FCC Delays KISW Transfer, Rick Mauser Moves To KING, McMichaels To KNX

April 21, 1968

A suit filed against KJR and Pat O’Day, KJR program director, is one of the items holding up Federal Communications Commission approval of the sale of KISW.

The owners of KJR are seeking to operate the FM station with the same staff as the top 40 station. A change from KISW’s classical music format has been proposed.

A Bellevue teen club filed an antitrust suit in federal court in November 1967, charging O’Day exerted undue influence over rock ‘n roll music in the Puget Sound area through “boycott contracts” with local rock groups and through advertising and promotion advantages at the radio station.

Initially the suit was shrugged off by KJR, but it now may foul the transfer of license.

FCC questions about the lawsuit have already pushed the transaction beyond an initial.
Meanwhile, KISW has reverted to a minimum expense holding operation and has reduced airtime to seven hours a day.

Rick Mauser has moved from KTAC-FM to KING AM where he is the evening disk jockey and in the control booth for the Irving Clark Junior show.

Bruce McMichaels moves to KNX Los Angeles from KIRO 710.

John Morrow, previous announcer, has been made music and production coordinator for KING. Drew McDaniel has gone back to school in Ohio.

Clay Johnson has been named news director at KGDN, replacing Lon Backman, who will be devoting time to his duties as an appointed state representative from the 44th district. Johnson previously worked at KBRO, KTAC, KMO and the station in Hawaii.