A Brief History of Backdoor ‘FrankenFM’ Radio Stations
Long-time Radio Survivor readers know that I’ve been tracking one of the stranger vestiges of analog television in the US: channel 6 low-power TV stations that can be heard at the far left end of the FM dial. I’ve called them “back door” stations, while others in the radio industry call them “FrankenFMs.” Since low-power […]
Podcast #53 – There’s More Radio Than Ever
Even when a station goes off the air — like Hastings College’s KFKX — more go on the air every day. Jennifer Waits joins to share the sad news about KFKX, but also has positive news to report about a new LPFM community station in the heart of San Francisco. That station promises to continue […]
Radio Station Field Trip #105 – CHIRP Radio in Chicago
On a trip to Chicago this spring, I was excited to finally visit CHIRP Radio. The online community radio station was established by the Chicago Independent Radio Project (thus, the moniker CHIRP) and is now the holder of a construction permit for new low power FM (LPFM) radio station WCXP-LP at 107.1 FM in Chicago. […]
King-FM fantasy classical concerts: worth a download
A first rate classical smartphone application program: King-FM’s fantasy concert series.
College Radio Watch: KFKX Leaves the Air, Former KUSFers may Return to FM, WGTB Tour & CITR Docs
Is it really summer? Feels like a busy week for radio news. Hastings College radio station KFKX in Hastings, Nebraska left the air this week. When I tuned in to check it out yesterday, I saw the message, “off the air.” We also got word that some former KUSF-FM programmers may soon be back on […]
LPFM Watch: One Step Closer for San Francisco LPFMs, D.C. Area Station Tours, and More News
A flurry of low power FM (LPFM) updates means that it’s time for another edition of LPFM Watch, two months after we put a pause on our weekly updates. This week we learned that the FCC is closer to resolving the contentious battle for the new LPFM channel in San Francisco, with the application by […]
Podcast #52 – Small Town LPFM
Low Power FM radio stations can be a great addition to the media landscape in the big city, but on this episode we focus on rural LPFM. Eric Klein takes listeners on a tour of KFSL, the low power FM station that is the sole broadcaster in Fossil,Oregon (population 454). The station is staffed by […]
Radio Station Field Trip #104 – Radio Arlington Station WERA-LP
My next stop on my grand radio tour in the Washington, D.C. area was to low power FM (LPFM) community radio station Radio Arlington (WERA-LP) in Arlington, Virginia. A project of Arlington Independent Media (AIM), the station launched over 96.7 FM in December, 2015, just a few months prior to my visit on February 28, […]
FCC Decision in San Francisco LPFM Group Means Probable SF Community Radio and SF Public Press Time-Share
On Friday, the FCC released a Memorandum Opinion and Order, which may bring a resolution to the lengthy and contentious competition for a new low power FM (LPFM) channel in San Francisco at 102.5 FM. This paves the way for a potential time-share between the two remaining applicants: San Francisco Community Radio and San Francisco […]
Hastings College Radio Station KFKX to Leave the Air on Thursday
We first reported back on May 16, that plans were in the works for college radio station KFKX 90.1 FM at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska to leave the air. Well, the day has come this Thursday, June 30th. Over the weekend, alumni came back to celebrate the station (see video here) and prior to […]