RadioInsight Exclusive: After announcing in November that Sports 680 KNBR/104.5 KNBR-FM will be relocating its studios to the San Francisco 49ers home Levi’s Stadium, Cumulus Media is preparing to move the remainder of its San Francisco area operations into Bonneville International’s facilities in suburban Daly City.
A Cumulus spokesperson confirmed the move telling us that the company is subleasing space from Bonneville. The Cumulus San Francisco staff visited the facility earlier this week with many staffers of both stations commenting on the move, which is supposed to take place in the next few months. Classic Rock “107.7 The Bone” KSAN PD/morning co-host Chasta Michaelis said, “We’re moving in and my heart is so excited. There are a lot of humans I already dearly love and respect at Bonneville. And many more I’m fans of and can’t wait to get to know better. A bunch of OG radio freaks in the same building…now this is gonna be FUN!” Bonneville AC 96.5 KOIT host Sue Hall posted, “We’re all moving in together! One big happy family! Bonneville SF + Cumulus SF”
Cumulus moved into what had been the former Clear Channel San Francisco offices on 750 Battery Street in downtown San Francisco in early 2015. With only KNBR and KSAN still producing local shows, the need for a larger facility was no longer necessary as during the past decade programming on Talk 810 KGO and AAA 104.5 KFOG were eliminated and the company ended its LMA of 92.3 KSJO San Jose.
INSTANT INSIGHT: At this point all signs point to each company retaining separate control of their properties. As Cumulus currently owns 2 FMs and 4 AMs in the Bay Area and Bonneville holding 4 FMs, any official combination would require the divestiture of one FM unless ownership cap changes take place.
But there are few if any examples of two completely independent station groups running out of the same facility especially in a larger or major market. Making matters more curious are that both operate competing Classic Rock stations (albeit with signals that best reach different parts of the Bay Area) in Cumulus’ KSAN and Bonneville’s “98.5 KFOX” KUFX San Jose.
