Comments on: KDJQ… MIA?

By: boiseengineer

boiseengineer — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:23:40 +0000

KDJQ Money Problems. Items not budgeted:

Consultant costs for multiple 1100 KHz applications. Eventually was dismissed by the FCC on technical grounds.

Multiple applications (FCC filing fees & consultant costs) for new AM stations IN ADDITION TO 1100 and 890.

For 890, several preliminary applications superseded by one that would use a transmitter site south-west of the Idaho State Correctional Institution on Kuna-Mora Road.. Cost of FCC filings and consultants.

FCC rejects 890’s application from the Kuna-Mora Road site. Too much signal towards the Alaskan also on 890. Couldn’t cover the city of license (Meridian) from the day antenna site since Alaska is in the same direction. Cost to re-engineer and re-file for a different night site.

Months before the construction permit was to expire with NO extensions left, Journal backs out of the deal to use KGEM’s towers for the 890 night site. Heard that the changes to KGEM’s towers would most likely have forced KGEM to reduce their night power.

A quick search for another night site near Meridian resulted in Citadel agreeing to lease space on two of KTIK’s towers. More costs to re-engineer and re-file for a different night site in a big hurry.

Now the cost to do a night pattern proof for KTIK. In addition, since KFXD 580 was so close to the KTIK towers, KDJQ was also required to do a proof for them.

KDJQ bought a pair of used 50 kilowatt transmitters. One for on the air, the other for parts. Bringing in a consulting engineer who specialized in that transmitter must have cost a bundle. Add the monthly power bill and tube costs, it’s a money pit. Not many 50 kilowatt tube transmitters on the air full time in the US. Cost too much to run.

FCC filing for transfer of ownership indicates KDJQ owes Citadel $14,000 for the lease.
That lease is probably done, over. Now the search for a new night site to plop down a couple towers that would cover Meridian.

Anyone got a couple million dollars to float this boat again?

By: RadioActive

RadioActive — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:03:38 +0000

I think you can define it as a NON-Com somehow …and avoid the Fed Fees….The power bill…good luck, Ready Killowatt lives in New York City….

By: Idaho Radio Buff

Idaho Radio Buff — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:03:24 +0000

Well, KCPW has been pulling it off, but partially due to fate and greedy commercial broadcasters wanting to ‘borrow’ frequencies from rural areas to the SLC-Ogden-Provo metro. through the magic of on-channel boosters (sound familiar?).

They had some cash related to selling off a Coalville, UT. frequency to Millcreek Media (Chris Devine/Bruce Buzil) and made it worth their while. Smart GM at that station, paid well to reflect that work.

I don’t know if the Public Radio Capital foundation folks would step in and help, but one never knows. That is how KCPW secured 1010 AM and KBPS FM was saved from a religious broadcaster in Portland, Ore. as well as several other stories of increasing public broadcasting to communities.

By: Wrabbitt

Wrabbitt — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:45:19 +0000

kewl idea. but can they afford it? The Feds charge every station thousands every year just for broadcast spectrum. The power bill is likely tremendous for a 50K. The group would need reliable large sums of cash to keep it going. I’d love to see them pull it off. They have a good thing going. Every town should have a community station.
I think it would make the commercial groups program better.

By: Idaho Radio Buff

Idaho Radio Buff — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:25:44 +0000

Active, sounds like a good case to donate it to the Boise Community Radio Project. :)

By: RadioActive

RadioActive — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:21:57 +0000

I agree Peabody. There are a great many of us who just druel at the thought of having a radio station even in this cimate of ownership consolidation. Oh, the possiblities and the potential! Oh, well… Not all of us can roll back into town with a great many silent investors and start buying up Local radio stations. Regardless, lets all keep our fingers crossed that a buyer can be found who will be inovative, socially responsible and just plain fun in the way they program and operate their new AM station…

By: Peabody

Peabody — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:58:25 +0000

What a shame. It seems like someone could get thier hands on that station and make something of it. A 50kw station covering Boise has got to be more useful than just scrap metal. Unfortunately, that is about what it’s value has been so far.

By: clint

clint — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:45:13 +0000

From what i hear Churchill media backed out of the deal on september 1st. He got a free ride off of KDJQ to test his Spanish broadcast and most likely found out that the hispanic community was not receptive to it with 4 other spanish stations playing and backed out. Good luck Rob

By: Curt Caldwell

Curt Caldwell — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:11:22 +0000

This is a perfect, yet sad example of no vision, no perseverance, no marketing, no community presence, no commitment to talent, no imaging, no sticktoitiveness, no ratings. Thus, no winning, no money, no nuttin’. Even a major market talent like Big Jack needed the basics to pull it out of the mud. In the end……sell it for a fraction of what it could have been worth.

By: The

The — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:45:26 +0000

Hmm, looks like I may have given up ownership of KDJQ.com just in time.