KMPC has taken their own website down, and it now defaults to the main Sporting News Radio. All local talent is gone and the station runs automated 24/7 (although they may still have a contract to carry much of the March Madness games) It's now not a matter of if but when a new buyer whoever it may by will take over.
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The Format Wheel Shall Soon Spin Again
- Thread starter RadioFanBoy
- Start date
D
dbdigital
Guest
RadioFanBoy said:KMPC has taken their own website down, and it now defaults to the main Sporting News Radio. All local talent is gone and the station runs automated 24/7 (although they may still have a contract to carry much of the March Madness games) It's now not a matter of if but when a new buyer whoever it may by will take over.
As I understand it, Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures sold off Sporting News Network and is now trying to sell it's three AM stations as a single package. The one in New York is making money mostly by selling blocks of time for infomercials. The other two stations, one in Boston and KMPC are running Sporting News Radio programming. Both have tanked in ratings and are losing money.
I know they were asking 28M for KMPC but for the package of three, who knows? 100M, perhaps?
KMPC had problems with coverage, but, if memory serves correctly, recently had a power upgrade to 50Kw. It's dial position, 1540, may be less desirable than one lower down the dial.
It would be fun to program Adult Standards (in AM stereo, no less) but at these prices KMPC would have to be profitable almost immediately and given the mindset that advertisers have toward the age bracket of those who listen to Adult Standards, it could be a long haul before KMPC turns a profit.
db
Garrett, their 50kw daytime signal (I believe they upgraded the night signal from 10kw to 37 kw in late 2005) is just mediocre when compared to any other 50kw SoCal station. At night their 37kw signal is horrible!! In my office in Brea (north Orange County) when they reduce power at sunset (currently 6 pm PST) they are almost obliterated by several Spanish language stations. One in the Phoenix area I believe which does not power down at sunset (which they're supposed to do) but does power down later, and the other is a 5kw day/night station in Hermosillo Mexico about 700 miles southeast of LA which powers in most nights. There's nothing else KMPC can do about their horrible night signal. If any of those shows you mentioned were on KMPC they'd have about a quarter of the audience because of the crappy signal and that is related to their dial position.
Garrett said:Please explain what dial position has to do with ratings in the case of 1540, especially if they are 50Kw.
If (for example) Rush, Dr. Laura and Hannity were on this station, would the listeners not follow them there regardless of dial position?
What he's probably referring to is how 1540 has a poorer signal at 50 kw than KLAC does at 5 kw at least partially because of its higher dial position. I've been told the best AM signal in the nation is the non-directional 5,000 watt signal of KCSP 610 in Kansas City. While it may not have great skywave, I'd agree it's better than most of your 50,000 watt AM's for local coverage, which is what matters most these days. As for whether listeners would follow Rush, Dr. Laura and Hannity if they moved to 1540, your guess is as good as mine. I'm not sure KFI and KABC would notice the difference if they lost those programs. There is a large number of quality talk hosts throughout the nation, and almost all of them would welcome the opportunity to come to market #2. So, the talent to replace those hosts is readily available. However, it's really a moot point. It's not going to happen.
I was once told AM works when it targets an audience that is either unserved or terribly underserved by better quality signals. This is the problem with KMPC. As I mentioned above, KLAC, which is its direct competitor, has a better signal at 5 kw. So, sports radio really has never been underserved in LA. What could you do with 1540 that could make immediate money that is either unserved or underserved in Los Angeles? I can't think of anything.
Kent said:Garrett said:Please explain what dial position has to do with ratings in the case of 1540, especially if they are 50Kw.
If (for example) Rush, Dr. Laura and Hannity were on this station, would the listeners not follow them there regardless of dial position?
What he's probably referring to is how 1540 has a poorer signal at 50 kw than KLAC does at 5 kw at least partially because of its higher dial position. I've been told the best AM signal in the nation is the non-directional 5,000 watt signal of KCSP 610 in Kansas City.
