Airwaves: November 3, 2006
Satellite Fight
The battle of the exclusive car contracts continues between satellite radio services XM and Sirius.
XM just announced that it signed a long term deal with Porsche beginning
now for 2007 model year cars. The radios and service were an option since 2005
in the Cayenne; the new deal puts XM availability across the line. Purchasers
of XM-capable radios receive a 3-month complementary subscription.
Of course three months goes by fast. So Sirius worked out a deal with one carmaker
to not only place Sirius-capable radios in every one of the automaker's offerings
by mid 2007, buyers of the cars will also receive a lifetime subscription. Free.
All you have to do is buy a Bentley.
KFI Transmitter Update
It was December, 2004, when a small plane collided with the KFI (640 AM)
main transmitter tower in La Mirada, killing the pilot and passenger and causing
the tower to collapse. The 760-foot tower had been in place since 1947 and was
both a hazard and a reference point for pilots, many of whom used it as a landmark
to help find the Fullerton Airport.
KFI has been operating at reduced range from a backup transmitter at the same
site ever since.
Now it appears that the station will soon be back at full power. The various
authorities recently gave approval for rebuild plans, calling for a height cut
of about 100 feet and a special top hat to help make up the difference.
Work is expected to begin in December. Good news for those who live in what are
now fringe areas of KFI's coverage, just outside of Los Angeles County. Once
the tower is operational and in use, the talk giant should once again be heard
throughout much of California during he day, much of the Western United States
at night.
No FM Country
By now some observers had expected a local FM station to make the move to country
music. Rumored stations included -- for various reasons -- KBIG (104.3
FM), Star 98.7, KRTH (101.1 FM), KFSH (95.9 FM), and KLSX (97.1
FM). None have made the move, though potentially all of them could.
Many rumors have circled around KBIG. Ratings have been slipping, albeit slightly,
there is new competition from KMVN (93.9 FM), and morning man Charlie Tuna has
done country in the past. However, Clear Channel seems committed to making KBIG
work.
On the other hand, Star has never been stellar in the ratings, so it could be
vulnerable. KRTH? It has the oldies format to itself, so I doubt it. KFSH is
owned by a company that doesn't care if it ever gets ratings, so I have no clue
where that rumor came from.
Which leaves KLSX. A station that has been sinking ever since Howard Stern left
for satellite. It wouldn't be a new sound for the frequency, which ran country
back when it was still called KGBS. And it certainly wouldn't be a new sound
for the company that owns it: Owner CBS is the same company that owns KFRG (95.1
FM) in San Bernardino.
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Copyright © 2006 Richard Wagoner and The Copley Press.
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