WKRP

[vchimpanzee]

Who is watching that new show "Knights of Prosperity"?

There is a poster of Loni Anderson in a bikini on the wall. That brings back memories. Venus Flytrap, Dr. Johnny Fever, Arthur Carlson, Herb Tarlek, Les Nessman.

And a radio station that played good music. Until Andy came along and wrecked things!

When they finally got around to telling us the frequency, it was 1530. I also remember seeing "50,000 watts", at least during the first season or so. Later they said 5000. I also remember them saying it was the city's oldest station.

The new version in syndication wasn't quite as good. And who would believe an AM could still be playing top 40? I looked it up and the show aired from 1991 to 1993.

 

[KRCincy]

And the first season will finally be out on DVD April 3

 

[major]

Wouldn't it be something if CC changed the WKRC-AM call letters to WKRP when the TV station gets sold. Have you ever heard of a company allowing the similar call letters to be used by the new owner? i.e., if a company owned a TV and radio station with the same call letters, sold one of the stations, and allowed the new owner to keep the old call letters? I thought I had read in FCC rules, it may happen, upon permission of the original owner.

 

[exradio]

Two I can think of readily:

WHO, Des Moines, Clear Channel
WHO-TV, New York Times

WWL, New Orleans, Entercom
WWL-TV, Belo

 

[BobOnTheJob]

WKRP was on 1460 in North Vernon, IN until several years ago. New owners found that the call letters were copyrighted & a royalty fee was required to keep them. Didn't take long for the station to become WNVI (now WJCP). But what's not afforadable in North Vernon could be quite viable in Cincinnati.

Look a little closer to home for another double call sign use : WONE 980 Dayton, WONE FM 97.5 Akron.

 

[knowbetter]

WKRP was on 1460 in North Vernon, IN until several years ago. New owners found that the call letters were copyrighted & a royalty fee was required to keep them. Didn't take long for the station to become WNVI (now WJCP). But what's not afforadable in North Vernon could be quite viable in Cincinnati.

Look a little closer to home for another double call sign use : WONE 980 Dayton, WONE FM 97.5 Akron.

WHAS - Clear Channel
WHAS TV - Belo

more common than you think

 

[Toddy-0]

I hope this doesn't sound too dingy, but isn't KSDK in St. Louis in the same boat?

 

[tcsnrayp]

BOAT... DINGY... I LOVE a Toddy-O who is punny.

I hope this doesn't sound too dingy, but isn't KSDK in St. Louis in the same boat?

 

[major]

How can anyone/company copyright officially viable broadcast call letters, if they are not issued to a broadcast station by the FCC? If that be the case, let us all run out and pay the Copyright Office the fee(s) to several hundred combinations...

BobOnTheJob, this is not a slam at you....please don't take it that way. I'm just flabbergasted.

 

[RadioBill]

I hope this doesn't sound too dingy, but isn't KSDK in St. Louis in the same boat?

In St. Louis its KSD-FM and KSDK-TV; kind of like WLW and WLWT.

 

[radiorob2.0]

Clear Channel worked hard to reunite TV and radio combos call letters like WOAI and WHAM. Now that Clear Channel is selling their TV properties I wonder if the calls will change?

 

[tcsnrayp]

Is it true a very young Randy Michaels did weekend overnights on the fictional WKRP?

 

[radiorob2.0]

Yes indeed a young Randy Michaels worked at WKRP! He did overnights at the transmitter site since he had his first class ticket. He drove CE Bucky Dornster crazy readjusting the processing though PD Andy Travis loved the audio. Also, Randy was known for his impromptu QSL test when he ran the station full power non-directional. Days after the clandestine event Bucky would receive a wave of QSL request.

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

Yes indeed a young Randy Michaels worked at WKRP! He did overnights at the transmitter site since he had his first class ticket. He drove CE Bucky Dornster crazy readjusting the processing though PD Andy Travis loved the audio. Also, Randy was known for his impromptu QSL test when he ran the station full power non-directional. Days after the clandestine event Bucky would receive a wave of QSL request.

I had the pleasure of working at the REAL WKRP, and the first station to have the letters in Dallas Ga.. A small 1000 watt daytimer only station. I remember it well. And we did have in the 80s state of the art equipment, new board, new carts and machines. It was nice.. We were at 1500 on the AM dial. Great station, started out at top 40 then switched to country.

 

[BuffStuff]

I work for the company that owned WKRP for a while when it was in North Vernon, Indiana. Bob, to my knowledge the dumping of the call letters had nothing to do with copyright issues. The problem was the giggle and immediate image of flying turkeys in the minds of prospective advertisers. Selling "WKRP" wasn't as easy as one might think. The goal was to try to give the station some credibility on the streets.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I stand corrected. The local scuttlebutt was that they didn't want to pay the royalties on use of the calls. That's what happens when I repeat rumors. Thanks for the inside info...

 

[gr8oldies]

As I recall, MTM Productions did try to get the WKRP calls in Dallas, GA revoked, but it was ruled they had no standing to challenge call letter assignments.

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

MTM did try, and failed... As I noted in a above post, the Equipment was SO very nice in that studio... All new console, LBP signature ll board.. Shure mic, the type that looks like a big football... Dont remember model number.. Remote Transmitter switching.. It was a killer station with a small signal.. I miss my days @ AM 1500
The Mighty KRP...................... ;D

 

[gr8oldies]

Sounds like it was truly a good time!

 

[cARLOS Blake]

The reruns of the original WKRP(which who knows if or where they may still be running) & the D.V.Ds don't have the original songs used on the shows due to copywriting issues)...I remember some AC/DC, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Al Jareua(during Venus' show). I think they overlayed 'em with cheap imitation remakes. I always thought Bailey Quarters was the hot one!