It's now KXL-FM.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 08:58 AM
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Buh-Bye, KUFO now KXL-FM!
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YAY! Carl Widing is back?
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 09:02 AM # -
Wow, I'm trippin' here this morning. Way back in 1984, I heard the KRCK switch at midnight to Classical and now this morning, listened to KUFO switch to news. Sad day, but not as bad as '84... at 18 years old, I was devasted back then.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 09:05 AM # -
Hmm....seems to be a certain someone mentioned awhile back something about a NEW talk station in Portland???
March 28, look for Salem Radio Network shows: Dennis Prager, Hugh Hewitt, Bill Bennett and Mike Gallagher to appear on a certain station.
More changes in the wind!Posted on March 15, 2011 - 09:28 AM # -
Here is the link to the details on All Access:
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/88671/portland-newstalk-moves-to-fm-displaces-rock?ref=mail_bulletinPosted on March 15, 2011 - 09:35 AM # -
Wow...they actually listened to me. Yah!!!
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 10:06 AM # -
It looks like the ball is in KEX's court but they just about have to LMA it. All their FMs are already way too successful! I'm glad it wasn't KINK!
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 10:11 AM # -
I heard the announcement in the 8 o'clock hour this morning and wondered which of their FM stations they blew up. Minutes later, I heard the news anchor announce, "Newsradio 101 KUFO and 750 KXL."
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 10:12 AM # -
This is a good move for them. 20+ years of rock on KUFO is lost in the process, but hey, Lars Larson used to make appearances on the Bill Prescott Show (albeit that was about 13 years ago), but really, how much of a change is there here?
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 10:38 AM # -
Oh boy, just what the world needs; Glenn Beck and Lars Larson in stereo.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 10:51 AM # -
So what is KXL-AM going to flip to?
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 11:15 AM # -
They aren't flipping anything. They are currently simulcasting the AM but, since KUIK is losing their SRN shows to someone, I assume KXL-FM will carry those guys by about March 28.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 11:16 AM # -
I would assume Entercom is going to push KNRK more current rock to help cover the hole. They’re already P2 to KUFO. I’d think it would be a good strategic decision. I.e. absorb that format position rather than wait for someone else to move over to fill it.
While that station’s (KUFO) PPM issues are well documented, I don't know anyone whom actually thinks there's no appreciable audience for active rock in Portland. From what I can tell, their major issues were a muddy and damaged brand and insufficient TSL from existing meter holders rather than an outright lack of available listenership. I'd consider it highly unlikely someone won't attempt to cover that format hole, or at the least make adjustments w/ a current format as outlined above.
On a related note, though one borne solely of schadenfreude, it’s a positive development I’ll no longer have to listen to that idiotic and deeply untalented morning program. The only positive development I’d heard in that day part in more than a year was eliminating Maroni. Alpha finished the job today.
It could prove a very good move for KXL. Moving to FM breaks them out of the AM station pack and offers another clear point of differentiation from KEX. FM talk is making strong moves in a number of large PPM markets. Though to be fair, most of those success stories are sports/guy talk rather than conservative news. I’m not aware of another large market station formatted like KXL making the move to the FM side. Anyone know if this is the first?
As already noted earlier in this thread, I could certainly do without hearing the unhinged, conspiracy theory, ranting of Glen Beck in stereo. Oh well. I’m sure it’ll pay dividends for Lars and Alpha, though.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 11:37 AM # -
"I’m not aware of another large market station formatted like KXL making the move to the FM side. Anyone know if this is the first?"
This is certainly not the first. There are others that have done it. One notable double one is WBAP in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas. They are news talk (conservative leaning) on 820AM and 96.7 FM.
There are other stations with news talk on FM. One that comes to mind is KTLK in Minneapolis on 100.3 FM. I have heard others while driving cross country but can't remember where. Just heard them scanning through the dial while in the middle of nowhere. Usually they fade out within an hour.Posted on March 15, 2011 - 11:49 AM # -
No matter what the great thing about this flip is that for the first time in a LONG time, this board is finally dominated with ACTUAL RADIO stories!! Whoo hoo!
