I lived in 98004 for a year and a half, just a mile south of downtown Bellevue. KXXO used to be a preset on my radio and their signal from Rooster Rock, while it dropped out here and there, was quite strong. (Unless they were on the 4000w auxiliary in Tenino, in which I had more luck getting CHKG than KXXO!) KYNW (now KFNY) was also decent from Capitol Peak. On Radio-Locator, the 'distant' purple contour goes from Shoreline down to Kirkland/Redmond/Bellevue, Renton, you name it. In Burien, Sea-Tac and along the waterfront, it's considered a local signal. Case in point: I was in a gift shop at Pike Place Market about a decade ago where the radio was tuned into...KGY 96.9 (when they were Real Country)! Multipath blocked a clear signal from 94.1 or 100.7. KXXO is just as strong.
In Lexington, KY, there were so many complaints from WSGS Hazard listeners that WVLK was forced to move their 101.1 translator to 97.3. The thing is, there is hardly anywhere to go for an AM translator in Seattle. 92.1 already has the KNKX translator + CBU-FM1 (and we all know how strong that signal is). 92.9 has KISM, 93.7 has KLSY, 94.5 has a KTTH translator already, the 'open' frequencies of 95.3/101.1/101.9/102.1 already have translators and LPFMs all over the place. Speaking of which, is that KQES-LP still on the air in Bellevue? Last I heard they were NTD TV programming 24/7 - what a waste of 100 watts.
And KKNW will be just another waste of FM spectrum. These brokered, 'host your own show' stations hardly get an audience and it doesn't matter what market or what topic. They would get a better audience through a live Facebook chat or YouTube Hangout on the Air. When was the last time KKNW was ever in the ratings? Probably when they were KSRB (R&B) pre-2001?
Re: Larry's post below - the Northwest Washington FM band has been packed like sardines for many years now. And remember, Marysville is growing like crazy. There's almost 70,000 people living there!!! Not many people can afford housing anymore on the Eastside, Seattle proper or even Renton, so commuters are traveling further north, west and south than ever before. These people obviously listen to Seattle FMs. I hope we don't reach the day where an LPFM takes over KZOK in Arlington or (god forbid) Everett.