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The Rattler, FM 97.3 and AM 1260

K

KeithE4

Looks like the long-time comedy format has finally bitten the dust on AM 1260. KBSZ Apache Junction and K247CF 97.3 Mesa (relocated from Payson, and running 99 watts from South Mountain, per RadioLocator) are broadcasting classic rock as The Rattler. I have no idea when this started, but comedy was still on 1260 a couple months ago. Both stations come in well in NE Mesa.

Little different from KSLX, so we'll see how long they last. I have yet to hear an ad.
 
KeithE4 said:
Looks like the long-time comedy format has finally bitten the dust on AM 1260. KBSZ Apache Junction and K247CF 97.3 Mesa (relocated from Payson, and running 99 watts from South Mountain, per RadioLocator) are broadcasting classic rock as The Rattler. I have no idea when this started, but comedy was still on 1260 a couple months ago. Both stations come in well in NE Mesa.

Little different from KSLX, so we'll see how long they last. I have yet to hear an ad.
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The station has been running since mid-July, and ads since August 1 (a number of the advertisers are shared with sister station The Bull 1340). I believe 97.3 is on Usery Mountain with 250 watts for the time being.
 
EricStein said:
The station has been running since mid-July, and ads since August 1 (a number of the advertisers are shared with sister station The Bull 1340). I believe 97.3 is on Usery Mountain with 250 watts for the time being.
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Yes, comedy radio has been off the air for awhile now since July. Who knows what Mr. Low is doing with his radio stations. Some weekends, Oldies 96.5 is completely off the air, has no carrier or has the worst delay between their HD and analog signal. They still are soliciting complaints from listeners for the interference from the K-LOVE Phoenix Shaw Butte translator K243BN. That battle does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Why doesn’t Mr. Low just move his station to 99.1 FM? That frequency has been vacated by the former 99.1 LPFM that was on Usery Mountain.
 
asugeorge1 said:
Yes, comedy radio has been off the air for awhile now since July. Who knows what Mr. Low is doing with his radio stations. Some weekends, Oldies 96.5 is completely off the air, has no carrier or has the worst delay between their HD and analog signal. They still are soliciting complaints from listeners for the interference from the K-LOVE Phoenix Shaw Butte translator K243BN. That battle does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Why doesn’t Mr. Low just move his station to 99.1 FM? That frequency has been vacated by the former 99.1 LPFM that was on Usery Mountain.
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KIKO-FM cannot move to 99.1. There's still KEMP in Payson at 99.3, and KRWV-LP in Gold Canyon (also at 99.3). That would cost $$$ for an engineering study, etc.

I like your idea in the KQFN/NFL thread: let KQFN move its 95.9 translator to 99.1. It would improve their East Valley coverage for nighttime listening and not give KEMP or KRWV-LP any interference.
 
Yes, I was disappointed when 1260 went blank (again), and then came back without the comedy format a couple months ago. I listened to that station quite a bit.
 
I was just told about this "new" station over the weekend. I knew that it was a terrible comedy station previously. However, I didn't know it became another "classic rock" channel.

I must admit I'm pleasantly surprised. It's a nice break from KSLX, and they definitely go deeper in their playlist. A little more 80s hard rock, along with Frank Zappa and The Marshall Tucker Band. Funny though, I never thought I'd hear Saxon on daytime radio these days! 😃

They also have decent syndicated programming on Saturdays: Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown, Eddie Trunk Rocks, and the House of Hair with Dee Snider, respectively. 👍

Personally, I think the latter is the best one of them all. Good to have Dee back on-air in Phoenix, after an astonishing 13-year run on the former KDKB. That doesn't happen too often with syndicated shows O-T-A, at least on our music stations anyway.

Unfortunately, I did have to inform them on the misspelling of one of their hosts on the website: Dee.... Snyder? Really Mr. or Ms. PD?? That's just plain embarrassing, they must change it ASAP! 😒

Considering their seemingly limited amount of advertisers, I'm surprised they were able to pick up the aforementioned three shows. Hope this format does well!
 
EricStein said:
The station has been running since mid-July, and ads since August 1 (a number of the advertisers are shared with sister station The Bull 1340). I believe 97.3 is on Usery Mountain with 250 watts for the time being.
Click to expand...
I wonder if they ever plan to move to South Mountain. The CP was issued (renewed?) last summer, but they're still on Usery Mountain.
 
