Update 1/30: The Raleigh/Durham affiliate of 24/7 Comedy will be Curtis Media’s 570 WQDR. WQDR has been of the air since a tornado destroyed its tower last April.
Funny570.com was registered on January 17 and Facebook and Twitter pages is currently active with the Curtis Media logo.
The former “Country Legends 570” is going to de diplexed on the tower of sister 680 WPTF when it returns to the air as “Funny 570” with 1kW daytime and 40 watts at night. An application to extend its allowed period of silence was filed on January 12 with the expectation that the station will be back on the air within 60 days.
Original Report 1/27: Three more stations are preparing to flip to Donkey Comedy Network’s “24/7 Comedy“.
Volt Radio’s Dallas market 1700 KKLF Richardson, TX will drop its simulcast of Cumulus Talk 570 KLIF on February 1 to join the network created by a few Dallas radio veterans. KKLF, like all Volt Radio stations, are in the process of being spun off due to the Cumulus/Citadel merger.
The network will also be debuting on the fringes of the Phoenix market on 1TV.com’s 97.3 KIKO-FM Claypool/Globe, AZ. The station had been Hot AC as “Variety 97.3“. KIKO-FM broadcasts from 80 miles east of Phoenix and is on an adjacent frequency to Trumper’s “Hot 97.5” KMVA Dewey-Humboldt. As an aside, the licensee calls itself 1TV.com yet that domain is controlled by a Russian television network. Doesn’t make much sense to brand your company after a web domain you have never owned.
In a Dallas Observer feature on the network, it also is mentioned that an affiliate will soon launch in Raleigh/Durham, NC.
24/7 Comedy has seen strong numbers on its two HD2/Translators in Kansas City and Austin. Emmis’ “Comedy 102.7“, which launched on October 20, surged to a 3.8 share in the Holiday PPM monthly putting it in a 10th place tie in the market. Cumulus’ “Funny 102.5” Kansas City as constantly placed in the mid 2’s since launching in early 2011.