A RADIO message board talking about RADIO.....imagine a world......Posted on March 15, 2011 - 11:51 AM # -
KSL (Salt Lake City) has been simulcasting on AM and FM for some years now; WTOP (Washington, D.C.) has also been on one AM and several FM frequencies for a few years. Their formats are similar to that of KXL.
P.S.: Don't worry about Glenn Beck in stereo; I'm pretty sure that the feed is mono.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 11:52 AM # -
i think i would eat my hat if KXL took on the SRN shows that KUIK is losing (and presumably KPAM and KPDQ as well, as i think they also air SRN shows, Hugh Hewitt and Bill Bennett are SRN right?). just don't seem like a move Alpha would make. My theory is this is a trial thing, if it succeeds, The Game moves to 750, and KXL goes AM only, if it fails, 101 gets a new music format in 6 months or so...just a hunch, but i think its a sound theory
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 12:03 PM # -
I just got back from San Francisco on Saturday. KCBS is also heard on KFRC-FM at 106.9, and it sounded great in the hotel room since I couldn't get any AM stations in the room at least not without a lot of static.
The RDS on 106.9 said KCBS-FM even though it is actually KFRC-FM.On the way home, I push the button on my radio for 1190 around Redding and was able to hear KEX just fine. A few miles down the road I had KXL and KPOJ. This was around 3 PM or so. KEX's HD signal came through for a few minutes around Ashland, it was almost dark by then.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 12:23 PM # -
"ranting of Glen Beck in stereo"
Why not turn off the stereo for a little more range and reduction of the effects of multipath? Seems to work well for KOMO, 97.7 Seattle?
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 12:27 PM # -
If they had only fixed the playlist instead of blowing out talent and replacing them with crap 17 months ago...
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 12:27 PM # -
Check out all the comments on the Portland Tribune article. Typical 'I'll never listen to radio again' sort of things. The funny thing is most of the comments are complaints about replacing the talk portions of KUFO's former programming (going as far back to bitterness over Alpha's business decision regarding Emerson and Cort and Fatboy) with talk!
http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=130021242238085100As I write this, the last comment over there complains Americans have "lost" something... no. As an American, one's sole remedy for this is to write their congressman and senators and insist on changes at the Federal Communications Commission. This isn't going to happen; we all know congress has better things to worry about.
Oregon Live also has a regurgitation of the press release and another article, with virtually no comments on either. The Merc and Willamette Week either haven't noticed or don't care.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 01:42 PM # -
Like I said in the other thread, it's a shame this has happened, because even if you don't like the harder rock, there's still a place for it on the FM dial. KNRK will absolutely benefit from this flip, probably way more than Alpha will. I'll be curious to see if the predictions for 95.5FM come true, and if they'll flip that to some kind of Hot AC.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 02:35 PM # -
They'd be better off flipping to mainstream AC and getting into KKCW's lane rather than delving into an overcrowded field of pop contemporary music for 25-44 year old women. Between Z100, The Buzz, and even Jammin 95.5 there's not exactly a lack of places to hear Bruno Mars "Just the way you are".
Meanwhile, K-103 has no competitors and monstrous PPM shares. You don't need a math degree to work this out.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 02:40 PM # -
The FM dial is losing music programming that has migrated to net streams due to it's smaller amount of listeners.
More people want Beck, Limblah and Hannity than they do hard rock.
And KUFO over the last decade has not really done a good job with hard rock IMO.
They covered about 15% of what they could have.
Portland radio is boring because portland listeners are not demanding enough.
