Listeners Upset Over Radio Format Change

Thursday, July 27, 2006

July 27, 2006 -- Some call it revolutionary. Some call it offensive. But for now, it's gone. A formal complaint is on it's way to the Federal Government, in response to controversial change to a valley radio station.

A popular Christian radio station suddenly switched to playing sexually suggestive songs. The switch surprised and angered listeners.

The federal government may get involved in the local radio business after a provocative stunt introduced the valley to new ownership on the FM dial.

A Kingsburg-based station turned the valley into a test market for so-called porn radio, featuring sexually suggestive songs and tracked moans and groans. But Thursday afternoon, an announcement replaced the music.

The dramatic shift came on one of the former homes of K-LOVE 106.3 FM. Listeners used to tune in to the Kingsburg based station for Christian music and sermons, but it switched to porn radio.

It went off the air Thursday after five days, but the valley may not have heard the last of the radio format.

Legendary radio consultant Jerry Clifton bought the station earlier this month. Porn radio is his brainchild, and he is well-known in the business for stunt radio. It's a tried-and-true way to get new listeners when you change formats.

"I was shocked," said Kingsbugh merchant June Hess.

Kingsburg is better known for its Swedish Festival and raisins, than for anything related to sex. The city has already filed a complaint with the FCC and residents say Clifton should peddle his pornographic music somewhere else.

"Get out of my town, If you can't clean it up", said Hess.

But Clifton doesn't mind ruffling a few feathers. He says his attorneys assure him the station never crossed the line into indecency, and even negative attention will pay off when he chooses a format.

"I mean, nobody was listening to the station and obviously now they are, or they wouldn't be up in arms about it, so that's a good thing for our future," Clifton said.

The stunt could cost Clifton up to $325,000 in fines if the FCC determines that indecent material hit the airwaves.

Clifton says the station will air music again soon, as they let listeners choose the format, although he's partial to the porn radio format. He's also looking for office space in downtown Fresno, to move the station out of Kingsburg.

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