Guest post: KCID, KGEM & religious radio
Don @ IdahoRadioNews | August 29, 2009This post was left in comments on our earlier entry about the sale of KCID & KGEM to Salt and Light Radio. It is well thought out and though-provoking, so we’ll run it on the home page instead.
By “Peabody”
Even though this story was originally posted several weeks ago, I am surprised that there have not been more comments, concerns, and possibly a little outrage.
Outrage, you ask? Why would there be? The reason would be simply this: There is only a finite amount of spectrum space on both the AM and FM dials. This means that only so many stations will fit. Once the spectrum is full, it’s full. This means there will be no more room for new stations that could potentially have unique or local programming. Today, the spectrum is nearly full, and much of that spectrum space is already being hogged by religious broadcasters.
With Boise’s packed dial, religious newcomers have resorted to buying up existing commercial stations, as in the case of KGEM and KCID. Once these organizations acquire these signals, they will usually never amount to much more than a repeater for a satellite service. Also, history has shown that once a religious broadcaster gets a hold of a signal, they never let go. This amounts to a sad future for two stations with such an interesting past.
This should be at least a little cause for concern for Boise residents, because the process of signal acquisition by religious groups will inevitably have a negative impact on the quality and localism of radio programming. Whether you really think about it or not, the radio spectrum is all around us all of the time. Anyone with a radio or TV has access to the contents of our broadcast spectrum. It does not only belong to the FCC or broadcast corporations. It belongs to all Americans, and we should all care about it’s content.
Now, before I go any further, let me say that I do understand “Salt and Light Radio” is a network that we currently aren’t hearing here in Boise, and they are apparently going to offer Catholic based programming in both English and Spanish. Please understand that I have no problem with their organization, or their message. I have not heard their broadcast service. I am only taking issue with the amount of spectrum space that all religious broadcasters are consuming. Let me explain…
Somewhere around ten years ago, vacant channels on the Boise area FM dial started getting snatched up very quickly by religious broadcasters. Today, about 1/3 of the FM band is comprised of formats labeled as Religious, Christian, or Inspirational. Many of these stations are just broadcasting sterile sounding network satellite feeds. Many more are just translators that are re-broadcasting the same sterile sounding satellite feeds.
When you get down to brass tacks, you’ll see that, on just the FM band alone, there are 11 religion-based signals in Boise. (88.1, 88.3, 88.7, 89.1, 89.5, 90.9, 94.1, 95.7, 98.3, 99.9, 106.7.) Many of these are just low power translators, but a few, like KARO 98.7, are full power blow torches.
Perhaps there would be a legitimate reason for having this many religious stations in one market, if all of these signals had different and unique programming. However, that is not the case. Here is a perfect example of a religious organization, The Educational Media Foundation, wasting valuable spectrum space.
Three of the signals I previously mentioned, (88.3, 98.7, and 99.9) are simultaneously broadcasting identical program material- Air1 “Christian Alternative.” As I mentioned before, KARO 98.7 is a 100 kW blowtorch, so the other two signals are unnecessary. They do not offer significantly improved signal quality to areas not adequately covered by KARO, and it is worthy of mention, that both of their directional antennas are oriented to cover Boise.
Right now on the AM band, there are three religious formatted stations. (790, 950, 1060) These are included in the total of 10 AM stations that adequately cover Boise. Once 1140 KGEM and 1490 KCID become religion based stations, 5 out of 10 AM stations in Boise will broadcast religious formats. That’s half of ‘em, folks.
Here’s the worst part. The dial is packed so full of signals, that local and community stations are finding it difficult or impossible to squeeze their way into the market. It appears that only two FM frequencies (that are at least 3rd adjacent to existing stations) are still vacant in the Boise market. To my knowledge, they have already been applied for. (This lack of spectrum space is the reason for the big proposed frequency swap involving that 97.9-102.7 & 103.3-103.5 thingy.)
The AM band still has a little space left, but not much. Any remaining available frequencies would likely provide less than desirable nighttime coverage. (As did the now defunct KDJQ.) All of this simply means that as the number of religion based broadcasters increase, the number of other options naturally has to decrease.
Another byproduct of this transaction will be the cessation of any commercial AM stations in the Boise area broadcasting music. Fortunately, occasional musical programs are offered by KBSU AM (Assuming they don’t entirely lose their budget.) However, if you want music any time of the day from your antique radio collection, or your ’75 AMC Pacer’s factory AM radio, you better have a sensitive receiver and a good antenna. AM 1240 KMHI (Mountain Home, Classic Country), and 1380 KSRV AM (Ontario, OR, Country) will probably be all you can get. You’d better like country music.
It is sad that we have so many signals available to us, yet there are very few that actually offer any kind of quality local programming. Sadder yet: as of now, Boise has no community radio station at all. BCRP has been trying to get a signal on the air for years, but due to the saturation of the dial, they have had to settle for a transmitter site near Vale Oregon. As of yet, they are still off the air.
Back to KGEM and KCID: Why should we care? It’s only AM, right?
