KNX/Los Angeles Celebrates 50 Years of Service

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n35460

KNX has entered its 50th anniversary for all-news radio in the LA Radio Market and 1968 was time the station flipped to its current format.

"We are proud to be a part of the fabric of the Los Angeles community," said Senior VP/Market Manager Jeff Federman. "We look forward to continuing to inform and engage with Southern California listeners for the years to come."
"Since 1968 we have seen nine presidents, six governors, and six mayors" added Entercom Los Angeles Director of Programming Ken Charles. "Through it all, KNX has been that one consistent source for integrity, trust and credibility."
During its first 18 months on-air, KNX covered the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, the Manson murders and man's landing on the moon. The station has also covered the 1984 Olympics, the Rodney King trial, The Northridge Earthquake in 1994 and the O.J. Simpson trial, in addition to numerous other major news events.

 

[LKellerIII]

https://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n35460

KNX has entered its 50th anniversary for all-news radio in the LA Radio Market and 1968 was time the station flipped to its current format.

KFWB, owned by Group W (Westinghouse) flipped from their Top 40 and personality music format to all news on April 15, 1968. KFWB really was "All News, All the Time"...their initial slogan. The format had been successful for Group W at 1010/WINS New York since about 1965.

KNX flipped to "Newsradio" a bit more than a month later, May 10, 1968, but it should be stated that they were hardly "All News" for many years, and ran many feature shows. The only one I can recall at the moment was Mike Roy's cooking show, which my mother loved, co-hosted by Dennis Bracken, who was also a KNX anchor. Even in the 80s, KNX ran the CBS Mystery Theater at night. By contrast, sister station KCBS in San Francisco was really All News from about 1968, and in the 80s, farmed the CBS Mystery Theater out to KSFO, an MOR station, and sister to KMPC in LA.

 

[TheBigA]

The article mentions the assassination of Robert Kennedy. Of course that anniversary is a month away. Interesting that when CBS did its documentary on the assassination, it used the audio of reporter Andrew West, who is credited as working for KRKD and KMPC.

 

[Kemosabe]

Even in the 80s, KNX ran the CBS Mystery Theater at night. By contrast, sister station KCBS in San Francisco was really All News from about 1968, and in the 80s, farmed the CBS Mystery Theater out to KSFO, an MOR station, and sister to KMPC in LA.

Although flagship WCBS also farmed out RMT (to WOR, and later to WMCA), other O&Os (e.g., WBBM and WEEI) did not. KNX later aired the nightly "KNX Drama Hour." Llew, was KCBS ever branded as "Newsradio 74?"

 

[LKellerIII]

Although flagship WCBS also farmed out RMT (to WOR, and later to WMCA), other O&Os (e.g., WBBM and WEEI) did not. KNX later aired the nightly "KNX Drama Hour." Llew, was KCBS ever branded as "Newsradio 74?"

I don't recall that it was "Newsradio," but according to Wikipedia, yes - in the early years. The current branding is "All News" (106.9 and 740). For a short time in the 80s, KCBS decided to go head to head with KGO ("NewsTalk"), and did talk shows at night. A social friend of mine hosted 9:00 - Midnight, so I would listen. Their slogan during that time - "News and More on 74." KGO kicked its ass, and they went back to all news after a year or two.

 

[michael hagerty]

The article mentions the assassination of Robert Kennedy. Of course that anniversary is a month away. Interesting that when CBS did its documentary on the assassination, it used the audio of reporter Andrew West, who is credited as working for KRKD and KMPC.

West was the only radio reporter in the pantry with sound from the incident itself. The CBS/KNX guys were still in the ballroom.

 

[michael hagerty]

I don't recall that it was "Newsradio," but according to Wikipedia, yes - in the early years. The current branding is "All News" (106.9 and 740). For a short time in the 80s, KCBS decided to go head to head with KGO ("NewsTalk"), and did talk shows at night. A social friend of mine hosted 9:00 - Midnight, so I would listen. Their slogan during that time - "News and More on 74." KGO kicked its ass, and they went back to all news after a year or two.

It was NewsRadio 74 as late as 1991: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sMshGcDkBE

...and as early as 1971 (see the opening graphic on the page): http://bayarearadio.org/audio/kcbs/

 

[Kemosabe]

Their slogan during that time - "News and More on 74."

I recall, with some fondness, the Otis Conner stagers and sounders from that time.

 

[LKellerIII]

I recall, with some fondness, the Otis Conner stagers and sounders from that time.

Yes - they were clever. KCBS used the traffic report sounder from that period - which was the tune to "News and More on 74," without the vocals, for years after they had dropped the "More" and returned to All News.

 

[ATSFGuy]

Anyone know what KNX stands for?