KFRC, the old AM KFRC at 610 had an incredible signal with 5000 watts and an Omni directional pattern. Didn't hurt that the ground system was in salt water for the most part. Great engineering can't be discounted either, but I used to pick up KFRC in Los Angeles at night and they could be heard strongly in any direction for a radius of at least 250 miles or more. I had freinds in Lake tahoe who used to listen regularly. I've heard KFRC referred to as a "regional clear channel", and really there weren't too many stations on that frequency. I know KOJM in Havre, Montana was one as well as another in New Mexico and the one you mentioned, so not a lot of interference for them...
Marv-L.A. said:I
The Korean station at 670 AM could also use an engineer who knows what they're doing
Bzzzzzzzt!!! Wrongo ... Farsi is the main language on KIRN ... check it out . http://www.670amkirn.com/
Not that they will ever ask me to program 1540 but if they did I would advocate a mellow talk format. Bring back a civil tone to talk radio with hosts like the great Michael Jackson or Hilly Rose. Talk radio does not need to be harsh or antagonistic, it can evoke a friendly, welcoming tone.
Beyond that I have always wondered about doing a nostalgia-LA format. It would be difficult to put together, but do half hour clips of great LA talent from previous years. Johnny Otis, Huggy Boy, Humble Harve--there is absolutely no dearth of great talent.
Beyond that I have always wondered about doing a nostalgia-LA format. It would be difficult to put together, but do half hour clips of great LA talent from previous years. Johnny Otis, Huggy Boy, Humble Harve--there is absolutely no dearth of great talent.
I have an old sales brochure from the 1960's for KFXM San Bernardino. It sites info from the "engineering division" at the FCC stating 1,000 watts at 590 is the same as 32,000 watts on 1490 at 10 miles out, and 64,500 wattts at 60 miles out. KIRN 670 has a c.p to move it's transmitter site to Palmdale and increase power to 35kw day and night. As for 1540, I know it is a dream, but I would like to see Rich Brother Robbin's new internet oldies "station" richbroradio.com on it 24/7, or maybe on Saul's 540am.
D
dbdigital
Guest
SuperRadioFan said:Garrett, their 50kw daytime signal (I believe they upgraded the night signal from 10kw to 37 kw in late 2005) is just mediocre when compared to any other 50kw SoCal station. At night their 37kw signal is horrible!! In my office in Brea (north Orange County) when they reduce power at sunset (currently 6 pm PST) they are almost obliterated by several Spanish language stations. One in the Phoenix area I believe which does not power down at sunset (which they're supposed to do) but does power down later, and the other is a 5kw day/night station in Hermosillo Mexico about 700 miles southeast of LA which powers in most nights. There's nothing else KMPC can do about their horrible night signal. If any of those shows you mentioned were on KMPC they'd have about a quarter of the audience because of the crappy signal and that is related to their dial position.
Right. This is what I was referring to by KMPC's dial position not being as desirable (and you're correct it was 50Kw/10Kw upgraded to 50Kw/37Kw with a six antenna array).
Plus, if you look at the engineering attachments on their applications you'll notice that there are several stations KMPC is required to protect, including 1st adjacent KWRN in Apple Valley, 2nd adjacent KVTA in Port Hueneme and a co-channel in Sacramento.
No doubt this is also having a negative impact on their coverage.
db
"KFRC, the old AM KFRC at 610 had an incredible signal with 5000 watts and an Omni directional pattern. Didn't hurt that the ground system was in salt water for the most part."
I can vouch for that. As an insomniac teenager growing up in the San Fernando Valley, I would DX out of town stations late at night. KFRC would often come in as clearly as many local LA stations - especially those toward the top of the AM dial. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, my mother (a talk radio fan) would be listening to KGO San Francisco (810). KGO's transmitter is stuck in the brackish mud of the San Francisco Bay toward the west end of the Dumbarton Bridge. It's not a pretty sight, but it's a powerful stick.
I can vouch for that. As an insomniac teenager growing up in the San Fernando Valley, I would DX out of town stations late at night. KFRC would often come in as clearly as many local LA stations - especially those toward the top of the AM dial. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, my mother (a talk radio fan) would be listening to KGO San Francisco (810). KGO's transmitter is stuck in the brackish mud of the San Francisco Bay toward the west end of the Dumbarton Bridge. It's not a pretty sight, but it's a powerful stick.
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