Whale of a change

Kimberly Jacobson
Anacortes American
December 12, 2007 - 08:00 AM
                                                            
Anacortes’ radio station has a new name. It changed from KLKI to KWLE, the Whale, Monday morning.

“We thought this was a good way to brand the station with the surrounding community,” said Robert Uteda, radio station owner. “Orcas and whales are a big part of the area.”

He said they are committed to being a community radio station and will offer more local news, sports and events. The station’s new format will feature live local DJs playing all kinds of music, especially from the 1970s through today. The station previously played “Music of your Life.” Expect more U2 and less Dean Martin.

Robert and Jennifer Uteda, who moved here from Los Angeles, took over the station in late June. They have a combined 40 years of experience as entertainment executives in Hollywood.

Bill Berry previously owned the station for 43 years.

Robert is president of San Juan Communications and serves as owner/operator and on-air radio talent. Jennifer is vice president of San Juan Communications and oversees the marketing and promotion.

Since buying the station the Utedas have purchased new equipment and software and made other improvements to provide information and entertainment to the community.

“You have to constantly move forward and embrace the technology available,” Robert Uteda said. “If we don’t change we’ll fall behind.”

One of the major new additions is Web streaming technology. KWLE is the first local station to offer Web streaming to listeners. It enables people to hear the station in clear digital sound on their computers.

Listeners can log on to http://www.1340thewhale.com and click on the listen live link to hear the station.

“What is unique about that is we are no longer limited by the range of our frequency,” Uteda said. “It’s almost like it’s a separate station.”

He said the addition levels the playing field with satellite radio, allowing things like advertising and local sports to be heard anywhere.

“Grandparents anywhere in the world can listen to their grandchildren playing sports here,” Uteda said. “We look at the future as more and more people will be listening to music on the Internet.”

He said he hopes local businesses will tune in and have the station playing.

“This is all about the community,” he said.

With the holiday season upon us, the station has been broadcasting events live beginning with the Christmas parade last Saturday.
Upcoming live broadcasts include the Fidalgo Elementary School holiday concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 and the Mount Erie Elementary School radio production of “A Christmas Carol” at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve and 10 a.m. Christmas Day.

For folks who miss the broadcasts, Uteda said they plan to sell CDs and give the proceeds to the schools.

The radio station has also added several new programs.

Weekdays from 7-10 a.m. it’s “The Morning Swim with Brian and Glen.” The show will feature Anacortes native Brian Geer along with longtime newsman Glen Harris.

With the new Web streaming technology, local soldiers in Iraq were listening during the live broadcast earlier this week.

Weekdays from 2-6 p.m. listeners will be entertained with the “Afternoon Splash.” The new show is hosted by local sports personality Bryant Johnson. It will feature a mix of music, along with local news and sports.

Uteda said they recently donated a media van to the high school for use in the video production classes, allowing students to do remote broadcasts. He said they are open to having high school students intern at the station and learn about broadcasting.

“We want to help the kids in the community get an advantage in a very competitive field,” he said.

Coming changes in the first part of 2008 include video commercials to run on the Web site, monthly interviews with outstanding people in the community and AP news with video clips.

“It’s going to be really expanded,” Uteda said.

Visit http://www.1340thewhale.com.