I knew it was coming but damn, what a blow to KFOG; it was officially killed off today by Cumulus and will now serve as a simulcast frequency for KNBR, the all -sports AM Bleeder.
KFOG has been moribund for years and has been bleeding red ink for quite a time. It didn't help matters that rotating personnel, format rearrangements, incompetent programming decisions and key players lost through management incompetence accelerated KFOG's demise.
As for KNBR taking over the FM, great --now's there two different avenues to hear horrible sports talk radio.
Rich,
ReplyDeleteHow would this work? I get the simulcast but how would kNBR make more $$. Would they charge more for a spot, since it is on two stations?
They cut the salaries of DJs and duplicate staff positions from FM. They now have another frequency to broadcast games that air at similar times (think overlapping seasons of baseball & basketball). And although us grown folk still listen to AM, this is not the case with younger listeners. They’re better positioned to compete with 95.7 the Game and if this move increases cume,then yes they could charge more for spots.
DeleteSad though, KFOG once carried on the mantle of rock giant Jive 95 KSAN, but gave it up not too many years ago with a failed attempt at programming music to millennials.
Since KNBR in the mornings is pretty much a music station now anyways, it fits that they're on KFOG's old frequency.
ReplyDeleteBack in the day KFOG 104.5 was my number one station for music and entertainment and KGO 810 was my news,talk, learn and listen station. I haven't listened to either one in years. They isn't any stations worth listening to anymore...Sad
ReplyDeleteI listen to talk radio and music radio. Talk radio, KGO now that they have decent hosts, during the week. Mark Thompson is so, so, he replaced someone that was so, so. I think Mark is getting better and he covers some interesting topics at times. At that hour there isn't much else, unless you like Rush or low energy, blame the left for everything Dennis Prager. At noon I have a choice between Pat Thurston, Michael Savage and Tom Sullivan on 1530 am Sacramento. I'm not a Savage fan, but lately he has had some interesting shows, when he is not yelling and screaming about the left and immigrants, he has been critical of Trump on some issues, although still in Trumps corner. I often end up listening to Tom Sullivan, although he is conservative I like his personality and willingness to debate with callers who disagree with him. Of course I listen to John Rothmann as much as possible, he is my favorite. For music I listen to 103.7, 98.5 107.7 and 91.1 San Mateo great jazz. I use to listen to 104.5, but the past few years their choice of music has gone down hill, at least for my taste. If you are in the East Bay you can get 96.9 FM (I think) from Sacramento, lots of sixties and seventies rock.
Deletethat took 7 years too long.
ReplyDeleteThis has probably been the slowest radio death ever...at least for The Quake it was short and quick...
ReplyDeleteWell actually its bad news for KFOG listeners for many...tho but think this could be good for KNBR and perhaps the A's? What if Cumulus decides to unload 1050 AM to the A's and they finally buy their own station to cover A's radio...could be possible!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea, but I doubt it. Sorry man. Not enough local interest in the A's. An all A's radio station was tried on 95.7 and it didn't work out.
DeleteThe A's don't move the needle like the Giants do. Maybe putting them on KNBR 1050 could make a difference, but KNBR is tied to the Giants, even though KNBR 1050 has never aired Giants games.
Regarding KNBR 1050, are you saying that they could be for the A's how Ticket 1050 was for the Raiders back when their games were aired there?
The A's have been experimenting with the A's Cast free on Tunein and it seems to be pretty popular. They control the content and although I can hear 860 just fine, the games sound much better through the A's Cast. I'm sure it's cheaper to stream than to run a terrestrial station. Other teams have been looking at A's cast with interest. say what you want about the A's but Dave Kaval et al; have been doing some pretty innovative things lately.
DeleteThe A's taking over 1050am would be an excellent idea.
DeleteFirst thing that came to my mind.
A's management are you listening ?
Beacause NOTHING was as good as KLIV sports talk in the 80's right?
ReplyDelete*huge eyeroll*
#whoevenlistened?
Good call, Rich. Hard to believe that a one time cash cow was driven into the ground like this. The saddest decision in the history of radio was the elimination of ownership limitations when Reagan was in office. It destroyed the industry.
ReplyDeleteI agree and now we have cookie cutter stations. Knew it was coming since it's Cumulus we're talking about and when their SJ sister station fell victim to the K-Love virus.
DeleteThat happened during the Clinton administration.
DeleteTelecommunications Act of 1996 was under President Clinton. As for KNBR this sets them up to make a run at the Warriors when their contract with 95.7 the game is up.
DeleteAnd the San Jose KFOG translator station at 97.7
ReplyDeleteIs NOW a K-LOVE station.
Amen...Jesus.
What about 1077 the BONE. They broadcast 49er games.
ReplyDeleteWith the wide availability of on-demand music with YouTube, Spotify, and other such platforms, live sports bring more value like ratings and ad dollars to a radio station (especially for a money loser like Cumulus). I doubt 107.7 is going to let the Niners go especially if the Niners have a breakout season - because the Niners are so closely associated with "The Bone's" target audience (rock-listening men).
DeleteI miss radio with rock or vintage rock. I've since gone to iHeart or Pandora through my cell phone when I'm driving. I do miss the old rock stations of KYA, KFRC, KLIV, KSAN, KMPX, and probably some callsigns I can't remember w/FM having better fidelity & stereo. The few times I tuned to 107.7 (& I think 98.5) I heard live sports being aired at those moments.
Delete"The Bone's" target audience (rock-listening men)...I thought you were going to write the target audience as being "cave dwelling Neanderthals".
DeleteSorry but Sirius Radio is the way to go!!!
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, "The Coolest Station In the Nation." Rest In Peace.
ReplyDeleteYou sell off a translator that increases reach to the east and south bays - and then argue that the move expands KNBR's reach- a 50,000 watt boomer?
ReplyDeleteWhat would this mean for KNBR 1050? I don't understand. Tom's show is usually simulcasted on KNBR 1050. Tolbert, Krueger, and Brooks would be on 3 radio stations at one time? LOL.
ReplyDeleteEven though it will be nice to have a clear FM dial for KNBR, at the same time, it almost feels like this isn't needed. KNBR already has a strong signal and far reach. For years, people have said at night that you can get KNBR even as far as Oregon and San Diego.
I once picked up KNBR pre-dawn in West Palm Beach, Florida, it's that strong a signal. (This was on a pocket-sized "Walkman" style radio.)
DeleteYeah that line in the presser about further reach was funny. 680 is ALREADY a 50kW- non-directional "flamethrower" and can be heard all over norcal and out to Hawaii and Utah at night.
DeleteCrappy sports talk. An abundance of commercials. Tons of Dick talk. Terrestrial radio continues to go to hell. And there will be people who'll still say, "Did you hear on KNBR that..." like they are THE word. Brain dead zombies. Good thing I don't listen to conventional radio. So glad I've got SiriusXM.
ReplyDeleteRL said it all. This move is worse than total extinction.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the Sunday Night Idiot Show????
ReplyDeletewhy are you blaming kfog for what cumulus did?
ReplyDeleteKFOG was the bomb when I was in high school in the 80's. I honestly don't think I've listened to it once in the last 25 years at least. I'm a tiny bit sad for nostalgia's sake. I know I have some 10 at 10's on some old cassettes somewhere.
ReplyDeleteQuoted in The San Jose Mercury News. Well-done, Rich.
ReplyDeleteThe end of an era.
ReplyDelete