Utah's Goat 96.7

[Terry]

I'm enjoying the 60's music on 96.7 here on the east side of Murray.

[amanuensis]

Here in WJ (at about 90th South and Redwood Road) The Goat is coming in okay one minute, but then switches to KKEX for a few seconds when I point the car in a new direction. So while the new signal is much better than what KUSU had, it is still not a signal that I think many would listen to in my neck of the woods. Perhaps it is just my car's radio. When I have the time, I will see how it comes in on my wife's car's radio, which has a roof-mounted external antennae.

[drpepper]

Has anyone heard 96.7 specificly mentioned? I listened for 20 mins or so and even heard an add break but never heard mention of 96.7 specificly. Guess i can tune in here in about 48 mins from this writing and potentially find out.

[amanuensis]

Jul 5, 2020 23:11:46 GMT -6 drpepper said:

Has anyone heard 96.7 specificly mentioned? I listened for 20 mins or so and even heard an add break but never heard mention of 96.7 specificly. Guess i can tune in here in about 48 mins from this writing and potentially find out.

I heard "KQMB Levan" included in the hourly call-sign today. Is that new?

[drpepper]

far as i know, KQMB was previously simulcasting KKUT or at least K244DH was anyway. So that's awesome, glad it will get a broader reach on fm now.

[fmdj1]

Sadly The Goat won't be staying on 96.7. Much as I personally like the format, it hasn't been commercially successful enough for me to justify giving it another channel. We're running it as an HD channel on KKUT and just turned it on for testing. We'll be bringing the permanent format on the station shortly. For any AM fans, though, we got our diplexer fixed and are now at full power on 1580, so coverage is dramatically improved in the south Salt Lake Valley.

As to the battle with KKEX's signal, unfortunately, since we're a translator, it's a battle we can't win. They have far more right to interfere with us than we with them. We are looking at some small tweaks that may help, but ultimately it will always suffer from some interference from them.

[CAwasinNJ]

amanuensis, unfortunately you're right at the point where the signal pattern drops off a cliff into the null that protects KKEX. I believe Frank has mentioned before that they're targeting Utah County so that's just how the signal bounces. The KQMB mention has been there quite a while.

[drpepper]

Bummer. I didn't figure it would be, based on how you previously talked about a specific format on 96.7. Then once i heard it i figured you were just giving us a big surprise or had a change of thought. will it still simulcast on 99.9 while still on 1580?

[David]

Unless the format of KWLO 1580 is changed, the simulcast will remain. Under current FCC rules, the FM translator on 99.9 is required to use the AM station as its programming source.

[fmdj1]

That's correct. The 1580/99.9 combo won't be changing. Initially we had planned to move the Goat to 96.7 and then put the new programming on 1580/99.9, but the oldies just hasn't sold well, which is unfortunate because studies show Baby Boomers control 70% of the disposable income in the U.S. There is a disconnect with advertisers and we haven't been able to bridge that gap, though we'll keep trying while bringing on more of a sure shot to 96.7

[CAwasinNJ]

The biggest radio companies in the country have been trying to fix the oldies/advertisers disconnect for almost 20 years and failed. Unfortunately the odds are stacked against you.

[drpepper]

I hear absolutely nothing on 96.7 in the salt lake valley.
It's been a while since i've tuned in, so not sure if the simulcast of KKUT has oficially ended, for all i know something in automation just went amiss.
But heres hoping we're one step closer to the debut of the new format.

[levoix]

Jul 8, 2020 23:52:25 GMT -6 fmdj1 said:

That's correct. The 1580/99.9 combo won't be changing. Initially we had planned to move the Goat to 96.7 and then put the new programming on 1580/99.9, but the oldies just hasn't sold well, which is unfortunate because studies show Baby Boomers control 70% of the disposable income in the U.S. There is a disconnect with advertisers and we haven't been able to bridge that gap, though we'll keep trying while bringing on more of a sure shot to 96.7

fmdj1: Have you tried Facebook advertising? Run a contest, and set appointments for entry. You can target the coverage area (even down to the ZIP code) and the 50+ age range.

[Terry]

I too noticed this morning that 96.7 had no audio, but the signal seemed stronger, overwhelming KKEX, at least here on the east side of Murray.

Now I’m hearing new programming on 96.7. Apparently the Goat died. I don’t know how to describe the new format. I’ll wait for someone else to describe it with the current radio jargon. I’d describe it as mellow, quasi-urban, female aimed, current and oldies, some familiar, some unfamiliar, something I might listen to if I were drunk and reminiscing about an old girlfriend.

The signal strength seems to be back to the previous weaker signal.

The same programming is also on KKUT HD4.

[amanuensis]

Perhaps FMDJ1 can post a link for the new station. I would like to listen, but the only radios our family has are our car radios. We stream everything in our house.

Speaking of streams, the GOAT is still streaming, so I assume that it is still broadcasting on 99.9 and 1580.