What is the big change coming to 1590?

[HCochet]

I was listening to 1590 today around 12:00 PM. There was an ad saying that real soon there will be a change in programing. They said they will still be the traffic leader (or something like that), but something new is coming. So what is it?
Unless it's something cool like John Rothmann and/or Ray Taliaferro, I don't expect it to be a big deal.

 

[DavidKaye]

I was listening to 1590 today around 12:00 PM. There was an ad saying that real soon there will be a change in programing. They said they will still be the traffic leader (or something like that), but something new is coming. So what is it?
Unless it's something cool like John Rothmann and/or Ray Taliaferro, I don't expect it to be a big deal.

Rothmann and Taliaferro cool? Huh?

This must mean that the news format isn't working. What's next, all-traffic? I guess that might work.

 

[HCochet]

I was listening to 1590 today around 12:00 PM. There was an ad saying that real soon there will be a change in programing. They said they will still be the traffic leader (or something like that), but something new is coming. So what is it?
Unless it's something cool like John Rothmann and/or Ray Taliaferro, I don't expect it to be a big deal.

Rothmann and Taliaferro cool? Huh?

This must mean that the news format isn't working. What's next, all-traffic? I guess that might work.

You're trying to be funny (I think), but I'd love for there to be an all traffic station, so that maybe KGO would stop their own annoying traffic updates. It's way too frequently on KGO and that sound they make to alert you to the traffic update (What's the term for the alert? someone told me here once, you?) is also annoying. When KGO is doing ads I know that when they are finally done, then it's on to a minute or two of stupid traffic, but first you have to hear that annoying sound. So that's when I tune out for a while.

And yes, John Rothmann and Ray Taliaferro are super cool and had fantastic radio shows.

 

[DavidKaye]

You're trying to be funny (I think), but I'd love for there to be an all traffic station, so that maybe KGO would stop their own annoying traffic updates.

No, I'm not kidding. If KLIV is going to remain the "traffic leader" and they're changing format it sounds to me like an all-traffic station. The station's a 5kw AM in a world of 50kw FMs. It could be turned into a TIS station, automated, and people might indeed tune to it to learn what's going on in the tangled mess of Southbay traffic.

What else are they going to do with it? I've never met Bob Kieve, but everything I've read and heard about him says he's a brilliant owner/manager.

 

[radcat]

I was listening to 1590 today around 12:00 PM. There was an ad saying that real soon there will be a change in programing. They said they will still be the traffic leader (or something like that), but something new is coming. So what is it?
Unless it's something cool like John Rothmann and/or Ray Taliaferro, I don't expect it to be a big deal.

You were listening to KLIV? You must have been in the Wal-Mart parking lot across the street. Does their signal reach beyond that?

 

[K6JHU]

All traffic was tried by Saul Levine in LA. Didn't work. And if it can't work in LA, where can it work

 

[HCochet]

I was listening to 1590 today around 12:00 PM. There was an ad saying that real soon there will be a change in programing. They said they will still be the traffic leader (or something like that), but something new is coming. So what is it?
Unless it's something cool like John Rothmann and/or Ray Taliaferro, I don't expect it to be a big deal.

You were listening to KLIV? You must have been in the Wal-Mart parking lot across the street. Does their signal reach beyond that?

LOL, I think you're right. You mean on Story Road?
I had just left Thuy Em (1/2 mile?? from the station) and was on Story and McLaughlin.
I live about 10 miles from there and get it well on my home and car radio in most areas that I drive to.
I'm pretty sure they aren't changing to all traffic.

 

[stewie]

I was listening to 1590 today around 12:00 PM. There was an ad saying that real soon there will be a change in programing. They said they will still be the traffic leader (or something like that), but something new is coming. So what is it?
Unless it's something cool like John Rothmann and/or Ray Taliaferro, I don't expect it to be a big deal.

You were listening to KLIV? You must have been in the Wal-Mart parking lot across the street. Does their signal reach beyond that?

LOL, I think you're right. You mean on Story Road?
I had just left Thuy Em (1/2 mile?? from the station) and was on Story and McLaughlin.
I live about 10 miles from there and get it well on my home and car radio in most areas that I drive to.
I'm pretty sure they aren't changing to all traffic.

I worked in that building on Story and McLaughlin for a short time.

I remember running from the building to my car.

 

[LKellerIII]

I used to listen to KLIV from San Francisco and Marin County when it was a Top 40 station in the 1970s. The signal was a bit weak, but it was listenable.

