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.
*Follow me on Twitter
*Tips/E-Mail: Rich.Lieberman@gmail.com (All confidentiality assured)
Heartening rumor!
ReplyDeleteRich, do you remember that radio station in the 80's --The City? They played such an eclectic variety of music and had great guests.
It was such a shame when they folded. I forget the details....maybe you could tell the story again!
now if we could just get Jim and John Rothmann to pool their considerable resources...heck...they could buy KGO!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the very thing when I listened to Jim on 910 a couple of nights ago. It's obvious he loves talk radio, and even better that he didn't stick around KGONE and migrated over to 910.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope, but what a coup that would be!
Would 102.9 KBLX be available soon? Since Inner City has filed for bankruptcy I believe they have to sell it.
ReplyDeleteAnd when the high priced buyers of KOFY screwed things up, they turned to Gabbert to get them back on track. He's a visionary for local media.
ReplyDeleteAnd most definitely a 'hands on' kind of guy. Especially when you didn't want his hands on you...
DeleteGreat astounding news. I hope Jim Gabbert reconsiders the 50kw flame thrower KTRB 860 next to KGO 810 and really rub it in or let the competition begin.
ReplyDeleteHere is the Coverage area for KTRB 860: http://bit.ly/KTRBarea
15kw 57M Live 105.3: http://bit.ly/KITSarea
I am happy for Clear Channel 20kw KKSF 910 taking in a few of ex KGO hosts
Its Coverage area is: http://bit.ly/KKSFarea.
It is much better to have our Own 50kw Flamethrower newtalk station.
Keep up the good work Jim.
The City (KKCY 98.9 FM) was on from June 1985 until January 1988. Before it was KKCY, it was Big Band KMPX (September 1978-August 1982), then The Quake (August 1982-June 1985).
ReplyDeleteAfter The City, it became KHIT (Jan. 1988-May 1988), and then was sold to James Gabbert and became KOFY-FM.
Gabbert owned the station until July 1990, when it became KDBK "Double 99," running parallel with KDBQ (99.1 FM) over in Santa Cruz.
The Bay Area Radio Museum has The City's archives -- including materials from the failed "Save The City" campaign -- in its collection.
D.J.
Thanks, David! (and thanks Rich--for adding this "reply" feature!)
DeleteRichard Gossett shows on 99 KQAK-FM perfectly exemplified how much fun free-form progressive rock radio could be with just two turntables, a microphone, an 'open line' to listeners--including local musicians--who knew the score, and a positive attitude. David, please round up and archive a few nights of Richard shaking things up on "The Quake"! And then, please, a long-overdue nomination this year to the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame...
DeleteI have always enjoying listening to Jim's programs. His rational approach to issues is generally consistent with my views. I would love to hear more from him and support any approach he takes to bring back local radio as we had for so many years before Dec 2011. Don't even want to use the call letters - I refuse to have anything to do with anything Cumulus.
ReplyDeleteGreat Rumor:
ReplyDeleteI hope Jim Gabbert & Mickey Luckoff can pull it off. That would be great to have thier own independent talk Station in San Francisco:
Jim Gabbert Discussing Radio (podcasts): http://ksco.com/saturday-special
Ahh-you have a new reply ability? Is that good?
ReplyDeleteAnd-I've now given up using IE8 and commenting on your blog-the new bug? I get "Sorry,but two are editing this article at the same time"...that's AFTER I write a long and great post..that then gets sent to post heaven. Mozilla only works bug free.
Jim Gabbert might be too old to have that old spirit. You would think in SF SOMEBODY would try a newstalk radio that didn't slant right. Money really does talk..and tells you it rules all.
Terrestrial radio survives because people still listen while driving. Give technology 5 years, terrestrial radio will be a dinosaur. We are at a major crossroad concerning streaming media. With SOPA, Cumulus, and Clear Channel chomping at the bit to define and to profit off of it. If Gabbert is truly serious, he needs to stay one step ahead of the game. A hybrid of terrestrial/streaming is where its at.
ReplyDeleteTo echo the above poster.
ReplyDeleteA team of Gabbert, Luckoff and Jack Swanson.
That would make for a solid foundation.
Rich
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with the font on this website?
Very tiny lettering. Gone Bizerk?
10:16 is right on. It was a shame that KKCY folded. During its brief life span it was the best station on the dial. I was turned on to many local folk artists (the late Kate Wolf for one) that I was previously unfamiliar with.
