What are we mourning exactly?

December 30, 2017 Off By Eric O'Brien

Over the last two weeks, we have been hearing about the suspension of broadcasting for KQV (1410). The station signs off as the new year begins on December 31. Many people have stated how sad the situation is, but what exactly are these people mourning?

From all the posts that I have read on Facebook and other social media sites, people are actually mourning a format that we lost 42 years ago! The station has sported an all-news format since 1975 after determining that the top 40 format was no longer viable for its AM signal. The station sported such a format from the early 1960s, and yet it was such a short period in the station’s history. Yet, it seems that those who were of that format’s target audience are mourning its loss all over again.

Please allow me to bring you back to earth. While the station has maintained the same tower site and power output since 1947, it was a different station prior to the top 40 days as it was after the top 40 days. But it seems that people remember it best as a top 40 station. Jeff Roteman has done an outstanding job of documenting that period of the station’s history as well as other portions at his website that he is maintained for close to 20 years.

While I don’t want to deny anybody their fond memories, I have seen very little consideration for the station’s owners and staff members who are losing their jobs – some of them after being with the station as long as it’s been an all news operation. Two people who come to mind are Elaine Effort and P.J. Maloney who are taking this opportunity to retire… although it wouldn’t surprise me if either of them would jump at another opportunity somewhere.

Remember that radio stations don’t exist just for our entertainment. They exist as a business in this ever-changing environment and still can be a viable business if they are willing to change the business model to fit the times. But sometimes the best business decision, to get the most bang for your buck as it were, may seem like the worst decision to make in the eyes and ears of the listening public who seemed to take KQV’s existence for granted in recent years.

Lastly, I’ve heard that nothing came of the station auction on December 27. So the equipment and the license remain in play for anyone willing to shell out the dough.