Would Jim Gabbert buy a local radio station?; SF media mogul has the money/influence; Thursday wash

Jim Gabbert is a local media pioneer who owned K-101 in the 70's and 80's. His station at the time was an FM powerhouse and he made it a preeminent industry outlet.

He also hit the media lottery.

Gabbert sold K-101 in 1981 and later, bought a local TV shingle known as "KOFY-TV-20." Gabbert programmed the station with old 70's shows, movies, and hosted a "Saturday Night Dance Party", which received instantaneous buzz and cult status. That, along with his signature dog intros: "We've got what you're looking for--TV 20."

Gabbert paid around $5 million for KOFY. He sold it for about $200 million just a few years later. Timing is everything.

Gabbert still maintains a Bay Area home and did a lot of sub work at the old KGO, and most recently, ClearChannel's new "NewsTalk 910", (KKSF-AM).

He obviously has a ton of money and there's been some local speculation that he might buy a radio station in the Bay Area and convert it to a "newstalk" format. I hope the speculation has some legs.

Certainly, Gabbert has the financial resources available to pull off a deal. The question is, just where? Between Cumulus and ClearChannel, there's not a lot of available outlets. CBS is leasing out the old 1550 AM, (worst position on the dial at the end) to Hindi music players. Its FM property, ("Live 105.3") plays alternative music, but was rumored to be for sale. The status is now unclear.

First and foremost, Gabbert has to be willing to want to make a deal. He supposedly still has a soft spot for old SF radio. He essentially made FM stereo the talk of the biz back in the 80's. Would he still be a potential player, particularly in light of the void left by the old KGO? Makes sense.

The new 910 AM has helped alleviate the thirst for news-talk radio, but its relatively low signal makes it hard to pick up in significant parts of the Bay Area.

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