Ken Dennis tells Inside Radio that Bi-Coastal's acquiring KACI, KACI-FM, KMSW, KCGB and KIHR around The Dalles, OR, and the LMA begins tonight at midnight. Dennis says manager Gary Grossman stays and he foresees no changes. Second-generation radio owner Walden’s serving his fifth term in D.C.

no Changes? Aw c'mon change a little.... it will be good for you. Fire someone.

Here's an idea: Put "Bob FM" on 97.7 KACI-FM.

Don't expect much local content
or community service from these guys. Even their
"flagship" stations are satellite or voicetracked.
They're strictly in it for the money and epitomize how consolidation has hurt the quality of small town radio.

agreed. I withheld comment on the LIVE LOCAL angle just for that reason......

my fear as CC shakes out their stations..... I don't expect much LIVE LOCAL to be added there either... a shame...someone is missing the boat.

I won't listen to any simulcasted/syndicated station. I NEED THE LIVE LOCAL voice. It's not all about the music. am sure others feel the same. some of us vocalise it here. My bet is there are many non radio people who feel the same, but have no place or need to voice their displeasure. they just tune out completely, or become passive listeners.

All Access reports: Columbia River LLC is buying KIHR-A & KCGB-F/Hood River OR & KACI-A-F & KMSW-F/The Dalles OR from Greg & Mylene Walden of Columbia Gorge Broadcasters, Inc. and MSW LLC. Columbia River LLC shares ownership with Bicoastal Media.

"The decision to sell this generational broadcast company has been one of the most difficult in our lives", said Greg Walden, a U.S. Congressman for The 2nd District. "However we are pleased to have the stations placed in the hands of Bicoastal Media. We have enjoyed being a part of the Gorge business community."
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Columbia Gorge Broadcasters purchased KIHR on April 1, 1967. Buying KACI AM&FM for $390,000. on April 1, 1998.

Bicoastal owns stations in the Coos Bay area: KJMX-F, KOOS-F, K-Shore-F, KWRO-A, Power 107, 96-5 & KBBR-A. In the Longview area: The Peak, KBAM-A, KEDO-A, Magic & Rocket 107.

With the Oldies format going away in most markets, I can't imagine Bicoastal keeping Oldies on 97.7 KACI-FM.

Keep the oldies... and put in a live fun staff to breathe some life into it....

AS FOR...Bicoastal owns stations in the Coos Bay area: KJMX-F, KOOS-F, K-Shore-F, KWRO-A, Power 107, 96-5 & KBBR-A. In the Longview area: The Peak, KBAM-A, KEDO-A, Magic & Rocket 107.

So in each of those two markets, biCoastal owns what percentage of the stations? Explain again why dereg was good for radio?

It's a small town. They should be able to make out fine with local advertising, which isn't limited to people under 55.

The majority of BiCoastal stations run at most, local morning drive and satellite the rest of the day. Not too promising for the localism fans.

Does anyone know what they paid for the cluster?

I have known Rick Cavaganaro for years, and I believe that as long as he is GSM of the group, you will continue to see "local content". He has always believed that the only way for a small station to survive is to stay local.

R&R Transactions for February 8, 2007:

Bicoastal Media LLC's Bicoastal Columbia River LLC for 2.8 Million, consisting of a escrow deposit of 100,000 and the balance in cash at closing.

"I believe that as long as he is GSM of the group..."

Trust me. Local GSMs have VERY little say over what goes on in their market. Sure, the new owners will promise to be committed to localism,
but it will slowly, but surely, be drained away.
Even their flagship stations are 100% satellite.

It's too bad that KACI went to a satellite format. It was a good springboard for many who were just starting out, and sounded pretty damn decent too.

I don't know about just starting out. I knew someone who was there on and off for 33 years!

KACI was an excellent station, with it's full-service, locally-programmed "Top 40" format. I was really disappointed when KACI flipped to satellite Oldies in late 1993. With Q104 leaving The Gorge in about a month, KACI should be returning to their roots.

97.7 KACI-FM has their CP to move closer to Mt. Hood, and upgrade to a full C2. Does anyone else believe that a format flip may also be part of the move? Bicoastal could put an Adult Hits format (like they have in Longview) on 97.7 "Casey" FM.

Has Bicoastal EVER turned an acquisition "live and local?" I get the idea that they are like New Northwest. Buy a gaggle of small market stations and change nothing but whose bank account the incoming revenue goes into.

if you owned stations in coos bay you wouldn't have any money to spend either.

think about it for a moment... nobody has EVER made money in that market.

why should Bi-coastal spend any more than they can make?

Newport/Lincoln City's 102.7 KYTE has remained live, local and successful.

Notalent has that right about Coos Bay. 20+ years ago, when I was at K105 (then KYNG-FM), we were pulling down 30 shares and starving. We had, by far the best air talent in the market, with very little turnover. We couldn't get or keep enough good salespeople. We just didn't have the ability to sell it. In 1985, the last year I was there, we had to get at least two infusions from the owner to make payroll. the Office Manager and I would regularly hold our own paychecks for a few days, waiting for the advertising money to come in. We got plenty of agency buys because of our dominance, but local revenue, the meat of the business, was always lacking.

BTW, the Ops Manager at Bicoastal Coos Bay is a long-time local broadcaster and a friend of mine. He works VERY hard at juggling seven stations and an LMA. He is also one of just a handful of voices still in-market.

I get the sense that Bicoastal is making money there.

rongallager:
about 20 years ago KHSN Kissin123 was doing awesome in the ratings as well, but again no sales.
Did you know JJ Jensen and Bill Dawson?

Dodger:
Yes I did. Worthy competitors. We didn't hang out with the competition much until we were secure (in our own minds, anyway) about K105's dominance. We'd go for pizza at Geno's with some of the gang from KHSN and KSHR. The only rule was we didn't talk about our own stations.

Some of my best times in radio were spent on the South Coast.

Oddly comforting to know KHSN wasn't making money. They always seemed to have more spots on the air than we did.

well I was bill dawson and I remember you!
yes our owner was gsm and selling many cheap spots.
jj, and myself were only there a short time then I went to roseburg. never heard what happened to jj.

Sad that Coos Bay/NorthBend has no revenue to support a station. Hats off to KYTE Newport though..


Hats off to all the locals that can make it work.

Man, I remember the great reputation KHSN had in the late 70s/early 80s. When I got there in '89, it was several degrees less than a shell of it's former self.

When I came to CB in 1982, 123 Kissin is where I wanted to work. Found out from a record rep that Dave Diamond was leaving, and was hoping to sneak in. Let's say I was "discouraged", but not outright rejected. Meanwhile they were looking for a jock at K105, so I thought I would check it out, to least have some leverage. I had an offer from them within a couple of days. I might have turned them down, except for two things: the facility and PD Pat O'Leary. Too bad he left about two months after I got there.

Dodger, I'm not used to being remembered. My memories are fuzzy and I'm having trouble remembering WHEN you were there. Was it when we were taking K105 through the longest format change in radio history, or after we finally admitted we were a top 40?

Sorry 'bout hijacking a thread..

Has anyone noticed K105.5's improved signal in the Gorge?