Originally posted: May 30, 2016
There’s one more radio name to remember, but KVI FM is trying to make it easy as possible.
From now on, the Golden West Broadcasters first FM station is to be known as K-Plus. But the Federal Communications Commission makes ’em spell it KPLZ.
Since the station calls its 101.5 dial position “101 Plus” it’s easy to see where the name comes from.
Todd Bitts, KPLZ station manager, said he’s received some criticism.
“They say I’ve got to be crazy to give up the KVI call letters. But KVI and the FM KVI seemed to add to listener confusion.
“It was nice to have a big brother to help us at first, but now we are a competitor to KVI AM as much as any other station in town,” Bitts said.
3 comments
John Fortmeyer
There was no need for KVI-FM to be considered a competitor to the AM, had they only energetically promoted each other. I was an avid listener to KVI-FM, and to my knowledge, not once did the FM station EVER even mention KVI-AM or acknowledge ANY relationship to the AM. In fact, I thought it was more than a little strange that the FM had its studios in the U District while the AM was still downtown….
Jason Remington
Hmmm, I guess the FM was using the KETO studio. Maybe they wanted to make sure the FM worked out for them before consolidating studios.
rjnooz@outlook.com
I was there during those early days at KVI-FM, aka KPLZ. Once Golden West took over KETO, the station stayed in the lobby of the Sherwood Inn at 45th and I-5 for nearly two years as they searched for, rented and built offices/studios downtown. I gathered that the Tower Building (home to KVI) was full, so they found space at 600 Stewart, across from the back of the Westin.
Indeed, there was no cross-promotion between KVI and KVI-FM. ‘K-Plus’ sounded kinda stupid at first, but we got used to it, and pretty much agreed with the notion that it was a separate station in need of its down identity. The original branding of ‘The F-M kvi’ never really got much traction except for we radio geeks.
As the part-time weekender, I did the final shift at the Sherwood in the spring of ’78. During my two years there, I ran into a very deep talent bench. Bob Bennett, the original morning man, helped get me there in the first place. Jim Dai, of course, had a nice run for a few decades in Seattle. Mark Ellis did a nice job in afternoons then mornings. Evening guys Rob Walker, Dave Hall and Greg Adams all had their moments. Tom Reddick put in a lot of years behind various mics in Seattle. 35 years on, I still use the lessons in news writing and sound editing that Bill Rice taught me.
There wasn’t a lot of love for Program Director Frank Couburn, but he was good to me and offered me full-time work more than once. And GM Todd Bitts was one of those cool guys that owned Seattle media in the 70s — one of the KVI sales alums who was right at home in the mink booths in the bar at El Goucho.
Roger Pasquier comments
November 1, 2025 at QZVX
Roger Pasquier says:
I think what was so interesting was Jack Banksin. Or. Bang bang as we called him was the general manager of KVI AND THE FM IN OCTOBER 1976 WANTED TO MAKE SOME DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO. SO I THINK VERY CLEVERLY HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF CALLING IT THE FMKVI. With the emphasis on FM I BELIEVE THAT FIRST BOOK WE HAD ALMOST A FOUR SHARE. FIRST TIME TOP 40 ON FM IN SEATTLE NICELY POSITION BETWEEN KISWNKZOK. SO WHEN PEOPLE WERE MOVING UP AND DOWN THE DIAL BEFORE DIGITAL THEY GOT 101.5. ACTUALLY WORKING OUT OF SHERWOOD WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT AT THE ON RAMP TO I FIVE. BUT PLAZA 600 ENDED UP BEING A FANTASTIC LOCATION TOo. LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. Miss the Bitts. Don Hoffman of course was PD of both too. Great talent all the way around I’ll never forget Gene Autry showed up and he had a copy of the check. It was around $600,000 to buy the FM
The FM KVI
August 29, 2025 at QZVX
William Engelhardt says:
I was the newly installed news director at KTAC in 1967 when Todd was hired from KASY (Auburn) as an account executive, coming on board about the same time as Jack Allen (from Boise). I left for KOL in June, Todd departed later for a sales and on-air gig at KAYO.
We three reunited in the 1970s at KVI: I was in the news department, Todd was an account executive, Jack an air personality.
When Todd was named manager of the FM, I left the news department and took his position on the KVI sales staff.
Everything you’ve heard or read about Todd is accurate — a well-liked and respected manager, an engaging gentleman, a skilled strategic thinker and marketing professional, highly regarded in the market. And a fast friend.
Bill Taylor