ReplyDeleteFolks, Gabbert was not easy to deal with at KOFY-FM. He refused to trust the major talent he hired (mostly free-form KSAN-FM alumni) to "do the right thing" and was interfering with Thom O'Hair's programming concepts and hassling the experienced dj's/sales crew from day #1. Be careful what you wish for...
DeleteTeam Gabbert, Luckoff, Swanson would be tremendous to say the least, but probably the most challenging aspect is to keep all the talk host connected before they all end up signing other contracts and to away. I understand the Gene isn't so strapped to his new thing at 910 that he couldn't bolt if the right thing happened but the rest of them?
ReplyDeleteThis is an idea that one could only dream of, but we have to be realistic given the market place. Keep your fingers crossed!
Whatever and wherever Jim Gabbert lands, as long as he recreates "Fifties Dance Party" and brings back those legendary jitterbuggers (that sounds indecent! it isn't if you're old enough to know that the jitterbug is a dance), the wigged, polyestered, and sprayed Sid and Barbara from Hayward, then count me in.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, "We've got what you're looking for--TV Twen-ty" was probably the best station jingle ever, but for a slogan you can't beat KICU's "The Perfect 36". And where is Robert Braunstein today?
Me too about 910. I appreciate 910 bringing some of the best from KGO, but the signal is not always good and at times it's hard to hear. I've been feeling like a ghost wandering the halls of talk radio trying to find a place to settle. It's been so frustrating. Thank goodness for this blog and for the FB pages addressing all the recent changes.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if a station with a great signal would bring our favorites back together in one place, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm disappointed that KSCO didn't do much with their opportunity. They did grab Wattenburg ( not my fav, but he has fans), but had him replace the one guy who when he wasn't talking politics, was hilarious. KSCO's programming is poor, but the signal comes through well for me. I had hopes at first.
I will just be patient and soon there will be more daylight and the signal for 910 should last longer.
A lot of these posters are dreamers, it won't happen in reality.
ReplyDeleteKGO is not for sale, forget it.
KTRB is not for sale forget it.
Live 195 is not for sale forget it.
KBLX could be for sale in the next few years. don't hold your breath though.
Y
Jim has a lot of knowledge, influence, and money. He cares a lot about QUALITY radio and he is the man for the job! Local radio is important lets support it!
ReplyDeleteAlso, LISTEN TO KSCO 1180 Santa CRUZ! I, like many, learned about KSCO when they put Dr Bill and the rest on air. KSCO was the first, and they are LOCAL in foundation and ownership, they do have RUSH, who I dont care for, but they are a station trying to survive among the CORPORATE RAIDERS, give a listen on the internet and send their sponsers a kind note. SUPPORT LOCAL RADIO!
I have been trying to listen to KSCO and I live in Santa Cruz. I keep checking in because of the local aspect, but am not liking the programming most of the time. I do like the morning news crew, the disaster coverage is fabulous, the traffic update helpful for us locals and those that drive highway 17 and I like Corey Gold, 12-2 Thursday, Friday, some of the time, well mostly when he is funny and he IS VERY FUNNY when he's not talking right wing politics. I'm not thrilled with Wattenberg because he hammers on the same subjects and he can be quite irritable and impatient (but is temporarily on good behavior), but I'm glad he landed somewhere and I know he has fans. The afternoon, "what's left" is a weak and boring attempt to be "balanced" and I detest the 9-12 Rush Limbaugh and Kay's gawd-awful commentary. The late afternoon "happy hour" has a nice enough right wing guy who plays really old jazz music, but his show is not my cup of tea, but I will listen for a short while if I'm desperate. I have no idea what happens after that. If any of you keep listening to KSCO and find something terrific, please share. For now I'm on 910 starting at 3:00 p.m.
ReplyDeleteKSCO could just chalked up to a lot of typical off-center Santa Cruz people who would not fit into any other category but their own, but the conservatism belies the area's general views. That the programming includes Rush and even the maniacal Alex Jones would just be a matter of giving listeners what they want. But this station is re-eeal-lly weird. Has been for a long time (to KSCO listeners on this blog--is Dave Allen real? or something digitally generated?). 91-year-old station owner Kay Zwerling's editorials make Glenn Beck sound like an advocate for the expanded role of federal government.
ReplyDelete