California Music Channel
CALIFORNIA MUSIC CHANNEL is one of the world’s longest running local music video television programs. Founded by Rick Kurkjian and launched in 1982, CALIFORNIA MUSIC CHANNEL features personal on camera disc jockeys including Chuy Gomez, active audience participation, and popular music videos. CALIFORNIA MUSIC CHANNEL is broadcast live in the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose market on KTSF-TV(Channel 26-Cable 8) and KTSF-DT Ch 27 Monday through Friday. CALIFORNIA MUSIC CHANNEL is owned and operated by CMC Broadcasting Company, Incorporated.
History: CMC debuted on March 1, 1982 as a half hour show telecast twelve times per week on Teleprompter Cable Oakland Channel 12. The notion of a Bay Area Interconnect was developed early on as CMC expanded by doing local original cable channels on Concord TV Cable Ch 11, Viacom Cable of San Francisco Ch 6, Viacom of Marin and Castro Valley Cable TV. After a little more than a year on the local cable channels CMC started running a Saturday night version of the program on KCSM-TV Ch 60 in San Mateo. The CMC broadcast was simulcast in stereo on KCSM-TV's sister station, KCSM-FM 91.1. In 1983 KCSM-TV was one of a handful of educational stations to experiment with running expanded underwriting announcments and full 30 second commercial TV spots from non profit organizations. In addition to the U.S. Army being one of CMC's pioneering clients, CMC creatively discovered that many of its other advertisers were coincidentally set up as non profit organizations under dealer associations and franchise organizations such as the California Milk Advisory Board and even the McDonalds Golden Arches Advertising fund. As such, CMC was able to run commercials for these organizations on the otherwise non-commercial, educational, KCSM. CMC became a profitable local BROADCAST music television show in America, as many other local music video shows struggled just to remain on non commercial cable access.
The demand from CMC advertisers grew beyond the scope of underwriting announcments and non profit 30s and so on October 1, 1984 the California Music Channel debuted its Monday-Friday broadcast on full power independent KTSF-TV Channel 26. CMC is now in its 22nd year on KTSF.
Format: The concept of the California Music Channel has always remained "radio with pictures." Therein lies its apparent strength. The music video shows are local and live with announcers that personally relate to and indeed talk on the phone to an audience calling in and E-mailing for a chance to make requests, win prizes, or just get a birthday "shout out" to a friend.
The radio connection extends to CMC's hosts.
1985: Big Tom Parker from KFRC simulcasting in AM Stereo 610 KFRC. 1986: Modern Rock Five at Five with Steve Masters from KITS Live 105. 1987: Power Thursday with Renel from KMEL. 1992: Chuy Gomez from Wild 107.7 and then 106 KMEL. Chuy is still the main personality on CMC today.
Sources
- Mediaweek June 19,2006 "Media Plan of the Year Best Use of Mobile"