Radio Disney Sells KDDZ 1690 AM To Salem For $550,000. UPDATE: Changes Calls To KDMT. Will Go To A Business Talk Format

[Dr Jam]

Radio Disney is (was) a niche format. When my daughter was in grade school, she would listen to it when we were in the car. I'm sure that was the same with many other parents as well. I do agree with Radiodude though that a business format is going to be hard to gather a following that far up on the dial especially with you get all the business info you want in real time off the internet. I'm guessing overhead expenses will be very low with an all satellite format like that. So, they'll probably use this station to raise their ad rates a little and sell the station as a package deal with all their other stations in Denver, or package it with all Salem stations for national advertisers.

[Rob]

Here is a question of you (ROB).. How long has 1690 been Radio Disney? I am sure this is the very first time the computer system most likely has been touched in over a decade?
I was even wondering if 1690 even had a studio at all? I figured it was just a satellite feed all this time?

No the signal is week at 1690, and again, (who in their right minds would even care about something so far down at the end of the dial?). I think it should have gone silence. Salem isn't going to make much
money in the long run nor get many listeners to tune in. I doubt if many people even knew that the AM dial could go to 1690 AM?

Here's a history of children's radio in Denver from what I can recall, including an answer to your question Radiodude:


In December 1993, 1340 AM became KKYD (see how they spelled it, "kid") "Radio AAHS", the Denver outlet of the first national network of radio programs for children which was owned and operated by the Children's Broadcasting Corporation.


"Radio AAHS" went out of business in January 1998 after Radio Disney started broadcasting around the country.


In 1998, after "Radio AAHS" went off the air, 1690 AM went on the air in Denver and was owned and run as a Radio Disney station ever since. I'm not sure what studio facilities they had here. It was the AM signal I used to test the quality of my HD Radio. They had great sound quality in HD.

[radiodude]

Here's a history of children's radio in Denver from what I can recall, including an answer to your question Radiodude:


In December 1993, 1340 AM became KKYD (see how they spelled it, "kid") "Radio AAHS", the Denver outlet of the first national network of radio programs for children which was owned and operated by the Children's Broadcasting Corporation.


"Radio AAHS" went out of business in January 1998 after Radio Disney started broadcasting around the country.


In 1998, after "Radio AAHS" went off the air, 1690 AM went on the air in Denver and was owned and run as a Radio Disney station ever since. I'm not sure what studio facilities they had here. It was the AM signal I used to test the quality of my HD Radio. They had great sound quality in HD.

Huh? Interesting history, thanks ROb. So they managed to put 1690 AM in HD? Why would Radio Disney choose such a high frequency in the first place? Why 1690? When there was a bunch of AM signals back than open and available? For that matter why would anyone put anything so high up on the AM dial when they should have realize, who can hear it and who would even know to look for that frequency?

[Dr Jam]

Radio Disney was first heard on AM1550 (the old KQXI). They then got the 1690 frequency and did a simulcast for awhile before dropping 1550. AM1550 was originally a daytimer station. Once nighttime broadcasting was allowed, their coverage area was very limited. AM1690 had a much better coverage area at night.

[Rob]

Thanks for the info Dr. Jam!
I had forgotten that 1550 AM was the "normal" frequency it started on before they just took 1690 AM.