KSTN/1420 Shutting Down...

[Madmansam]

I had suggested that Robert Larue should have considered donating KSTN-1420 to San Joaquin Delta College for use for their Broadcasting Class. It would compliment their online Internet service as well as that puny KSJC-89.5 signal. I don't know if it is practical in this economy? I would have enjoyed listening to a Student Run KSTN.

[RadioStarOne]

Before you all go crazy with all these donations plans for 1420 it would be wise to stop and take a breath. The reason is simple, we have not heard for sure (what's really going on behind the scenes) with the ownership squabbles in the La Rue family and between them and any partners the family may have had in the stations. The whole story has not been told and there's still the possibility that someone or some company may walk through the door with a check that is too good to be refused rendering all these talks moot.

This whole fiasco sounds like nothing more than a game of one-ups-mans ship within the La Rue family as they continue to fight over who gets what from daddy's estate. To just turn this station off and turn in the license to the FCC to be deleted is just not going to happen. Somebody will end up with the license and the station equipment and we will all know well before the first ninety days ever passes who or what that entity will be.

It's like the classic battle we've all heard before many times. One person may own the land and the other group may own just the equipment which leads to the old line "fine you don't want to do what I want, then I'm just going to turn it off and take it and put it all into storage!" Leaving the other with just a patch of land which may not be that bad for that party! Time will tell, as all the lawyers get involved in this situation.

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

Before you all go crazy with all these donations plans for 1420 it would be wise to stop and take a breath. The reason is simple, we have not heard for sure (what's really going on behind the scenes) with the ownership squabbles in the La Rue family and between them and any partners the family may have had in the stations. The whole story has not been told and there's still the possibility that someone or some company may walk through the door with a check that is too good to be refused rendering all these talks moot.

This whole fiasco sounds like nothing more than a game of one-ups-mans ship within the La Rue family as they continue to fight over who gets what from daddy's estate. To just turn this station off and turn in the license to the FCC to be deleted is just not going to happen. Somebody will end up with the license and the station equipment and we will all know well before the first ninety days ever passes who or what that entity will be.

It's like the classic battle we've all heard before many times. One person may own the land and the other group may own just the equipment which leads to the old line "fine you don't want to do what I want, then I'm just going to turn it off and take it and put it all into storage!" Leaving the other with just a patch of land which may not be that bad for that party! Time will tell, as all the lawyers get involved in this situation.

My first thought is that the value of KSTN (AM) is diminished without the land the towers sit on.   I hear they plan to dismantle the AM.   It looks to me that they want to sell the property the stations sit on.  An LMA to "Educational" Media Foundation is simple.  No studio required (They could get a waiver).  Just plant a dish on Mt. Diablo or simply relay KLRS 89.7.   The sad thing is that if they do in-fact "tear down" those AM towers on Ralph Avenue, they will make the AM station less valuable.  If they sell the license, someone will have to get a CP to relocate a tight directional array.  It could provide the Powell Family an opportunity to upgrade KJAY, but like the LaRue's then run their stations on the cheap.

[RadioStarOne]

I don't think The Powell Family is going to be doing any upgrading. But you never know!

[Madmansam]

I have always wondered if KSTN-1420's slow death was because of management's lack of staying up to date when it came to the format on 1420. In 1989, when the hand writing was on the wall, the owners of KJOY-1280/KJAX-99.3 made changes to keep both stations profitable by moving the AC format (and KJOY calls) from 1280 to 99.3 while creating a News/Talk format for 1280 and moving the KJAX calls there. Meanwhile at KSTN, they continued playing music in fact up until 1998, KSTN played current CHR/Rhythmic which didn't make financial sense because of KWIN-97.7's dominance in that format. When they made the switch to Classic Hits, it improved only slightly but music on the AM dial just was a dying proposition though at times, it was fun to listen to. Back in the 1990's, i always thought KSTN should have switched to Adult Standards, if they wanted to still play music. After Knox passed away in 2004, the following year, Robert LaRue added Sports to its lineup but kept the Classic Hits. What they should have done was at least switch to All Sports/Sports Talk. Another format that the LaRue's could have gambled on is a Southeast Asian Format. Stockton has a very large Hmong population. Knox pioneered the Spanish/Latino format on the FM dial in San Joaquin County. He should have done the same for the AM dial for the Asian Population. Still surprised that there aren't any Asian Radio Stations in San Joaquin County. I believe there is one in Sacramento and two in Fresno. Why not in Stockton?

[milford]

I think the biggest challenge with a S.E. Asian format is deciding who the target will be.  Hmong, as you mentioned would probably draw well here, but what about Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotion, Kmu, Thai, etc.  Who do you include and who do you exclude?  Block programming might be the answer.  THEN, the million dollar question (literally):  Will it sell?  Is there enough Asian business to support such a format and is there enough general market revenue to cross over?  I'd like to see someone give it a try here.

[BossRadioDJ]

Block programming might be the answer.  THEN, the million dollar question (literally):  Will it sell?  Is there enough Asian business to support such a format and is there enough general market revenue to cross over?  I'd like to see someone give it a try here.

In the hands of a well-run organization like In-Language Radio (which brokers KVTO and KEST in San Francisco, and KJAY and KFSG in Sacramento, as well as numerous other stations across the fruited plain), I'd say that's a smart option.

[Madmansam]

Block programming might be the answer.  THEN, the million dollar question (literally):  Will it sell?  Is there enough Asian business to support such a format and is there enough general market revenue to cross over?  I'd like to see someone give it a try here.

In the hands of a well-run organization like In-Language Radio (which brokers KVTO and KEST in San Francisco, and KJAY and KFSG in Sacramento, as well as numerous other stations across the fruited plain), I'd say that's a smart option.

I agree David. Maybe In Language should be the one to broker KSTN-1420?

[Tom_KYA1260]

I have always wondered if KSTN-1420's slow death was because of management's lack of staying up to date when it came to the format on 1420. In 1989, when the hand writing was on the wall, the owners of KJOY-1280/KJAX-99.3 made changes to keep both stations profitable by moving the AC format (and KJOY calls) from 1280 to 99.3 while creating a News/Talk format for 1280 and moving the KJAX calls there. Meanwhile at KSTN, they continued playing music in fact up until 1998, KSTN played current CHR/Rhythmic which didn't make financial sense because of KWIN-97.7's dominance in that format. When they made the switch to Classic Hits, it improved only slightly but music on the AM dial just was a dying proposition though at times, it was fun to listen to. Back in the 1990's, i always thought KSTN should have switched to Adult Standards, if they wanted to still play music. After Knox passed away in 2004, the following year, Robert LaRue added Sports to its lineup but kept the Classic Hits. What they should have done was at least switch to All Sports/Sports Talk.

All they had to do was listen to Tom Richard....  They should have gone sports, which would have been a natural with all their play-by-play of local sports, then go Hot A/C on the FM and continue making money... but NO.....

[Madmansam]

I always thought that they should have moved their CHR format to the FM dial in the early 80's. Then they could have beaten KWIN to the punch. I know that they did a Part Time Simulcast but at the time, 107.3 was mostly Spanish. Plus in order for the CHR format to succeed at the time, Knox should have made 107.3 Stereo.