I have caught the new format on 1260. I’d forgotten about this thread. I can’t receive the FM broadcast at all on my desk radio in SE Phoenix. I can hear the AM broadcast, faintly. Both are nonexistent for me out west.
The AM side was off the air some in 2020, but seems pretty reliably there now (to me). It would be nice if they could relocate to South Mountain because then the signal at work should be good from there.
 
bulwnkl said:
I have caught the new format on 1260. I’d forgotten about this thread. I can’t receive the FM broadcast at all on my desk radio in SE Phoenix. I can hear the AM broadcast, faintly. Both are nonexistent for me out west.
The AM side was off the air some in 2020, but seems pretty reliably there now (to me). It would be nice if they could relocate to South Mountain because then the signal at work should be good from there.
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Yeah, the signal seems to work best in Mesa and further east. At night it's significantly less, particularly in the Tempe area.

I just heard about this "new" format last weekend from my cousin. The comedy format previously was awful. That's why I completely tuned out.
 
I think this station is really cool. A full blown Mainstream Rock format perfectly fits in between KSLX and KUPD. Signal notwithstanding, it's a nice replacement for the old KDKB.
 
Saladressing said:
I think this station is really cool. A full blown Mainstream Rock format perfectly fits in between KSLX and KUPD. Signal notwithstanding, it's a nice replacement for the old KDKB.
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I don't mind the music mix. I just hope they keep political segments off the station (they've been a part of sister station The Bull since that station's start).
 
EricStein said:
I don't mind the music mix. I just hope they keep political segments off the station (they've been a part of sister station The Bull since that station's start).
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The name escapes me, but to your comment, I did hear a well-known libertarian attorney hosting a show late this morning. Perhaps this is part of the station's public affairs programming to meet its legal obligation?

If so, late Saturday morning is definitely an unusual time for it. Most of these programs are aired on early Sunday mornings. But I applaud them for trying a different time slot.
 
The Media Observer said:
The name escapes me, but to your comment, I did hear a well-known libertarian attorney hosting a show late this morning. Perhaps this is part of the station's public affairs programming to meet its legal obligation?

If so, late Saturday morning is definitely an unusual time for it. Most of these programs are aired on early Sunday mornings. But I applaud them for trying a different time slot.
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I might have heard that show at one time. I don't think I would consider partisan political talk as meeting public affairs requirements.

The Bull has "populist" commentaries from the mayor of Apache Junction during commercial breaks under the name "Second Amendment Minutes" (and they're not always about guns, even though the station owner is a gun show promoter). They also are the home to another conservative leaning show and Lou Dobbs commentaries (I don't know if still since he was kicked off of Fox Business TV). They could have been the "Trump Country" branded station instead of that attempt in Fort Myers.

I can see why Len doesn't want to go full on political talk when there are already four and a half stations (Money Radio goes conservative/libertarian part time, hence the half) doing it with better signals.
 
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EricStein said:
I might have heard that show at one time. I don't think I would consider partisan political talk as meeting public affairs requirements.

The Bull has "populist" commentaries from the mayor of Apache Junction during commercial breaks under the name "Second Amendment Minutes" (and they're not always about guns, even though the station owner is a gun show promoter). They also are the home to another conservative leaning show and Lou Dobbs commentaries (I don't know if still since he was kicked off of Fox Business TV). They could have been the "Trump Country" branded station instead of that attempt in Fort Myers.

I can see why Len doesn't want to go full on political talk when there are already four and a half stations (Money Radio goes conservative/libertarian part time, hence the half) doing it with better signals.
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Yes, I see where you're coming from regarding this station's (unusual) approach to... "rock and talk" radio? :unsure:

However, if they were open to commentary/programs from the left and moderate POV too, it might pass of as "public affairs programming" more credibly. But yeah, I get your point though. :cool:
 
Apache Junction, as well as most of the non-Native American precincts in Pinal County, is solid Trump country. That's all you need to know about the political stance of these two stations. They're preaching to the choir.
 
I hadn't listened to it enough to know it's also a Political Talk station at times. Far left, far right, far center, far up, far down, moderate, semi-moderate or whatever in between, music radio sounds best when politics are relegated to other stations.

As for the music, I hope they keep banging out that "hot rockin'" mix :)
 
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