Wednesday, October 24, 2007

KBZT: Its More Than The Music

Cool move in San Diego. Inside Radio reported yesterday:

"Lincoln Financial dropped alternative programming on KBZT and turned over the 94.9 signal to the news team at NPR affiliate KPBS, after they lost their transmitter in the fire overnight. Before handing over their airwaves to KBZT jock Tommy Hough told listeners "These are extraordinary times and this is an extraordinary situation. It's in everyone's best interest to hand over our airwaves to KPBS"

I've read elsewhere that KPBS has the largest radio news staff in San Diego. And now without a transmitter. Translation: a brilliant move (on at least a couple levels) by the folks at KBZT. Tom Taylor in his Radio-Info.Com Newsletter adds:

"LFM corporate programmer John Dimick says KBZT programmer Garett Michaels called him early yesterday morning and proposed a lifeline for KPBS – letting it borrow the KBZT 94.9 frequency. They got it done quickly and it’s a terrific arrangement. Dimick tells me they figure on continuing it for another 48-72 hours, “until we’re sure that everybody who could be helped by the information on KPBS is out of danger.”

Kudos to Garett Michaels, John Dimick and everyone at Lincoln Financial Media. Added - Fred Jacobs writes: Sometimes its NOT about the music:

"If you got into this business to make a difference, know that you do, every day. Sometimes it's by playing a favorite song or making people laugh. And sometimes it's by doing what's least expected but most needed."

Read Fred's entire post on KBZT here.


Inside Radio reports this morning
that Clear Channel is simulcasting its news/talk KOGO on all seven of their San Diego signals, including classic rock KGB-FM.

Listening this morning to the "Clear Channel San Diego Radio Network" via KGB's stream. An excellent job (its overnight on the West Coast as I listen and write) by The Clear Channel staff.

Another proud moment for radio. Thank you.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dan, thanks for finding my post and commenting; thought I'd return the favor. I suppose it'd a nice service that CC is simulcasting news on its SD stations-- but before consolidation each of those stations would have had their own news staffs, no? Aren't citizens better served by more, not fewer, outlets?

Dan Kelley said...

I would seriously doubt that most of the music FMs would have a full news staff available to them - very few FMs throughout the country did even prior to consolidation.

You're fortunate to be in great city with some great broadcasters - both commercial and non-com alike. Add to this a non-com with a big local news staff - still rare with most public radio stations throughout the country.

And its wonderful that in a time of crisis - the public radio station with all its news resources but no transmitter has found a partner in a commercial station to get its resources to the public ears.