 

[DavidKaye]

All traffic was tried by Saul Levine in LA. Didn't work. And if it can't work in LA, where can it work

But Saul manages to screw up every format he tries. He keeps trying classical -- he even did it in the Bay Area, and it failed, and yet, SF once had two fulltime classical stations that were profitable. And Saul tried jazz, and it didn't make any sparks, either. So, he's probably not the best example of whether a format can work or not.

The only other thing I can think of is that Bob throws in the towel and makes KLIV a simulcast of KRTY.

 

[HCochet]

I was listening to 1590 today around 12:00 PM. There was an ad saying that real soon there will be a change in programing. They said they will still be the traffic leader (or something like that), but something new is coming. So what is it?
Unless it's something cool like John Rothmann and/or Ray Taliaferro, I don't expect it to be a big deal.

You were listening to KLIV? You must have been in the Wal-Mart parking lot across the street. Does their signal reach beyond that?

LOL, I think you're right. You mean on Story Road?
I had just left Thuy Em (1/2 mile?? from the station) and was on Story and McLaughlin.
I live about 10 miles from there and get it well on my home and car radio in most areas that I drive to.
I'm pretty sure they aren't changing to all traffic.

I worked in that building on Story and McLaughlin for a short time.

I remember running from the building to my car.

Why did you run, was it raining? I go to Grand Century Mall, Dynasty, Super Taqueria, Thuy Em and Chot Nho* once in a while and walk to my car. No need to run unless you're jaywalking or just want exercise.

*Chot Nho used to be Giot Dang and before that, it was Thoa Cafe

 

[davideduardo]

All traffic was tried by Saul Levine in LA. Didn't work. And if it can't work in LA, where can it work

Those formats on 1650 were placeholders until he could sell the station... for a whopping $35 million.

Interestingly, the commute times in LA are not dramatically greater than in many other major cities. And since all main routes are nearly always congested, traffic reports are of less value than one might immagine.

 

[K6JHU]

Biggest issue with all traffic is that listeners will tune in, get the traffic report, and go onto to something else. Not stick around for the ads and a repeat of the traffic.

 

[LKellerIII]

Biggest issue with all traffic is that listeners will tune in, get the traffic report, and go onto to something else. Not stick around for the ads and a repeat of the traffic.

One of the later incarnations of KHJ in Los Angeles was "Car Radio," which I never heard, but I understand it was hit music bookended by tons of traffic reports. It wasn't ultimately succcessful, but it seems to me that it would be a viable format in a major urban area today. But you'd have to do it on the FM dial

 

[HCochet]

Biggest issue with all traffic is that listeners will tune in, get the traffic report, and go onto to something else. Not stick around for the ads and a repeat of the traffic.

One of the later incarnations of KHJ in Los Angeles was "Car Radio," which I never heard, but I understand it was hit music bookended by tons of traffic reports. It wasn't ultimately succcessful, but it seems to me that it would be a viable format in a major urban area today. But you'd have to do it on the FM dial

FM? What's that?

 

[radio dx]

I got it...traffic reports in Spanish and English by John McCloud.

 

[DavidKaye]

I got it...traffic reports in Spanish and English by John McCloud.

Well, whatever it is it's just gotta John McLeod or otherwise it ain't KLIV!

You may have hit on an idea -- multilingual traffic! English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Korean, Hindi, Bengali, Vietnamese, Hmong. I think that covers most of 'em.

 

[HCochet]

On Friday May 31, I called 1590 to ask them this question. A lady answered and started to explain. Something about news snippets, I think she said. Unfortunately I had an incoming call from work that I had to answer. I had to end the call. I felt bad. It was real unlucky timing. Anyway, I called back later and apologized. However, it was a different person and she directed me to the voice mail of another person. I left a message and George Sampson called back and left me a real nice message saying that the change is something that's played every hour at 12 minutes past the hour. A different one each hour. It's called "Living Better". I haven't heard it yet, but I will check it out for sure.

 

[Bongwater]

It's called "Living Better". I haven't heard it yet, but I will check it out for sure.

Sounds like a "Lifestyle Talk" format......

 

[DavidKaye]

Sounds like a "Lifestyle Talk" format......

Yup, and those usually mean brokered time. But, what are you gonna do? KLIV doesn't have much signal and people aren't listening much to it. The fact that it can support a staff is a miracle in itself. How many 5kw stations in major markets can do that today?