The A's announced that CBS station KIFR-106.9 (Free FM) will be the FM flagship starting next season. Many had been rooting for this move for a while, especially because around this time last year KIFR boosted its signal from a paltry 3 kW to 80 kW. Before you start running around claiming the A's are torching the blowtorch, keep in mind that AM signal properties are better for night coverage and KNBR's status as a clear channel station puts it in an enviable position regardless of signal strength.
Still, this is a huge improvement since KIFR's North Bay reach will be much better than what was coming out of the two Peninsula-based stations, KYCY-1550 and KNTS-1220. It remains to be seen how much CBS will stick with the youth-oriented format. Does this set the stage for a change to sports talk? Or youth-geared sports talk? Hopefully KIFR will be a better promotional vehicle than the A's have had on radio the last few years.
There's one nice little side benefit to having an FM station - Comcast digital cable carries it. Except, inexplicably, KIFR. At least that's the case in the South Bay.
31 October 2006
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