NEW RADIO/TV STATION TAKES ON MONTEREY COUNTY

Last month, the Seaside Chamber of Commerce celebrated their seventy-fifth year of serving the business community. The chamber was established ten years prior to the City of Seaside incorporating in 1954. Those original people are long gone and the current chamber director, Jim Vossen and his merry band of board members are proud to announce that they are (presumably) the first chamber of commerce to have a TV/ radio station built in their office. They are broadcasting over the internet using the call letters KMBY For those of you who grew up on the peninsula in the 60’s and 70’s, you may recall the time KMBY was the AM rock station located in the Bear Flag Building on Cannery Row. Wide eyed teenagers and young adults were treated to an abundancy of promotional contests and album oriented music. It was the station to tune in to listen to hit songs. For those who are a little older, in

1935 KMBY were the original call letters for the current KNRY 1240 AM. Prior to KMBY the call letters, for a very brief time, were KDON.

Fast forward to today, the music that is broadcasted, are hits from the 1940’s through the 60’s from Vossen’s extensive music library from his DJ days as Vossenova. He wanted most of the music to be reminiscent of the old days of KMBY and appeal to a wide audience. The station airs digitally on 19.4 and through the internet at www.kmby.com or www.kmbyradio.com.

Gary Cocola, CEO of Cocola Broadcasting Company came to

the chamber in October 2018 to discuss the idea of leasing a radio station to run out of their office. That idea seemed to be an uphill battle. Then Cocola said that he had an unused ‘over the air’ television channel. This was KMBY which he owned since 2008. Combined with Vossen’s passion, they decided to form a unique partnership for this endeavor which launched three months later in January 2019 and is gradually picking up a loyal audience. It’s the only place to hear this genre of music in our area.

Jim Vossen is a Johnnycome-lately. While going through a divorce, he started his broadcasting career in Concord on AM 990 KATD in 1995. He spent five years there before coming to Monterey in 2003 to be involved with 1240 KNRY. For six years, Jim, along with his new wife Mary Lou, produced a weekday, one hour, program called ‘Your Town’ on AMP’s community channel 24.

KMBY Television has the same format he used when he launched ‘Your Town’ on AMP. There is live TV recording every Monday at 3pm featuring local politicians and other colorful community members. On the audio side, Vossen hosts two live shows; Monday Morning Maze from 7-9am and Friday night the Vossenova Show from 7-9pm. Both shows offer listeners the opportunity to call in. More local shows are on the horizon.

There is an open door policy for nonprofits, community members and anyone else who would be interested in purchasing a block of time to record and establish your own TV show or radio podcast. At this time, one third of the air time is devoted to the members of the Seaside, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks and Monterey Chambers of Commerce. As the station moves forward, it’s going to be a great community information television station.