Add to that the fact that corporate owners care about ratings and not actual
listener satisfaction. I mean really, even in the golden days listeners mostly called
to say how much they enjoy ... rarely do they call and complain.Flood the switchboards and you might be heard.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 02:43 PM # -
Well, I personally wouldn't want to work for a station that flips to all-Christmas music before Halloween. There's no need for another 'dentist office' station in town, nor another oldies station. Why don't the PD's look to see what ISN'T being represented, and program accordingly? It's frustrating.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 02:45 PM # -
And Andy, your theory is lovely, but in practice? It doesn't work. I speak from experience. When I was laid off from KNRK, I know they got plenty of complaints from unhappy listeners. Did it change anything? Nope. As long as the numbers on a spreadsheet are more important than the opinions of listeners, radio programmers will continue to ignore the audience and follow the corporate line.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 02:48 PM # -
It never works for that purpose (favorite jock let go). I meant complain about losing the music and being replaced by the fomenters of violence, the talk buffoons, the true scourge of the dial.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 02:51 PM # -
It still won't change anything. Once the big bosses make up their minds, it's a done deal.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 02:57 PM # -
Hey Andy: WE have been flooding them.....saying THANK YOU!
And there are more of us calling then there are of you I bet.....
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 03:14 PM # -
Clearly dodger, your loyalty is misplaced. They don't give a crap about you. Some new GM will come along and you'll be toast. Wait and see.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 03:24 PM # -
With respect, Tara, you’re missing the point.
I wasn’t attempting to make some kind of subjective determination of what I personally find interesting or worthy in a music radio station. I’m not a fan of mainstream AC or KKCCW. The fact remains that “dentist’s office” station is one of top billing stations in the market. And they have no direct competitor. They possess exclusivity of music position and huge audience shares that are largely uncontested. I’m not going to throw analysis tool metrics into a radio thread on a public board, but let it suffice to say there’s a great deal of audience daylight between the mainstream AC position and the closest thing to a P2 competitor K103 faces.
Arguably there’s room for two of them. And there are several low rated, revenue challenged properties that would probably welcome being the second tier AC in this equation as there’s potentially greater revenue upside in that lane that currently being eked out in their current position. I.e. that’s why there are two country stations in this market, too. (That’s how Seattle wound up with two of them as well.)
Boring? You betcha! But this is the commercial radio business. You should, of course, place the emphasis on the last word in that sentence.
Nevertheless, as noted earlier in the thread I think it’s highly unlikely someone will not move into the active rock lane. Owning the “rock” position can be valued real estate. I think the failure of KUFO has far more to do with incredibly ill thought out strategy, poor tactics, and shoddy execution than some kind of blanket indictment of the music position itself. I have no doubt the Alpha people would disagree with that assessment. We’ll see.
If KNRK were smart, (referring to programming dept; stand by that disclaimer) they’d get out of “we’re cooler than you” land and start playing some actual hit, rock music. If they fail to do so, I suspect someone else will at some point. I have a hard time believing the various operators in this market will leave the rock position completely open and available for too long.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 03:30 PM # -
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 03:31 PM #
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With that talk line-up - they might as well have kept the old call letters.
If FM is "the future of talk", I've got to think they'll do something different with 750 AM.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 03:33 PM # -
Since a formatic hole has been left in the dial, I would not be too surprised to see 105.9 flip or alter its format in the direction of Active Rock. As far as news/talk on 101.1 is concerned, I am not a fan of Active Rock, but I like simulcasts even less!
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 03:39 PM # -
I totally understand your point, Grendel. What I meant is that the audience who enjoys that kind of music is already being served here. What audience isn't being served, THAT's the question programmers aren't asking themselves, and how can WE be the ones serving them?
There are already destinations on the dial here (in most cases, more than one) for classic rock, Hot AC, Talk, oldies, and easy listening. There is now no destination for active rock or a place that emphasizes our amazingly vibrant local music and arts scene. Sad.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 03:50 PM # -
"a place that emphasizes our amazingly vibrant local music and arts scene"
OPBMUSIC online and on 91.5 HD-2.
I'm no fan of KUFO, So I won't miss them.
I do know how passionate fans are about their music, especially DJ's on the beach. However as loosely referred to about radio, management do not see listeners as whom they are there to satisfy.
