but not KDUX?
I remember when 96.9 was Real Country KGY-FM. They and CKLG mixed north of Seattle.
KAFE was still on 104.3 at the time...fuzzy as usual. And they were still multipathed fuzzy at 104.1. Go up 5-7 miles west to Hwy 99 and they are rock solid. Well, don't know about today, with KGNW's Cougar Mountain xmitter. How far north do you have to be on I-5 before KAFE dominates over KGNW, I wonder? Asking from someone who hasn't been within 60 road miles of Seattle since 2015...
The Mountain was one of my late dad's FM presets to and from work. Same with 96.5 and 102.5. Nowadays they are steady 2's in the PPMs with the Hot format. Yikes.
Just months before 97.7 dropped classic rock for the KOMO simulcast. 98.1 still had commercial breaks. 98.9 was transitioning into the 'smooth' tweak they had up to the KLCK flip. Chill, smooth AC type stuff. I nearly did a 180 when I heard Jeff Beck's 'Never Alone' on 98.9! And it wasn't just during 'Chill with Mindi Abair' on Sunday nights.
Interesting how KAPS-660 was included in the radio guide. I doubt their signal wasn't that strong in Tacoma. They were steady and semi-local strength in Bothell/Mill Creek in 2008...maybe a little bit above CBU in signal.
I believe KLDY-1280 was already Spanish by then. Talk about a *weak* signal. KIT-AM Yakima would punch them out in winter, even at noon. KGY-1240's format was at least somewhat true. But their signal was awful the farther north from Olympia. Where I lived, I'd be lucky to hear half of a song all crunched up by KWYZ splatter.
KPLZ - '80s and '90s? Puleeezzeee. They were Hot AC then, Hot AC now. They had the '80s Lunch Hour and the '90s at 5 however. Interesting how they included KSWW 102.1 and KXXK 95.3, but not KDUX?
I remember when 96.9 was Real Country KGY-FM. They and CKLG mixed north of Seattle.
KAFE was still on 104.3 at the time...fuzzy as usual. And they were still multipathed fuzzy at 104.1. Go up 5-7 miles west to Hwy 99 and they are rock solid. Well, don't know about today, with KGNW's Cougar Mountain xmitter. How far north do you have to be on I-5 before KAFE dominates over KGNW, I wonder? Asking from someone who hasn't been within 60 road miles of Seattle since 2015...
The Mountain was one of my late dad's FM presets to and from work. Same with 96.5 and 102.5. Nowadays they are steady 2's in the PPMs with the Hot format. Yikes.
Just months before 97.7 dropped classic rock for the KOMO simulcast. 98.1 still had commercial breaks. 98.9 was transitioning into the 'smooth' tweak they had up to the KLCK flip. Chill, smooth AC type stuff. I nearly did a 180 when I heard Jeff Beck's 'Never Alone' on 98.9! And it wasn't just during 'Chill with Mindi Abair' on Sunday nights.
Crainbebo, I appreciate your knowledge about radio/tv, but you have KPLZ wrong. KPLZ switched from AC/Hot AC in the mid-80's to a pure Top40 format that eventually beat competitor KUBE later in that decade. The format was originally called "Z-101.5", then simply "101.5 KPLZ". In the early 90's KPLZ tried to attack KUBE with a copying "rhythmic" format. When that failed, they went to Hot AC, eventually called "Star 101.5". Full circle for the station, that started out as Hot AC in the 70's as "The FM KVI".
I live in Everett and KAFE comes in loud and clear as does KISM.
You misunderstood, they were Hot AC in 2008. 2008, 2019, still same format, Hot AC, albeit with some tweaks here and there...sometimes some older music is played, other times newer music. I think their ratings were better in '08 as well, especially with the behemoth that was Kent & Alan. I knew they were Top 40 back in the '80s.
Yes, apparently I misunderstood. But I could not get any real clarity from that post about KPLZ. That said, KPLZ has never done well in 12+ and/or 6+ but they do hit their target almost every time.
I'm glad 104.1 still comes in throughout N Snohomish County. They had a better playlist than 106.9 prior to when I moved to Yakima (of course, 94.1 was still KMPS). They often played '70s and '80s music more than Warm. Often heard Yvonne Ellman, Billy Joel, Elton John, Prince... I figured K281CQ toppled them even up there, but now I see the Radio Locator fringe map only goes up to Silver Firs, so I think KAFE is safe. They would probably mix at the Thrasher's Corner 527/524 intersection, however.
Even the FM band itself was a little less crowded in 2008, at least where I lived.
KCSC-LP, KQES-LP and KVSH-LP now occupy 101.9 within 20-25 miles of my old flat in Thrasher's Corner. I'm sure 2 or even all 3 mix. Doubt Victoria even has a presence on 100.3 anymore with KBLE's xlator in the way. The R-I contours show grade A all over north Bothell and Mill Creek. There's KARR's 98.5, KKXA's 101.1, KRKO's 95.3 (which is a good thing IMO), and the LPFMs on 107.3 and 104.9, all that probably mess up or wipe out Canadian FMs that used to be heard 10 years ago.
Like David Bowie says, 'ch-ch-ch-changes'.
Even the FM band itself was a little less crowded in 2008, at least where I lived.
KCSC-LP, KQES-LP and KVSH-LP now occupy 101.9 within 20-25 miles of my old flat in Thrasher's Corner. I'm sure 2 or even all 3 mix. Doubt Victoria even has a presence on 100.3 anymore with KBLE's xlator in the way. The R-I contours show grade A all over north Bothell and Mill Creek. There's KARR's 98.5, KKXA's 101.1, KRKO's 95.3 (which is a good thing IMO), and the LPFMs on 107.3 and 104.9, all that probably mess up or wipe out Canadian FMs that used to be heard 10 years ago.
Like David Bowie says, 'ch-ch-ch-changes'.
Currently at an Airbnb near Northgate, and I cannot get ‘BLE’s trslr, as The Q overrides it (albeit very weak). Did get KDXB-LP (also weak), as well as KBFG-LP.
At Cap Hill yesterday, I did a scan and found that (as someone pointed out in another thread a while back) there is severe multipath. C89 was static ridden, Kiss was virtually non-existent, and even ‘ISW had a hard time coming in. Did manage to pick up Seattle U’s LP, and what I think was the LP out of Rainier Valley, yet barely anything from the one on 104.9, despite being within contour. Might have also picked up the 101.9 Bellevue LP, but was fighting 102 the whole time.
Also didn’t get ‘ODX-LP, as I believe it just signed off for the day when I got to Cap Hill.
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