Liberal Radio Talks, Nobody Listens

National Review Online ^ | April 6, 2004 | Byron York

[AppyPappy]

The big problem is that it isn't really liberal radio; it's Democratic Party radio.

[socal_parrot]

It's 50,000 watts, you might be able to pick it up. I live in Orange County and listen to KOGO from San Diego daily.

Air America is also spewing its vile hate via the Internet.

[Wright is right!]

"Is KBLA in LA? Can I hear it in San Diego?"

It's licensed to LA, but you'll never hear it in Sandiegar. Puny signal. In fact, pretty much all the stations around LA operate on comparatively low power (with a few KFI exceptions) because it's possible to cover the population effectively with lower wattage. Next time you're in LA, look up into the 5000-ft mountains and you'll see a vast slew of radio broacasting antennas. Granted, most of them are FM-ers, but some are AM. That tremendous Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) provides a tremendous "effective" power boost, so that a pip-squeak 5KW signal can cover 10 million people. (A typical FM in a major market on a tall tower is 50KW - 100KW). For instance, a ratings dominator over the years is KIIS-FM, which I believe is licensed to 4800 watts, what three hair dryers pull. But at 5100 feet, 4800 watts is PLENTY.

As for KBLA, I don't know where their transmitter is, but at 1580 AM, that's a low-power local allocation normally limited to 5KW max, generally with a directional antenna. It's not going to effectively cover the whole basin and Valley. And chances are the directional array they have is protecting a signal on the same freq or adjacent-channel in Sandiegar or Mejico.

Michael

[Budge]

Besides those, you forgot CBS, ABS, NBS, MSNBS, CNBS, and a few others (as Rush would say).

[Wright is right!]

"It's 50,000 watts, you might be able to pick it up."

You sure? I don't have my guidebooks any more, but I dind't think 1580 was a high-power allocation channel.

Bear in mind that almost all the LA AM stations are using directional transmitting arrays (antennas). The directional arrays are there to protect other stations on the same or adjacent frequencies in other locales. A lot of the 50,000 watts radiated by KFI, for example, goes out over the Pacific, to protect other stations to the east on the same frequency. If KBLA WAS 50KW, it would probably have some other direction pattern that could keep it from making it to San Diego - if there were stations in SD or northern Mejico on the same or adjacent frequencies.

AM stations, BTW, achieve their directional patterns by means of multi-tower tuned arrays - and the engineering required to achieve a perfectly-tuned pattern is so arcane that there is an entire cottage industry in DC of engineering consultants whose job it is to come up with the precise gear needed to achieve a particular directional patter - and thus get the FCC's license approval. They don't just do this for US broadcasters, of course - that would be too limiting. They also design arrays for shortwave int'l broadcasters around the world. And that's ALL they do. Very arcane little industry.

Michael

[SquirrelKing]

Proudly stolen from martin_fierro.

[socal_parrot]

Below is a list of 50k watt stations in the USA. I have no idea if Hildy can listen in San Diego, but it's worth the shot. You never know if there could be some bleed over from south of the border.

50,000 Watt Stations

[Matchett-PI]

"You really have to wonder even if liberal George Soros is willing to put more money down this sinkhole."

More precisely (if you'll permit me): "You really have to wonder even if liberal George Soros is willing to put more money down this DemocRAT hole."

[eleni121]

Oh I did not forget those...equally propagandistic (and even more so sometimes) but I was referring to the media that operates using our tax money! Shameful!

[Petronski]

[dead]

Many moons ago, I posted an article on FR from the NY Post. It was around 1999 and it was about how Al Franken's television show (he actually had one, believe it or not) had set the record for the all-time lowest ratings of any television show in history on any major network.

I'm sure he's gotten much more appealing since then.

[driftless]

You brought up and interesting point. It's my observation that libs are much bigger sheep than the supposedly easy-to-lead conservatives. I never hear libs slam their anointed leaders like conservatives will do if their leader (Bush) does something they don't like. This forum is proof of that.

[danamco]

What do these liberaloonies need another radio network for? They already have NPR - PRI - BBC - and all paid for by our tax dollars (and lots of corporate money). I guess these leftist media are not left enough.


Don't forget to mention: Pete Jennings, Tom Brokow, Dan Blather, and a score of other liberal personalities on each of these networks!

[Wright is right!]

From that list, KBLA does show as a 50KW facility, but note that it must use a directional antenna pattern both day and night and that the patterns are different. This is because KMIK in Tempe has a preferred status and KBLA must protect it from interference. Note that KMIK operates non-directional days, and directional nights. During the day, KBLA's signal has a null toward Tempe to prevent interference. At night, KMIK goes directional, probably east or northeast and KBLA goes to a different pattern. Just what that pattern is depends upon where their antenna site is, because the FCC requires that the station provide a City-Grade signal to downtown in the city of license. If, for instance, the site is in Orange Co, the night pattern would have a strong lobe to the northwest and, perhaps, the southeast. Depends upon too many variables to easily discuss here.

Michael