They see Advertisers as their "customers" and Investment Bankers as who they must satisfy.
Something that is not being done in the market... A niche defined by LISTENERS not getting a need met... is no way to program a station these days. McDonalds and Coke want the masses, not the niches.
Thats why you get over researched playlists of the same old same old over and over again.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 04:00 PM # -
Even more righty talk. I guess will will be included in the already 1700+ hrs a week... More (((GB))) preaching about crap that doesn't mean diddly in the whole scheme of things.
So with 99% of the talkers on AM are we going to fill the FM dial up with talkers as well?
Well, my Droid Incredible w/ Pandora will do the tick...Posted on March 15, 2011 - 04:01 PM # -
I noticed that KXL FM is playing the "END OF AMERICA" Garbage... Wonder if they got paid to play that? Some idiots on here were pissing and moaning about KXTG playing it all the time....
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 04:02 PM # -
Very sad. KUFO was once my favorite Portland station. Been listening to 101.5 lately anyhow.
If they move all the usual AM talk to FM who in the hell is going to listen 750 kxl?
AM radio is dead.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 04:34 PM # -
I'm still too upset over the demise of KB101 to worry about KUFO's fate.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 04:53 PM # -
The "End Of America" commercials have been on KXL for quite some time, and I am certain that they (Alpha Broadcasting) are paid to play them, as they are advertisements.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 04:59 PM # -
"If they move all the usual AM talk to FM who in the hell is going to listen 750 kxl?"
Good question, It will be interesting to see how listener data shakes out, if they simulcast for a while, I suspect that many will listen to the FM, but AM does have some advantages in some areas, where FM reception may be poor or messed up with multipath effects.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 05:02 PM # -
I will enjoy Kxl tonight when the AM fades in and out at night.
No more interference from motors, electrical apliances, things that make noise on the AM band!
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 05:03 PM # -
Yes 101.1 is a great signal (second best to K-103 in my humble opinion). I'm pretty sure they're the primary emergency alert station (EAS) in Portland. And, it's great to hear three letter calls on FM. Now if they could just get CBS news back...
As mentioned earlier, many news/talk stations are moving to, or simulcasting with FM's -- Seattle (KOMO, KIRO {am sports, fm talk}), San Francisco (KCBS) and Los Angeles (KNX).
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 05:44 PM # -
I don't believe that 101.1 has officially become KXL-FM yet (see the other KUFO thread).
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 05:46 PM # -
The big rip off right now is for advertisers. At times the commercials are not similcasted. Those who had contracted to have their commercials on Hard Rock KUFO, they are still being ran, yet it is no longer Hard Rock so the demographic that the ads are aimed at is completely missed.
You can only hope that the advertisers were offered refunds by the Sales Department for the ads running for the next several weeks, but I doubt that refunds will be issued as the Sales people are to quick in cashing their checks, but not caring about the customer.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 06:01 PM # -
Listening to the afternoon news on KXL 750Khz I noticed they're telling listeners to move to 101 and they're identify themselves now as "News Radio 101 FM" with no mention of 750 ever. This leads me to believe this simulcast will end soon. So what will 750 become? I'm guessing "Freedom 750" with programming moving from 970, where I'm guessing the Salem Talk programs will end up. Will the KXL calls disappear on 750? We should know most likely on Dodger's date of Monday March 28th.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 07:18 PM # -
Jaw dropping dumb, and shockingly stupid.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 07:24 PM # -
I live in Salem, 5 blocks from Mahonia Hall. AM-750 comes in much better than FM-101.1. So I'll listen to KXL at the same old place until something else moves to 750.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 08:19 PM # -
I think we're missing the obvious here. This move reeks of cost cutting by the people who are "going to save radio" and "put the fun back in radio." Nothing says fun like Glenn Beck and traffic reports. If KUFO and other music stations were worth listening to, people would listen. By going cheap and forgetting that you have to spend money to make money, music radio just isn't an option because it isn't that good.
Posted on March 15, 2011 - 08:22 PM #
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