KJR steps out with an old shoe

September 28, 1986 — How is KJR going to win? “We’re Going to Hire the Research Group, play eight in a row and spend $1 million on television commercials,” says James B. McGovern, new manager of KJR. He’s kidding folks.
The veteran broadcast manager talks old shoe, but there is bite to his observations of the radio scene. McGovern’s wit reflects how several other stations have entered the marketplace.
That’s not KJR style. What KJR is doing is playing “more adult music” and cleaning up its contests. “It’s still a fun, great radio station,” McGovern says.
McGovern began his radio career in 1959 in KJR’s sales department, managed stations in Spokane and Cincinnati, had minor ownership participation in stations in Portland, and managed KOL-turned-KMPS through several ownership changes. He’s been “on vacation” since July, 1985.
McGovern expects there to be a “family” feeling about KJR.
“I started here; my son started here; my wife, Edie Hilliard, started here; her son started here,” McGovern explains.

The KHIT shuffle

New owners of KHIT 106.9 FM, swept a lot from the station, and are promising 12 songs in a row and touting a signal change that goes “twice as far, twice as long” as any in town.
Now part of an 18 station chain owned by Gannett Broadcasting, KHIT’s new executives are Lee Douglas, Pres. and general manager, from Detroit, and Steve Weed program director. Weed had been program director at the Gannet Station in Detroit. He previously worked at stations in San Antonio and St. Louis, and had air shifts in Los Angeles and New York.
Gannett is a nationwide company that publishes 92 daily newspapers, including USA Today. It also has television stations and an outdoor advertising company.

Music by satellite

The new morning voice at KTAC 850, signals a bigger change than you might assume. Toby Hart, from Houston, is also program director, afternoon announcer is Bruce Bond, moved from the night slot. But in other dayparts, the station plugs in “Star Station” music from Satellite Music Network, a Chicago format-distribution firm.

New manager at KRAB’s

New administrative manager at KRAB is Cindy Streitzov; former manager Gary Margusan continues as one of the 11 board members of Jack Straw Memorial Foundation, the group seeking to snare the 89.9 MHz frequency, now held by KNHC, the Seattle School District student station.
Trudging slowly to a more definitive hearing the first week in December, A Federal Communications Commission administrative law judge has determined that Jack Straw is an educational institution and that it has adequate funding to operate FM stations in Everett or Seattle.

Victor Stredicke

Former radio columnist for the Seattle Times (1964-1989).
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