KMCQ FM

[Bill Wolfenbarger]

Unless the market improves at some point to make it financially worthwhile to do a multi-station juggle with the above-mentioned signals, not unlike some of the convoluted deals we've seen in other markets.  I've been presented in the past with propositions involving cooperation from as many as 13 or more stations, all of whom would need to change frequency, location, power, or all of the above, just to end up with a major market rim shot.

[FMSteve]

I think some ought to write a book about this bogus series of allottments. The KMCQ series involved 24 different communities in Oregon and Washington, not counting KASB, KMIH and the Fall City LPFM. Besides the Dalles, Or to Covington move, another outrageous move was from KAST, Astoria to deep in the heart of the Portland, Oregon market. Check this antenna pattern out, orginating from Gladstone, Oregon, 11 miles away from downtown Portland and many more miles away from Astoria, Oregon:

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=FM1110784.html

The Commission has rules against blatent attempts to move rural stations to urban areas, but the Commission took a blind eye towards these rediculous moves. But if First Broadcasting won the battle, it most certainly is losing in the war. This audacious "daisy-chain" series created such a political firestorm, it ignited both the Low Power movement, educational institutions, and some academics. In point of fact, in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, professor Alan G. Stavisky  at the University of Oregon wrote a piece highly critical of these moves here

http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/print/162470377.html

Dr. Stavisky's point is that localism is not fostered by these types of moves, and Congress should reject any efforts to continue along this path. And that is exactly what is happening, to the detriment of groups such as the National Associations of Broadcasters (NAB) and stations wishing to modify their facilities by moving to an urban location. Even the FCC has policy, now affirmed, that actually protects against an LPFM (giving them primary rights.....unable to be bumped) that is a co-channel or 1st adjecent channnel to a station wishing to modify that full-power stations facilities. This affirmed policy just came down in June of this year, and the NAB lost big time in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Furthermore, the FCC is now limiting station moves to just under locations that provide 50% or less of additional urban-area populations. In other words, the KMCQ move could not have been possible now.

So I say, they won the battle but are losing the war. And that is just fine with me.

[SeattleRadioPro]

Interesting observation today - while waiting in line at the Federal Way Post Office on Pacific Ave. there was a portable radio blaring out the oldies - oldies that sounded a LOT like the old KBSG. 

The TOH ID ran and whaddaya know - it was KMCQ, Covington. 

So the "throwaway" format is already getting at-work listeners. Maybe it IS time to bring KBSG back.

[boiseengineer]

KMCQ filed w/FCC for a slight move over to the "KMTT AUX antenna" "Entercom Cougar Mountain Site".
7.1 kW ERP directional.

[FMSteve]

Yep. Saw that this morning. It looks like they got on the Entercom Aux combiner, apparently. The Wolf, Mountain, End and KISW all share that exact height, 388 meters HAAT. KING-FM and KNHC are on the stick, as well.

So Entercom is the buyer? Hmmm.

[swhyde1980]

Interesting observation today - while waiting in line at the Federal Way Post Office on Pacific Ave. there was a portable radio blaring out the oldies - oldies that sounded a LOT like the old KBSG. 

The TOH ID ran and whaddaya know - it was KMCQ, Covington. 

So the "throwaway" format is already getting at-work listeners. Maybe it IS time to bring KBSG back.

So, I wonder, if KMCQ keeps the oldies format, I wonder what the future of the station holds?

Keep the same call letters?  Call itself "Oldies 104?"  "Q-104?"

Or change the call letters... Was there another Oldies station on FM back in the 1980s in the Seattle area, before KBSG?  Whatever those call letters were, maybe the future owners of 104.5 could get those.  If not FM call letters, maybe something from AM.  Maybe 104.5 KXA??

KBSG calls have been taken now in Raymond, for their station on 107.9.

[SeattleRadioPro]

Was there another Oldies station on FM back in the 1980s in the Seattle area, before KBSG?  Whatever those call letters were, maybe the future owners of 104.5 could get those.  If not FM call letters, maybe something from AM.  Maybe 104.5 KXA??

KBSG calls have been taken now in Raymond, for their station on 107.9.

Calls are only required in the legal ID. You can call yourself anything you want the rest of the time - even call letters licensed to another station - as long as using those call letters don't have a city of license after them.

[Bill Wolfenbarger]

SWHYDE1980 - a couple of corrections:

KBSG is used by an LPFM in Fall City.

KLSY is the call for 107.9, and it is licensed to South Bend, not Raymond.

Re: KXA - Three letter calls are no longer authorized.  And KXAA is taken by Cle Elum.

Most radio listeners now identify stations by name and frequency (car radios have a digital frequency readout).

[Steenman]

Who actually owns the tower?

[swhyde1980]

SWHYDE1980 - a couple of corrections:

KBSG is used by an LPFM in Fall City.

KLSY is the call for 107.9, and it is licensed to South Bend, not Raymond.

Re: KXA - Three letter calls are no longer authorized.  And KXAA is taken by Cle Elum.

Most radio listeners now identify stations by name and frequency (car radios have a digital frequency readout).

WHOOPS!  My mistake on KBSG!

I assume then 3-letter calls are only authorized on the FM side (and even TV), only if they are being used on the AM side (as the case with KJR, KHQ, KGW...etc...). 

Calls are only required in the legal ID. You can call yourself anything you want the rest of the time - even call letters licensed to another station - as long as using those call letters don't have a city of license after them.

I remember when 95.7 went back to KJR, for about a week they still had "KBTB Seattle" on their hourly ID, from their 2 years as "The Beat".  Same when they became KJR the first time around, they had "KLTX Seattle" for a week or so, before the calls officially became KJR-FM.