 

[oldies76]

K N X 1070 Newsradio, Los Angeles.......oh wait that was 20 years ago! Too bad they got rid of those iconic traffic horn sounds before the traffic reports. Never mess with originality!

 

[ATSFGuy]

Hahaha, I meant the CALL LETTERS!!
I also remember those unique sound effects that would always air before a traffic or news report aired, good stuff!

 

[michael hagerty]

Anyone know what KNX stands for?

Nothing. The calls were randomly issued by the FCC.

 

[michael hagerty]

K N X 1070 Newsradio, Los Angeles.......oh wait that was 20 years ago! Too bad they got rid of those iconic traffic horn sounds before the traffic reports. Never mess with originality!

Yes....the days when KNX was 22nd with a 2.0, give or take two-tenths, no matter what.

With the exception of the just-released book, KNX has been pretty consistently in the Top 10 since PD Ken Charles (who used to be my PD) came in and made it a contemporary news station.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Yes....the days when KNX was 22nd with a 2.0, give or take two-tenths, no matter what.

With the exception of the just-released book, KNX has been pretty consistently in the Top 10 since PD Ken Charles (who used to be my PD) came in and made it a contemporary news station.

I haven't listened in years although I have definitely noticed the improvement in the ratings in recent years. What has he done to make it more "contemporary"? Does that mean tailoring the news with a more liberal view and/or making the news more about the entertainment industry instead of the middle east? Any nods to the ethnic mix of the metro?

 

[michael hagerty]

I haven't listened in years although I have definitely noticed the improvement in the ratings in recent years. What has he done to make it more "contemporary"? Does that mean tailoring the news with a more liberal view and/or making the news more about the entertainment industry instead of the middle east? Any nods to the ethnic mix of the metro?

No bias. No ethnic tailoring that I can detect. Just making sure the news that gets covered is the news that matters, streamlining the sound and getting rid of stuff that doesn't aid in the presentation.

 

[DavidEduardo]

No bias. No ethnic tailoring that I can detect. Just making sure the news that gets covered is the news that matters, streamlining the sound and getting rid of stuff that doesn't aid in the presentation.

I agree.

The exit of KFWB from the format definitely improved the ratings for the survivor, KNX.

Also, the elimination of disruptions like the audio from 60 Minutes, old radio drama and the like have helped, as have slightly refreshed audio staging devices. The elimination of the manager's editorials was, in retrospect, a good thing in a polarized market. The writing is a bit cleaner and more concise.

The removal of the Business Hour at noon likely makes the station more attractive to those who don't have a Bloomberg Terminal to begin with.

I don't sense any increased focus on entertainment news; such a small percentage of the market actually works in entertainment at the "newsmaker" level that it does not matter (and aspiring actors working at California Pizza Kitchen in The Valley are not news listeners to begin with).

There is no change in the ethnic percentage of listening, whether Hispanic or African American. Since the market is 75% ethnic and first generation immigrants, the normal news flow will cover plenty of stories and topics related to issues relevant to those communities anyway.

It's just a cleaner sounding station with no competitor.

 

[DavidEduardo]

With the exception of the just-released book, KNX has been pretty consistently in the Top 10 since PD Ken Charles (who used to be my PD) came in and made it a contemporary news station.

It has been between 7th and 9th for the last 13 books in 12+, and is between 15th and 18th in 25-54 in the same period. The differences in rank are in a +/- 0.2 share range in 25-54, so one can say that it is enormously stable. In 12+, the range is +/- 0.4 share points, so it wobbles more outside the sales demo. In the last book, the loss that affected the station overall seems to be in 55-64; this may be related to the current news cycle or even a tiring of the older audience in regards to attack politics in all sectors; the TSL declined in those older demos.

 

[Kemosabe]

The elimination of the manager's editorials was, in retrospect, a good thing in a polarized market

It seems editorials have vanished from the airwaves. Several decades ago, nearly every radio and television station voiced its editorial opinion. (Perhaps owing to a sense of a responsibility at the time.) National newscasts featured commentators such as Eric Sevareid, John Chancellor, Howard K. Smith, et al. Even in its Top-40 heyday, WABC broadcast editorials! Whither have these segments gone?

 

[Yabadabado1]

It seems editorials have vanished from the airwaves. Several decades ago, nearly every radio and television station voiced its editorial opinion. (Perhaps owing to a sense of a responsibility at the time.) National newscasts featured commentators such as Eric Sevareid, John Chancellor, Howard K. Smith, et al. Even in its Top-40 heyday, WABC broadcast editorials! Whither have these segments gone?

Those segments have disappeared forever because gutless station owners/managers are afraid to alienate even one single listener/viewer snowflake who gets offended because they station isn't spouting THEIR opinion so they threaten to call an advertiser and never buy their product again as long as they advertise on said station.