Radio on the TV
A few weeks ago we noticed something new in the upper reaches of our Comcast Digital Cable guide. Channels 962-984 now play Seattle FM radio stations: KISW (971), KPLU (966), even KUBE (967).
This is cool. Now, if we want to pig out on Cheetos and Diet Coke to radio instead of TV, we can. Problem is, we can only endure one local radio station. And that one--KEXP--isn't among the 23 channels offered.
We asked Comcast why, and they had an interesting story to tell. Seems that the stations they picked used to be on analog cable, and the ones on analog cable were picked nearly twenty years ago.
We had no way of knowing how many people listened to radio via cable, especially because the service was not promoted in recent years. Our focus was to move stations that people already listened to via cable. We had room for 23 stations, so that’s what transferred to digital.
No wonder KEXP isn't there. Twenty years ago, what's now KEXP was a UW radio station called KCMU. You could only get it if you were between Meany Hall and the Quad and it was staffed by sadists who tortured their listening public with world music.
Cable customers, who wanted their MTV, probably weren't interested in the 24-hour djembe-fest that was KCMU.
But times have changed. As KEXP, 90.3 is now listenable (except on Tuesdays from 6-9pm, when they play world music). We'd like to see them in the lineup. If you are similarly biased, you can call 1-800-Comcast and request it, or use this web form.
