Radio Column for January 30, 1998

Pure rock never dies. It just moves onto the internet.

"Pure Rock" KNAC, which hasn't been heard since it gave up its frequency to Spanish radio three years ago, is about to resume live "broadcasts" on the World Wide Web.

February 15th -- the anniversary of the format drop -- is the scheduled start date for new broadcasts, although taped broadcasts from the original 1986 - 1995 run are currently being played along with beta tests of live programming on http://knac.demonet.com.

A program called Microsoft Netshow can be downloaded to hear the netcasts, or web users can rely on a Java applet that is available (and built in) to users of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. I tried listening to the audio using the Java applet on Netscape Navigator 3.0 without success, but that may have been due to a bad connection or other problem unrelated to Demonet's system.

KNAC personalities Long Paul, Thrasher, Nasty Neil, and Mike Stark (aka the Friday Night Outlaw from CSULB's former station KSUL) will be doing the live netcasts, which are intended to be just like the old days. "We've reassembled the troops," Rob Jones of Demonet told Broadcasting and Cable Magazine. "It's no different than before, other than you've got to have a computer to listen."

The netcasts will originate in Long Beach, and will use advertisements, just like regular broadcast radio stations. There is also talk of connecting to a future satellite radio service, or perhaps syndicating the programming. In the meantime, Demonet is constructing a network of internet reflector sites -- sites on multiple servers that are identical to the original -- in order to make the netcasts easy to find and use.

Still want more? The site also includes a chat room, videos of heavy metal bands, and, as they say, much, much more.

More Talk

KLSX (97.1 FM) -- The Low-Rated FM Talk Station -- has replaced some of their weekend music with a few interesting talk programs on Saturdays.

The morning has a syndicated computer show, similar in scope to KFI's Sunday morning show but with a female host. After that comes former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Christopher Dardin, followed by a special edition of the Tom Leykis program -- live, just for Southern California.

KLSX's weekend ratings with music were a paltry 0.5 in the last ratings quarter, so this is probably a good move for the station. Unfortunately for owner CBS, KLSX's problems don't start or end with weekends.

During the week, as soon as Howard Stern signs off for the day, ratings tumble to almost 1/3 of the Stern show ratings: 2.2 for the period after Stern, compared with Stern's 6.4. By evening time, KLSX earns a mere 0.3 share, making you wonder just where KLSX would be without Howard Stern's huge numbers ... or sister KRLA's (1110 AM) portion of the budget that never seems to make it to the AM side.

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