While it’s true that AM radio has some disadvantages, such as audio quality and interference, it is safe to say that AM is far from being dead. Look at the success of News-Talk formatted stations such as KBOI. Many markets have very successful AM stations that consistently stay at the top of the ratings heap.
KGEM and KCID’s lack of success in recent years was not due to the fact that they are AM. No, these stations died a slow, miserable death of starvation. Little to no funding has been given to those stations, and they have been broadcasting dull, lifeless satellite feeds. That is the fault of Journal Broadcast Group. Over the last about 7-8 years, they have directed most of their Boise radio budget to their FM’s, and sunk the big dollars into TV. While the company obviously has bigger goals, it is still a shame that KGEM and KCID were neglected as they were. Even in their pitiful state, Arbitron still indicated that they had some listeners.
Don’t think that these stations were let go because don’t have potential. KGEM, in particular, has gobs of potential. It’s signal is fabulous because it’s towers are right smack dab in the middle of the Boise bench. It broadcasts at 10,000 watts, day and night. At night, I have heard KGEM clearly as far away as Portland, Oregon. A few live bodies and some quality programming could have made something great out of this station.
KGEM also has a colorful history. Unfortunately I don’t know very much of it. I have heard a few tales like how irrigation line was used in place of copper transmission line during war-time shortages. During the Cold War, KGEM was required to install a bomb shelter, which back in the day, was fitted with a fully functional studio. Duck and cover! During the 1960’s KGEM used to be Boise’s popular music station. (Frostop diner story, anyone?)Sometime after that, KGEM simulcast the country music that was on KJOT FM, then re-established it’s independence after KJOT became J105 back in ’85. During the 80’s and early 90’s, KGEM actually broadcast in AM Stereo! I’ll bet you forgot about that that little attempt at a cutting edge technology that never really was. As recently as 2001, KGEM had a live, local morning show. Unfortunately, the budget was severed and the format was changed to “Good Time Oldies.” The Old Cassia building was left and all but forgotten about.
KCID doesn’t have the high powered signal, but it has always been the little local station that could. Back in the day, KCID AM and FM brought local programming with a personal touch to Canyon County. Lately, KCID AM has been treated more like the nuisance in the broom closet at the Journal building.
All of what these stations could have been, now will never be. Well, as long as the FCC approves the deal. I hope that Salt and Light Radio thanked you for the great deal, Journal.
Don……..thanks for bringing out a lot of great points! I had the privlige of working for KCID-AM from 1974 to 1999. Until 1995 we were in Caldwell on “the corner where the world turned. In 1995 when the AM-FM combo was sold by dale peterson I was the only staff member retained. i was to run a morning show on both KCID and KGEM. the studio was small and the two stations were actually run thru the same consoles. push the green toggle switch and you were live on KCID, push the red toggle switch and you were live on KGEM. I was on air 6 days a week from 6am till 10am. I then went out and sold ads fo both stations. It was great until 1999
when Journal bought KSRV AM & FM in ontario and decided to send me to Ontario to simulcast KSRV 1380 and KCID 1490. The thought was since both stations were ag oriented it woul give a great ag footprint from baker city oregon to mountain home. It really did work. We ultimately called it the country network. As for KGEM
it went on without me and i kinda lost track of her. On april 11th 2002 ( my birthday) KSRV AM AND KSRV FM were sold by Journal but KCID AM was not. I thought oh boy I was headed back to boise a little closer to nampa where i had commuted to ontario at 4am every morning. BUT the powers to be decided to juke box KCID AM and there would be no live jock at all, so i stayed in ontario and ran KSRV AM until 2007 Dont ge me wrong my days at KSRV were great and i would go back in a minute now that dave tester hs been demoted from ceo…to general manager and no sales person, but thats a whole different entry. I was proud of my days at KCID,KGEM and KSRV. all were AM and all served their communities with good information and entertainment. Good Luck to salt and light IF they receive the go ahead from the FCC. I will always think of KCID and KGEM as my stations…………………..
So well said. Thanks for saying what needed to be said!
Thank you Don, for the compliment, and for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts and concerns on Idaho Radio News.
Besides “KDJQ” being available, there’s an AM construction permit for sale on 1430 with 50 kw day and just over a kilowatt at night. The day signal is reduced towards Ontario (to protect 1450) and the night will be non-existent in Nampa-Caldwell. Then there’s another rim-shot FM moving in from Salmon(!) licensed to Fairfield on 99.9 (bumping Air-1 off that frequency). Transmitter’s at the same place as 99.1 and 100.7.
Very sad deal here. The AM Band is Boise is DEAD.
Its sad that Air1 takes all this space over the dial. The 98.7 frequency can be heard in my little car all the way up to Riggins, Idaho! Its unwise that air1 takes the whole dial, cost, etc…. Its annoying to hear the same freq on like a couple turns on the dial.
By the way, it talked about that their is not enough room on the dial (FM side), how does that differ from like Seattle, WA? In Seattle, you can go up one digit on the fm dial and get another station for the area. Its cramped up there!! Why doesn’t the FCC do that in Boise?
