Bye bye, KFRC-FM

[Lkeller]

if that is the case, i'm even surprised that CBS Radio would make such a move...would a slow ascent on KCBS' part be ENOUGH for the network??

Well, like my disclaimer said - mine is a non-expert prediction.  But it seems to me that the Bay Area Arbitron ratings have remained very stable over the last decade.  I don't recall any new format or station making a big splash in the ratings...certainly not overnight. The biggest change was probably the ascendancy of KSOL, but that took a few years.

  I don't see thousands of people suddenly become KCBS fans just because its on the FM band. I know it won't make any difference for me - KQED and NPR have pretty much ruined my appetite for commercial all-news radio.

But if KCBS's ratings grow over time, and CBS saves lots of money on KFRC operating costs in the meantime, seems like a win-win to me.

[RadioStarOne]

You all keep forgeting that cbs needs to recoup the $95 million they payed for this turkey of a signal on 106.9! Harold Camping laughed all the way to the bank with CBS money, and I bet he's still laughing just
that much more now! Some people never learn.

[andreajesus]

ok, you just GOT-TO explain the Harold C connection to CBS money...we know him on the East Coast VERY well...

[RadioStarOne]

Harold Camping of Family Radio, Inc. sold what was KEAR-FM 106.9 to CBS Radio, Inc. for $95 Millon dollars at about the time CBS was Launching the Free Radio Format after the departure of Howard Stern from terrestrial radio. He then paid around $35 Million to CBS Radio for the KFRC 610AM Radio Signal and renamed it KEAR 610. CBS has yet to even come close to getting any quality return on their investment. The interesting part is one of these days someone is going to come along and give Mr. Camping or his heirs another large pile of cash for the 610 signal. Its just a matter of time if you know what I mean.

[andreajesus]

oh ok - glad you cleared that up...

[DavidEduardo]

The interesting part is one of these days someone is going to come along and give Mr. Camping or his heirs another large pile of cash for the 610 signal. Its just a matter of time if you know what I mean.

I would bet they can not get $20 million for 610 today.

In a few years, when KCBS's FM simulcast drains a lot of the under-55 traffic from the AM band, 610 is going to be worth even less.

[RadioStarOne]

The people 610 AM is reaching right now is mostly above even the 55+ age group wouldn't you say?

[1069_KIFR]

From the Chronicle/SF Gate.com article, they quote Doug Harvill as saying, "We gave it our all!"
Really? Seriously 'Your All'?!?! I don't think so, if you had, KFRC would be a top 10 station in the SF Area.

Good thing John Mack Flanangan kept his day job. Ya see, he is wise with the business!

[TheBigA]

news on fm will not work in the bay area there's a reason nobody is doing it.

Hmmm...how about KQED?

[BossRadioDJ]

You all keep forgeting that cbs needs to recoup the $95 million they payed for this turkey of a signal on 106.9! Harold Camping laughed all the way to the bank with CBS money, and I bet he's still laughing just that much more now! Some people never learn.

Don't forget: the key to the deal for CBS was getting a TV station in Sacramento, not getting an FM in San Francisco. They lost a great legacy radio station (albeit of the lowly AM variety), and may have acquired an awfully large albatross as a part of the bargain.

Re: Harold Camping. With all due respect to him, I have heard him on the air for many, many (many, many, many) years, and I don't believe he laughed all the way to the bank. In fact, if he even cracked a smile, I'd be shocked.