Enjoyed your article!
I agree that generic nationally syndicated programming is hurting the quality of radio. The K-Love model is being replicated by many other groups with the intent of reaching the maximum amount of people at minimal cost.
In my opinion, a station that broadcasts at 5,000 watts or more should not be permitted to become a SatCaster.
The good news is that there are some local Christian Stations in parts of the country that broadcast locally with significant local content.
We own a small FM station and a small translator in Southern New Jersey and broadcast Upbeat Christian and other clean music but we always broadcast high school games, local sermons, a weekly local issues program. We host live in the studio band competitions and also give away tickets to local concerts .. for instance we gave away Back Stage Passes for a winner of our contest to meet the JOnas Brothers. We're known as LIFT FM.
We actually have looked into buying a station in Boise, but have not been able to go further with it.
Radio needs to be local- In my opinion the best thing we can do is to support only the local stations & abandon satellite broadcasters.. they'll get the message and will either bring in local talent or get out of the market altogether and sell to someone that wants to do local radio. such as myself.
Keep up the good work! joe
Unfortunately, i missed the meeting in which the Sam Bass sign-on was played for KCID. I had the privilege of working at KCID under the tutilege of Claire Hull, Duane Wolfe, Dale Peterson and Sam Bass from 1970 to 1975, and part time from 1985-87. As a “good life” station (and Dale Peterson would say we were not officially) KCID had the reputation of being a “staid” station but one that earned a very good living for its owners and crew. Many of us at KCID, KGEM, KBOI, and KBBK as well as KYET – CH 7 TV, aided one another with voice overs, commercials, etc. Those were the days of Marty Martin, Dan Duncan, Jeff Grimes, Dale Metzger, The “Real” Jim Neal, Jon Dwayne and Clint Bellows. Quite a few of us would meet at the Boise Airport after a swing shift and do trivia competitions with Sue S. at the Avis Counter. One of the items that kept KCID out in front technology wise was the fantastic efforts of then Engineer Dennis White who was a phenom when it came to imagineering for the station. Had the great opportunity to have lunch with Dale Peterson in 07 and i mentioned that i looked back fondly on those great and unique days in radio and that there were times i wished I had never left. Dale’s response was in regard to radio as we knew it that, “we didn’t leave radio…radio left us.” I’ll always miss those good times but at least there are a few of us who had the privilege to work KCID and KGEM. Best to everyone. Take care. and until that time. Edd Wade aka Charley Edwards.
This will be a little off topic to begin with, but bear with me…. There is a meteorologist in Chico, California, who is running a project to photo-document the twelve hundred weather stations in the United States Historical Climate Network using amateur photographers, like me. One of these stations was in Caldwell until 1997. I had the dubious privilege of visiting Caldwell for my uncle’s (Walter Braun) funeral last summer, and while there I tried to find the last location of the Caldwell weather station. NOAA has a web site that lists station geographical coordinates, but these can be, er, ‘creative.’ It put the weather station on a sidewalk on the east side of Kcid Road, clearly not a credible location. But across from that fictitious site is the KCID transmitter, and I speculated that perhaps the weather instruments had been at the radio station.
I have since found a NOAA file with the station history. It lists the weather observers for 1959-1973 as “Caldwell Broadcasting Co,” and from 1973-?? (unknown date, but later than 7/9/75) as “Twin Cities Broadcasting Co.” I have not been able to get much more information than this.
Reading your comments, it’s clear that there are a number of local listeners who are familiar with the station history. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could confirm (or disconfirm, for that matter) that the weather station and the radio station were at the current location. And if there is an old-timer who lives close enough that he/she could meet me at the station next summer and point out the exact location of the instrumentation–well, I’d be little short of delirious.
Sincerely,
John Slayton
juanslayton@dslextreme.com
Hi – if i understand the question…the weather instruments at KCID on the corner, caldwell were located in the alley behind the station. i would be glad to show you exactly where the next time i am in the valley which will be about April of this year.
take care,
ed wade
My name is Don McBride. I was the news director of KGEM in the early 1970s, when it played modern country music. In addition to broadcasting newscasts at various times during the day, I also had the “afternoon drive” country show. Dan Duncan was on morning drive time, then Jon Dwayne, then Marty Martin, then me, then Telford Lewis Toffelmier from 7 P.M. until midnight. When Marty left the station, Jon Dwayne took over the afternoon shift, from a studio in downtown Nampa. I left the station in 1973 to become news director of a station in Salem, Oregon. I later taught broadcast journalism at South Dakota State University and Southern Illinois University. Many of my experiences at KGEM were incorporated into my lectures. Bob Wisenberg was the general manager of KGEM back then, and he did a wonderful job of both selling and managing the station.
Hi Don, i had the opportunity to meet you a couple of times when i could come in and do some id’s for Dan Duncan, his “Service 1140 Radio, KGEM”….it was good to hear about you and to know where you went. I returned to the U of O to finish my degree work.
take care and happy holidays,
edd wade